PHILADELPHIA, July 25, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – As the media present Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine as an “anti-abortion” centrist, the CEO of Planned Parenthood has said she is “very enthused” about the senator sitting one heartbeat away from the presidency.
Cecile Richards’ comments join a chorus of praise from abortion advocacy and lobbying organizations once critical of the Virginia senator.
Just after the news of Clinton’s selection broke Friday night, Richards announced she was “very enthusiastic” about the choice on MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show.”
“I think this is the strongest reproductive rights ticket we've ever had, and the platform is stronger than it's ever been,” she said. “We have the strongest position ever.”
When asked about his onetime designation as a “pro-life Democrat” – a designation Democrats for Life stripped from him in 2012 – Richards said, “I feel like he's evolved on these issues.”
“He's been really such a strong ally” as the nation’s largest abortion provider faced “a lot of tough issues both around Planned Parenthood but also attacks on access to safe, legal abortion.”
She also indicated that secular progressives of all stripes would enjoy greater success under Hillary Clinton.
“The important thing, too, Rachel, is to think about who's on the other side,” she told Maddow, describing Mike Pence “so extreme on gay and lesbian issues.”
After the announcement, Ilyse Hogue of NARAL Pro-Choice America also said the 2016 Republican Party platform proposed a “frightening agenda that will make the Trump-Pence misogyny all too real.”
Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), agreed the Democratic ticket presented a “sharp contrast to the turn-back-the-clock, step up the war on women platform of Donald Trump and Mike Pence.”
Kaine has “led the fight to restore the contraceptive coverage requirement guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act, and supports women's access to safe, legal and medically appropriate abortion care,” she said. O’Neill added that Kaine has “consistently championed universal pre-K, sensible gun regulation, and comprehensive immigration reform, and is an unwavering opponent of the death penalty.”
While Maddow said Richards’ “unequivocal” support “will settle” whether abortion advocates vote for Clinton-Kaine in November, Planned Parenthood continued tweeting pro-Kaine messages over the weekend, calling the senator a dedicated public servant.
Meet @HillaryClinton's running mate, @timkaine — who's dedicated his life to serving others: https://t.co/eIQPLrusgy pic.twitter.com/Tfvd5Q3uB7
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) July 23, 2016
A Planned Parenthood graphic depicted Kaine as a “strong supporter of Roe v. Wade” and highlighted his liberal positions on amnesty for illegal immigrants, gun control, and environmentalism.
BREAKING: Hillary Clinton has picked Sen. Tim Kaine as her running mate. https://t.co/KrByXfhi8Q #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/rWewUidUXr
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) July 23, 2016
Richards reiterated her years-long close working relationship with Kaine on abortion policy.
Have worked closely w @timkaine for past four years to defend abortion access & expand birth control: proud of this ticket for repro rights
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) July 23, 2016
She also noted his strong voting record in favor of abortion-on-demand.
100% rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund + lifetime F rating from NRA = my candidate for VP @timkaine @PPact
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) July 23, 2016
In a formal press release, Richards said Kaine – who has a 100 percent voting record from Planned Parenthood – “has proven he will stand strong against politically motivated efforts to restrict” Planned Parenthood’s “often lifesaving health care.”