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Tuesday, November 13, 2007 Derrick Jones

WASHINGTON – Marking the first major endorsement by a national grassroots organization in the Republican presidential contest, National Right to Life, the nation’s largest pro-life organization representing pro-lifers in fifty state affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, today announced its endorsement of former Senator Fred Thompson for President of the United States.

“As the first major grassroots organization to enter the Republican presidential race, National Right to Life is proud to endorse Fred Thompson,” stated Wanda Franz, Ph.D., president of National Right to Life. “Our endorsement is a testament to Senator Thompson’s long-standing pro-life record, his commitment to unborn children, and our belief in his ability to win.”

In making its endorsement, National Right to Life considered the position of candidates on the life issues, their records on the life issues and their ability to win.
Fred Thompson has had a strong, consistent pro-life record throughout his political career. Thompson opposes abortion and believes the 1973 abortion on demand Supreme Court decision was wrongly decided and must be reversed. During his eight years in the United States Senate, he always opposed using tax dollars to promote or pay for abortion and supported the many pro-life measures such as parental notice and consent.

Thompson has also stated his opposition to the kind of stem cell research that requires killing human embryos, while supporting the kind of stem cell research that harms no one and is the only kind producing cures.

Since announcing his candidacy in September, Fred Thompson has run second only to pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani for the Republican nomination in the overwhelming majority of national polls. As pro-lifers throughout the nation begin to unite behind his candidacy, he will be well positioned to win the nomination and the presidency.

“Unlike endorsements by single individuals, this endorsement was made by representatives of statewide pro-life organizations across America which themselves are comprised of local community chapters and grassroots activists,” said Dr. Franz.

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation’s largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those threatened by abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Over the course of this year, National Right to Life has carefully examined each of the nationally ranked presidential candidates’ positions on life issues. We looked at the Democratic candidates, as well as the Republicans.

We know that it is a distinct advantage for candidates to be pro-life. In election after election, post-election polling reveals that being pro-life gives a candidate a clear advantage among voters. In every major election since 1980, pro-life candidates have fared better than pro-abortion candidates among those voters who base their vote on a candidate’s position on abortion.

All of the nationally ranked Democratic presidential candidates support abortion on demand. Senators Hillary Clinton and John Edwards even voted in favor of allowing brutal partial-birth abortions to continue. And, all of the top tier Democratic presidential candidates want to use tax dollars to promote and pay for abortions. In fact, the Democratic Party platform officially supports abortion on demand and taxpayer funding of abortion.

After careful research on the positions, records and electability of the nationally ranked Republican presidential candidates, pro-life leaders from across the nation gathered to endorse a candidate for President of the United States. As pro-life leaders, we could not in good conscience remain silent, or fail to lead. With about 1.3 million abortions every year – that’s about 3,600 each day, 365 days a year, it is crucial that National Right to Life endorse a solid pro-life candidate for president.
We know that each abortion results in the death of a child, and a family is forever changed. Over 48 million babies have been aborted in the United States since 1973.

We will not remain silent, or indifferent to their first right – their right to life. Nor do we want women to suffer the pain and loss following abortion.

The majority of the country is opposed to the vast majority of abortions, and, Fred Thompson has shown by his consistent pro-life voting record in the U.S. Senate, that he is part of the pro-life majority. National Right to Life is confident in Senator Fred Thompson’s resolve to protect and defend the most defenseless among us: our unborn children. National Right to Life is proud to endorse Senator Fred Thompson for President of the United States.