NARAL Endorses Hillary Clinton Ahead of Iowa Caucuses

Glamour ^ | January 05, 2016 | Jennifer Gerson Uffalussy

[presidio9]

This morning, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC announced their endorsement of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.

The timing of the endorsement is particularly striking, with the Iowa caucuses—the first primary-type event to occur nationwide for the 2016 Presidential election—is now less than one month out. Real Clear Politics has Clinton leading her main opponent for the nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, by 12.8 points in Iowa, 49.8 to 37 percent in the state. (The third contender for the nomination, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, is currently standing at an average of 6 percent in Iowa.)

In New Hampshire, however, Sanders has taken a slight lead over Clinton in the polls: Real Clear Politics averages Sanders at 49 percent to Clinton’s 44.7 percent of Democratic voters.

“We timed the endorsement to be able to bring the full enthusiasm and weight of NARAL members to the primary process starting in Iowa, where we have 10,000 members pledged to caucus for reproductive freedom. Given that the expected Dem turnout for Iowa is 100,000, we expect our operation in the state to have a large impact,” said Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “The stakes are high in 2016. Between shrinking access to abortion, contraception under siege, no real family leave policies in this country, and a Supreme Court up for grabs, we will look back at this election as an inflection point. We want voters to know that when it comes to women's rights and women's opportunity, only a champion can forge the right path by being vocal about the kinds of policies we need to allow women to be in control of our destinies. Hillary is that vocal champion.”

NARAL reports that they have spent “months knocking on doors and meeting with Iowans talking to them about the importance of reproductive freedom in their lives.” The pro-choice organization also unveiled print and online ads throughout Iowa and New Hampshire today.

While Sanders also has an excellent record on women’s health and reproductive rights, NARAL notes that “Hillary has a deep understanding of the fact that economic inequality for women cannot be solved without centralizing reproductive freedom, including access to abortion and contraception, strong laws preventing pregnancy discrimination, and parental leave.”

In a statement, Clinton welcomed the endorsement today, saying, "I am honored to earn the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC. As one of our country's leading advocates for reproductive rights, NARAL's work is more important than ever. Women’s health and rights are under attack across America. In Texas, state leaders are taking their fight to cut women off from access to safe and legal abortion all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Colorado Springs, a violent extremist targeted a health center. Meanwhile, Congress has voted to restrict reproductive rights and cut women off from access to affordable health care. And one after another, Republicans running for President have pledged to cut funding for Planned Parenthood; restrict abortion access; and repeal the Affordable Care Act, which ensures that women will no longer be charged more just for being women.... I will stand with NARAL and women across the country in defending access to abortion, contraception, and sex education. I will stand with NARAL in advocating for policies that help women and families. The stakes could not be higher in this election, and I am grateful to the more than 1 million members of NARAL for their support."

The Iowa caucuses will be held on Feb. 1 and the New Hampshire primaries take place on February 9.

[presidio9]

Patriots need to elect a new, state sovereignty-respecting Congress that will fire state sovereignty-ignoring activist justices.

Agreed, but we on this website should also be taking a hard look at our presidential candidates right now. The so-called "Republican Establishment" has been afraid of getting into this issue because they believe it might scare away some women voters.

They are probably right, but for the first time in a generation more Americans describe themselves as pro-life than pro-choice. Meanwhile, four Supreme Court justices are over 70 years of age, including 3 appointed by Republicans.

To me, immigration is extremely important, but it is not the key issue to this election. That would be ensuring that Hillary Clinton does not have the chance to stock the court for the next 20-30 years. Luckily, all of the Republican frontrunners, with the asterisk exception of Ben Carson, can beat her.

However, it is clear that some of the candidates are more committed to the pro-life cause than others, and I would prefer to have all of them on the record on this issue before any ballots are cast.

When I think back over the past 10 years, a lot of things have come to pass that we on FR thought could never happen. It is certainly in the realm of possibility that we could see a country that guarantees the right of every woman to abort her baby at any time, right up to delivery (or later), and for any reason. If that happens, I for one will not be consoled by the possibility that "At least there are fewer Mexicans living in this country than there were four years ago."

[jmaroneps37]

Granny’s got the coveted murderer endorsement locked up; that’s it. Trump might as well fold up and make room for Yeb right now; he’s the nation’s only hope.