GOP Pushes Candidates To Recommit To Anti-Abortion Platform

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2012, file photo, Chairman of the Republican National Convention Reince Priebus addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. After back-to-back presidential losses, Republicans ... FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2012, file photo, Chairman of the Republican National Convention Reince Priebus addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. After back-to-back presidential losses, Republicans in key states want to change the rules to make it easier for them to win. From Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, GOP officials who control legislatures in states that supported President Barack Obama are considering changing state laws that give the winner of a state’s popular vote all of its Electoral College votes, too. Instead, these officials want Electoral College votes to be divided proportionally, a move that could transform the way the country elects its president. Priebus endorsed the idea and other Republican leaders support it, too, suggesting that the effort may be gaining momentum. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) MORE LESS

By Sahil Kapur

January 21, 2014 1:08 p.m.

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A resolution to be introduced at this week’s Republican National Committee meeting will push GOP candidates to recommit to their anti-abortion positions and fight “deceptive” rhetoric from Democrats.

CNN obtained the resolution, which was written by Delaware National Committeewoman Ellen Barrosse and backed by 15 co-sponsors.

An excerpt:

Whereas, The Republican Party is proud to stand up for the rights of the unborn and believe all Americans have an unalienable right to life as stated in The Declaration of Independence;

Whereas, Pro-life Republicans should fight back against deceptive rhetoric regardless of those in the Republican Party who encourage them to stay silent

The resolution points to polling that shows support for various forms of anti-abortion laws including parental consent and outlawing late-term abortion. It calls on pro-life Republican candidates to push back on Democrats’ charges that the GOP is waging a “war on women.”

RESOLVED, The Republican National Committee will support Republican pro-life candidates who fight back against Democratic deceptive “war on women” rhetoric by pointing out the extreme positions on abortion held by Democratic opponents;

RESOLVED, The Republican National Committee will not support the strategy of Republican pro-life candidates who stay silent in the face of such deceptive rhetoric

Read the full proposed resolution here.

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Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) Sahil Kapur is TPM's senior congressional reporter and Supreme Court correspondent. His articles have been published in the Huffington Post, The Guardian and The New Republic. Email him at sahil@talkingpointsmemo.com and follow him on Twitter at @sahilkapur.

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