Former Vice President Mike Pence and the group he leads, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), have joined a coalition of religious leaders and pro-life advocates in slamming watered-down language shaping up to be included on abortion at this year’s 2024 Republican platform.
On Friday, AAF and religious leaders sent a letter to party delegates calling for them to “restore the Republican Party´s strong pro-life platform.”
The Daily Caller first reported on the letter and its contents, which was drafted in response to an RNC platform sample released Monday. The new GOP platform includes preserving the borders, deportation of illegal immigrants, and halting inflation among its top priorities but it has marked a distinct departure in language on abortion from previous iterations.
Since the repeal of Roe v. Wade last year, abortion has been a central issue for Democrats in 2022 and their legislative agenda.
“Families & Life Together We Stand Proud” the draft of the new platform says.
“We proudly stand for families and Life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights,” the draft of the new platform states. “After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments).”
The 2016 RNC platform recommended federal policy on abortion, including not funding government healthcare that has money for abortions built in and urged Congress to pass pro-life legislation.
AAF, Pence founded in 2021, responded Monday night to the new RNC platform change text.
“For the first time in decades, the Republican Platform retreats on life. Pro-life Americans are rightly outraged and gravely concerned. As drafted, the platform removes long-standing Republican promises on life, from prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion to a Constitutional amendment to specific protections for unborn babies.”
“Since the Reagan Revolution, the party has spoken with an unambiguous voice – Republicans stand for life. Today, that promise has been watered down and ultimately compromised,” AAF’s letter continues. “As you gather in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, the eyes of conservatives across America are upon you. As delegates, ensuring a strong platform is your responsibility. You are the grassroots conservative leaders, entrusted by the conservatives of your states, to represent their values at the national level. This is the last opportunity to restore the Republican Party’s strong pro-life platform.”
Signatories to the letter included March for Life Action President Jeanne Mancini, Live Action Founder Lila Rose, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler Jr., and former associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Tom Parker.
Republican delegates will vote on the RNC platform in Milwaukee next week at their party convention.
