PRESS RELEASE from Georgia Right to Life Political Action Committee
February 9, 2012

Georgia Right to Life PAC Endorses Gingrich, Santorum

Republican presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum today received the endorsement of the Georgia Right to Life Political Action Committee (GRTL PAC). 

The mission of the GRTL PAC is to endorse and support candidates for public office who have a proven commitment to the sanctity of human life and will be a strong and effective voice for the personhood of all human life from conception to natural death. Georgia Right to Life is the state's largest prolife organization.

“Both Speaker Gingrich and Senator Santorum have clearly demonstrated their commitment to protecting all human life,” explained Melanie Crozier, Director of GRTL’s Political Action Committee. “As a result, we feel strongly that either candidate deserves the support of Georgia’s prolife voters,” she added.

Stressing the need for voters to be informed, GRTL President Dan Becker said, “It’s not just about who can win. It’s time for prolifers to quit voting based on polls and start voting on principle. These are the only two candidates in the race that support the prolife position without exception and without compromise.”

Becker noted that both Gingrich and Santorum have signed the “Personhood Pledge.” In it, they agree to support a personhood amendment to the U.S. and state constitutions.

Such an amendment would guarantee a constitutional right to life for every human being, from the moment of conception until natural death.

In addition, Becker pointed out that both candidates oppose all forms of human embryonic stem cell research.

The organization did not endorse Governor Mitt Romney or Congressman Ron Paul because of their compromise on life issues.

Referring to Romney and Paul, Crozier said “Governor Romney still supports abortion in the case of rape and incest, and Congressman Paul recently indicated in certain cases, he does as well.”

While Congressman Paul did sign the personhood pledge his recent interview on CNN invalidates his claim, Governor Romney has publicly declined to sign any prolife pledge.

Also, Speaker Gingrich and Senator Santorum participated in the “prolife forums” sponsored by Personhood USA, while Governor Romney refused to take part. Congressman Paul participated in one forum.

Georgia's Presidential Preference Primary is March 6, 2012.  Early voting begins February 13, 2012 across Georgia.

Q & A

Q. Why did you endorse two candidates?

A. Our mission is protecting innocent human life.  We are not King-makers we are Standard-bearers. Never have we had such a strong field of presidential front-runners defend the sanctity of life without compromise or exception. The other candidates positions will allow innocent lives to be taken.

Q. Speaker Gingrich has changed his position on abortion over the years.  Why do you think you can trust him?

A. We believe that the Speaker has had a true conversion of faith and now understands that all human life is scared and should be protected.

Q.  Why do you think a clear anti-abortion candidate can win in Georgia?

A. Recent polls have consistently shown that a strong majority of Georgia voters are prolife.

Q. A lot of people feel Senator Santorum is too extreme to win.  Isn’t your endorsement a wasted effort?

A. We encourage voters to vote on principle, not based on who they think can win. It’s never wrong to stand up for the right thing. Your vote is your most precious God-given civil liberty . . . vote your conscience not your wallet.

Q. Don’t you think being against abortion makes candidates anti-women?

A.  We feel exactly the opposite. More and more women understand that abortion harms them, both emotionally and physically.

Q. Congressman Paul signed your Personhood pledge. Why aren’t you supporting him too?

A. In a recent CNN interview, Congressman Paul indicated he approves of abortion in certain cases. He was specifically asked "You have two daughters. You have many granddaughters. If one of them was raped --?” He replied " . . .that individual should go immediately to the emergency room. I would give them a shot of estrogen . . . " As an OB-GYN he knows that medically the purpose of this shot is to raise the estrogen levels to the point that the newly formed child will NOT implant in her mother’s uterus thereby promoting spontaneous abortion. Georgia ER Dr. Spencer Price says, "There is only one reason an emergency physician would give an injection of estrogen to a woman in an emergency setting - to elevate her circulating estrogen levels above physiological levels. . . As a result, the fertilized ovum is more likely to pass through the uterus and be eliminated."

Q. Mitt Romney supports abortion in cases of rape and incest. Why don’t you support abortion in rape and incest cases?

A. Such abortions create a second victim: the child. It is the perpetrator who should be punished to the full extent of the law  . . . not the innocent party. Killing the baby does nothing to remove the pain of the original assault. Studies show that years later a majority of women regret the killing of their child more than the violent rape. The right thing to do is keep the baby, or make it available to the thousands of couples eager to adopt. In cases involving incest, studies show that it is nearly always the perpetrator who pays for the young girls abortion, thereby guaranteeing continuous access to the girl. Most child protection agencies don't recommend abortion in cases of incest because it hides the crime from the other family members who become the girl's best hope of ongoing protection.