This article first appeared online in the Washington Examiner on August 24, 2011.
Perry signs pro-life pledge Romney refused
By Charlie Spiering
Texas governor Rick Perry signed the Susan B. Anthony List presidential pro-life pledge today, putting him at odds with fellow GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Why won’t Mitt Romney sign it? In June, Romney wrote the following defense on National Review’s blog, The Corner
It is one thing to end federal funding for an organization like Planned Parenthood; it is entirely another to end all federal funding for thousands of hospitals across America. That is precisely what the pledge would demand and require of a president who signed it. The pledge also unduly burdens a president’s ability to appoint the most qualified individuals to a broad array of key positions in the federal government.
“I not only pledge to protect unborn life, but have a record of doing so in Texas,” said Gov. Perry after signing the pledge. “I have signed legislation requiring parental consent for a minor to obtain an abortion, and have long advocated adoption as an alternative to abortion in order to protect unborn children.”
Read the pledge here:
