WASHINGTON, D.C., September 29, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Donald Trump has assembled a team of pro-life heavyweights to act as his presidential campaign’s brain trust on the issue of life.
Just two weeks ago, the Republican nominee announced that his Pro-Life Coalition would be chaired by Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.
At the same time, he released a letter committing to nominate only pro-life justices to the Supreme Court, sign the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, defund Planned Parenthood as long as it performs abortion, and making the Hyde Amendment denying federal funds for most abortions permanent.
Now, he has named 32 additional, national co-chairs to the group. Among his advisers are Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who chairs the House select panel investigating Planned Parenthood; Rep. Chris Smith, R-NJ; Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma; Gov. Sam Brownback of Kansas; Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona; Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council; Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life; Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; Jill Stanek; Ed Martin, who heads the late Phyllis Schlafly’s group Eagle Forum; and dozens more.
“National co-chairs of the coalition will communicate Mr. Trump’s pro-life commitments to people in their sphere of influence, speak out in support of the Trump-Pence ticket and, most importantly, recruit state co-chairs for the coalition who will in turn drive the campaign’s pro-life message out to each individual voter,” Dannenfelser said on Thursday. “The policies outlined by Mr. Trump are not only important to pro-life base voters, but they appeal to a majority of Americans who oppose Hillary Clinton’s plan to make taxpayers pay for even late-term abortion-on-demand.”
“Every vote counts,” she said.
It was quite a transition for Dannenfelser, who once encouraged Republican primary voters to “support anyone but Donald Trump.” After getting to know the GOP nominee, she now says she trusts Mr. Trump “immeasurably.”
“It you’re pro-life, even marginally, you have to ask yourself: who do I trust to handle the lives of these people the most?” she told the Telegraph.
The other side of the issue seems to agree. Planned Parenthood has committed at least $18 million to the 2016 election. Just this week, NARAL Pro-Choice America announced a $300,000 digital ad campaign targeting Trump and a handful of Republican senators on the issue of abortion.
Marge Baker, executive vice president of the Soros-funded People for the American Way, said, “Trump is making it exceptionally clear that he would be a horrifically anti-choice president.”
The full list of Donald Trump’s Pro-Life Coalition’s National Co-Chairs is as follows:
Representative Robert Aderholt (AL-04)
Ellen Barrosse, Republican National Committeewoman & Chairman of RNC Conservative Steering Committee
Gary Bauer, President of American Values
Representative Diane Black (TN-06)
Representative Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)
Honorable Ken Blackwell, Former Ambassador of United Nations Human Rights Commission
Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas
Frank Cannon, President of American Principles Project
Senator Steve Daines of Montana
Bill Dallas, CEO of United in Purpose
Bill Donahue, Treasurer of FAMILY PAC
Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01)
Representative Virginia Foxx (NC-05)
Representative Trent Franks (AZ-08)
Day Gardner, President of National Black Pro-Life Union
Representative Vicky Hartzler (MO-04)
Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life
Alveda King, Director of Civil Rights for the Unborn
Ed Martin, President of Eagle Forum
Penny Nance, President and CEO of Concerned Women of America
Representative Kristi Noem (SD-AL)
Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life
Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council
Representative Joe Pitts (PA-16)
Representative Mike Pompeo (KS-04)
Senator David Perdue of Georgia
Ralph Reed, Founder and Chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition
Austin Ruse, President of Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM)
Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04)
Jill Stanek, National Campaign Chair of Susan B. Anthony List
Charmaine Yoest, American Values Senior Fellow
