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How Each 2016 Candidate Reacted to the Planned Parenthood Bombshell

By Amelia Hamilton Published on July 15, 2015 •

Amelia Hamilton

Yesterday, a hidden camera investigation exposed Planned Parenthood for selling body parts from aborted babies. As despicable as many abortion industry practices are, this still left many shocked and wanting answers. As Americans choose a new president in 2016, we must choose a leader who is not afraid to take a stand on issues, quickly and decisively. Here is a look at how the candidates, in alphabetical order, reacted to yesterday’s news on Twitter, Facebook, and their websites.

 

Jeb Bush

Ben Carson

Carson also started a petition on his website to defund Planned Parenthood, which says “I spent my whole life caring for children. What I see in this video is barbaric. Congress must ACT!”

On Facebook, he said “What we learned today is the body part harvesting at Planned Parenthood is simply barbaric. It must stop and Congress must stand up.

Join me in demanding that these practices STOP!”

Chris Christie

Not addressed on social media or campaign website.

Ted Cruz

Cruz called on Congress to investigate and defund Planned Parenthood. In his statement, which was also posted on Facebook, he says, “There is no place for taxpayer funding of organizations that profit from taking away innocent life, much less profiting off the bodies of the lives they have stolen.”

HotAir wrote about Cruz’s call for investigation, and he posted a link to that piece on Facebook this morning, saying “Congress should immediately investigate and fully #DefundPlannedParenthood!” 

Carly Fiorina

Fiorina took to Facebook, saying “I am proudly pro-life. I believe that every human life has potential and that every human life is precious. This latest news is tragic and outrageous. This isn’t about “choice.” It’s about profiting on the death of the unborn while telling women it’s about empowerment.” 

Lindsey Graham

Not addressed on social media or campaign website.

Mike Huckabee

Huckabee also pledged to defund Planned Parenthood should he become president.

On Facebook, he said “The selling of unborn body parts by Planned Parenthood is grotesque and utterly disturbing. This is yet another reason I have pledged to defund Planned Parenthood. Stand with me!” 

Bobby Jindal

Jindal posted a video and petition on his website and Facebook, saying “I just watched this Planned Parenthood video. Disgusting. Every human life is sacred.”

Jindal also took the step of directing the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate Planned Parenthood in his state to ensure that they are not selling fetal organs. 

George Pataki

Not addressed on social media or campaign website.

Rand Paul

Paul took to Twitter in a series of tweets:

The final tweet in that series included a link to his “Stand for Life” petition.

Dr. Paul wasn’t done, however.

Shortly thereafter, he took to Twitter again with another series of tweets:

Dr. Paul been posting to Facebook on this issue, too both yesterday and today. 

Rick Perry

Perry showed his disgust with the video while pointing out his track record in taking on Planned Parenthood in the past.

He also released a statement saying, in part,  “The video showing a Planned Parenthood employee selling the body parts of aborted children is a disturbing reminder of the organization’s penchant for profiting off the tragedy of a destroyed human life.” 

Marco Rubio

The tweet links to Rubio’s official website, on which he says “I am sickened by the complete disregard for innocent unborn life evident at Planned Parenthood.”

Rick Santorum

 

Donald Trump

Not addressed on social media or campaign website.

Scott Walker

While Walker has not addressed the controversy on social media, he released a scathing statement against Planned Parenthood, saying that the video was “absolutely horrifying and disgusting.”

Candidates on the Left

As for the candidates on the other side of the aisle, not one spoke out against the selling of dismembered baby parts.

Hillary Clinton, Lincoln Chafee, Martin O’Malley, and Jim Webb didn’t mention it at all. 

As for Bernie Sanders, well, I can’t be sure this is in response to the scandal, but the timing is pretty coincidental.

 

How did your candidate stack up? Will this change who you support for the nomination?

 

This article has been updated to reflect a statement by Scott Walker.
A second update added comment from Marco Rubio.

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