On Sunday night, Planned Parenthood announced its official plan to endorse Hillary Clinton, front-runner of the democratic party, in the 2016 election.
“We’re proud to endorse Hillary Clinton for President of the United States,” said Planned Parenthood President, Cecile Richards, in a statement. “No other candidate in our nation’s history has demonstrated such a strong committment to women or such a clear record on behalf of women’s health and rights.”
Millions of women, men & young people see Planned Parenthood as their trusted provider & @HillaryClinton gets that. #PPact4Hillary
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 10, 2016
The announcement doesn’t come as much of a shock, seeing as women’s rights are a major talking point in Clinton’s campaign. After announcing their decision to endorse her, Planned Parenthood went on to claim that Clinton has been more in their corner than any other candidate throughout this entire election. Clinton accepted the endorsement on Sunday night during a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.
“I have stood with you throughout my life and certainly throughout my career and I promise you this: As your president, I will always have your back,” she told a group of Planned Parenthood supporters, according to NBC News. “I will defend a woman’s right to choose and I will defend Planned Parenthood.”
Planned Parenthood is a huge provider of abortions and other services that are pretty critical to a woman’s reproductive health. Most of the Republican party objects the values of Planned Parenthood and have even voted to defund the organization altogether (by passing a bill which President Obama has since vetoed).
“I shudder to think about what the Republicans would do if given the chance,” Clinton added. “Planned Parenthood should be funded, supported and appreciated – not undermined, misrepresented and demonized.”
There’s no denying that women’s health and reproductive rights have become pretty touchy issues in the current election, with Planned Parenthood blowing into the center of controversy last year after videos emerged of an employee discussing the harvesting of fetal tissue. This will be the first time in the organization’s 100-year history that they will stand behind a presidential candidate in a primary.
“It is unthinkable that our daughters and granddaughters would have fewer rights than my generation did, yet every single GOP candidate for president wants to erase decades of progress for women—pledging to cut access to Planned Parenthood, ban safe, legal abortion, and block health insurance coverage for birth control,” Richards said. “This is about so much more than Planned Parenthood. Health care for an entire generation is at stake.”