Dannenfelser: We Need Ed Gillespie’s Pro-Life Leadership in Virginia

By Marjorie Dannenfelser

After switching from pro-choice to pro-life while attending Duke University, I dedicated my life to helping elect public servants who firmly respected the right to life of the unborn, and wanted to protect women and children from the horror of abortion.

It comes down to leadership and political muscle. The pro-life movement must get the right leaders in place if we want to enact lifesaving protections for the most vulnerable among us.

In this regard, my fellow Virginia voters and I have a critical election on our hands this year. For four years under Terry McAuliffe, unborn children and their mothers have suffered. Now, we have the opportunity to elect pro-life leaders to every level of state government, including taking back the Governor’s Mansion.

Governors play a critical role in ensuring the enactment of pro-life legislation. Former Governor Rick Perry of Texas once called for a special session of the legislature to pass a Pro-life Omnibus bill. Recently elected Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin saw to it that the first bill he signed into law was a measure stopping late-term abortions after five months. This week Governor Terry Brandstad of Iowa will sign similar legislation into law.

While other states have made great gains in the last four years, Virginia has regressed. Terry McAuliffe followed through on his promise to be a “brick wall” in support of the abortion industry. Among other things, he struck down health and safety standards for women walking into abortion facilities and vowed to veto even modest legislation like the five-month abortion ban.

Enough is enough. It is time for change.

My friend and fellow Catholic, gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie, has pledged to protect and care for innocent human life as governor. He would work closely with pro-life leaders in the General Assembly to undo McAuliffe’s gifts to the abortion industry, and sign into law compassionate, common ground legislation to stop late-term abortions more than halfway through pregnancy, when an unborn child can feel pain.

Earlier this week, Ed announced his “Pro-Life Leaders for Ed” coalition. Virginia’s grassroots pro-life leaders know Ed and know he will go to bat for unborn boys and girls, and their mothers. That’s why they are getting involved early on to ensure the next Governor of the Commonwealth respects and protects the lives of all Virginians, born and unborn.

In addition to Virginia’s top pro-life leaders, Ed has also been endorsed by pro-life elected officials including former Congressman Randy Forbes, Senator Dick Black, and Delegate Dave LaRock.

These endorsements were no surprise. Ed has been consistent and unwavering in his support of conservative values, including believing and upholding the right to life of the unborn. He has always fought to protect innocent human life, and that’s exactly what he will do as Virginia’s 73rd governor.

The Democratic candidates are in a race to the bottom in trying to prove how far they will go to support abortion on-demand. Under any one of them, abortion for any reason would be legal and paid for by our taxpayer dollars. That’s not in line with Virginians’ values and would cause irreparable damage to the cause of life.

Virginians need a governor who will understand that all innocent human life is sacred. They need someone who will always defend the lives and rights of the unborn.

We need Ed Gillespie’s pro-life leadership in Virginia.

Marjorie Dannenfelser is a highly respected pro-life activist from Northern Virginia.