WASHINGTON― Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announced Friday that he has hired activist Marjorie Dannenfelser to lead his new anti-abortion coalition ― just months after she said she was “disgusted” by him over his treatment of women and that he was an “unacceptable” choice for president.
“As pro-life women leaders from Iowa and across the nation, we urge Republican caucus-goers and voters to support anyone but Donald Trump,” Dannenfelser wrote in a letter from a number of pro-life leaders to Iowans in January, before the state’s caucuses.
She continued:
Moreover, as women, we are disgusted by Mr. Trump’s treatment of individuals, women, in particular. He has impugned the dignity of women, most notably Megyn Kelly, he mocked and bullied Carly Fiorina, and has through the years made disparaging public comments to and about many women. Further, Mr. Trump has profited from the exploitation of women in his Atlantic City casino hotel which boasted of the first strip club casino in the country.
America will only be a great nation when we have leaders of strong character who will defend both unborn children and the dignity of women. We cannot trust Donald Trump to do either. Therefore we urge our fellow citizens to support an alternative candidate.
Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List, also criticized Trump for his wavering on abortion and Planned Parenthood. He once described himself as “very pro-choice” and enthusiastically praised Planned Parenthood. Then, facing criticism from social conservatives, he did an about-face and said women should “face some sort of punishment” for having abortions — a statement that made even anti-abortion groups cringe.
Dannenfelser is now going to help Trump mobilize socially conservative voters, “especially those in battleground states,” Trump announced Friday in a letter to anti-abortion leaders. As part of the effort, the real estate mogul committed to nominating anti-abortion justices to the Supreme Court, banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, defunding Planned Parenthood “as long as they continue to provide abortions,” and making permanent the Hyde amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for abortions.
“Hillary Clinton’s unwavering commitment to advancing taxpayer-funded abortion on-demand stands in stark contrast to the commitments I’ve made to advance the rights of unborn children and their mothers when elected president,” Trump wrote in the letter.
Dannenfelser said she now enthusiastically supports Trump because he was bold enough to make new anti-abortion pledges in the middle of his campaign.
“For a candidate to make additional commitments during a general election is almost unheard of,” she said in a statement. “The contrast could not be clearer between the two tickets, and I am proud to serve as National Chairwoman for Donald Trump’s Pro-Life Coalition.”
Dannenfelser also explained in an op-ed last week that Trump’s decision to run alongside Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who has led the fight against reproductive rights for half a decade, cleared up any questions she once had about Trump’s commitment to the cause.
Planned Parenthood Vice President Dawn Laguens said Friday that Trump’s hiring of Dannenfelser shows that eliminating access to abortion is a “top priority” for him.
“Trump’s disdain and disrespect for women grows more obvious every day,” Laguens said. “If elected, Trump would take women back to the back-alley days when they risked their health and even their lives — and women are not going to stand for it.”
Editor’s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims — 1.6 billion members of an entire religion — from entering the U.S.
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