News & Media

Sep 17, 2010

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Activists and Women Leaders Express Outrage Over Paladino’s Extreme Position on Abortion

Today, Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York, together with pro-choice organizations and women leaders from across the state, issued the following open letter expressing outrage over Carl Paladino’s recent remarks that he opposes access to abortion care even in cases of rape and incest.

 

The letter states:

 

We the undersigned were alarmed and offended by a CNN interview with Carl Paladino this past Wednesday night where he stated he opposes abortion even in the case of rape and incest. This extreme view is well outside the mainstream and harmful to women.

 

New York is an overwhelmingly pro-choice state and Carl Paladino's victory in the Republican Primary is deeply concerning for the women of New York. During his interview it became clear that Mr. Paladino is one of the most anti-woman candidates for governor - either Democrat or Republican - that the state has seen in a generation.

 

Mr. Paladino's views on abortion align him with the fringe of the anti-abortion movement.  These views are extreme and not acceptable in a decent society. If he has his way, New York will take a monumental step backwards to the days when desperate women were forced to turn to dangerous back-alley abortions.

 

Carl Paladino has taken a heartless stand against the health and well-being of the women of this state without care or compassion -- even for those who have been victims of sexual assault.

 

Mr. Paladino’s position on this issue is wrong for women and wrong for New York.

 

M. Tracey Brooks, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of NY

Joan Malin, Planned Parenthood of NYC Action Fund

Reina Schiffrin, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Action Fund

Joe Sammons, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood Advocates of NY, Southern Finger Lakes Chapter

Pat McGeown, Planned Parenthood Advocates of NY, Upper Hudson Chapter

Debra Marcus, CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund of South Central New York

Ruth Ellen Blodgett, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley Action Fund

JoAnn D. Smith, Planned Parenthood Nassau County Action Fund

Jim Stewart, Planned Parenthood Advocates of NY, Rochester/Syracuse Chapter

NARAL Pro-Choice New York

Gloria Steinem, Co-founder, Women’s Media Center

Hon. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York State Senator

Hon. Liz Krueger, New York State Senator

Hon. Toby Stavisky, New York State Senator

Hon. Suzie Oppenheimer, New York State Senator

Hon. Diane Savino, New York State Senator

Hon. Catherine Abate, former New York State Senator

Hon. Christine C. Quinn, New York City Council Speaker

Hon. Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor of Syracuse, NY

Catherine Lederer-Plaskett,  President, WCLA- Choice Matters

Marcia Pappas, President, NOW-NYS

Shelby Knox, National Sex Education Activist

Marie C. Wilson, The Founder of the White House Project

 

 

 

Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York State is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of the Planned Parenthoods of New York State. Learn more at www.ppany.org.