BOSTON - Today, U.S. Senator Scott Brown sent the following letter to Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, calling on the Republican Party to be more inclusive on the issue of abortion. The text of the letter is below:
Dear Chairman Priebus:
First, let me say thank you for your leadership of our party. I know how hard you work on behalf of making our party and our nation stronger. I am writing to you on an issue of importance that I believe has the potential to strengthen us as a party by sending a message to all Americans that we are broadly inclusive and open to different points of view.
As you know, every four years the Republican Party crafts a platform intended to give voters an understanding of our Party’s principles and policies on important issues of the day.
The Party is currently engaged in the process of developing its 2012 platform. Media reports indicate that the Platform Committee will consider draft language opposing a woman’s right to choose and supporting a constitutional amendment banning abortion. I believe this is a mistake because it fails to recognize the views of pro-choice Republicans like myself.
Even while I am pro-choice, I respect those who have a different opinion on this very difficult and sensitive issue. Our Party platform should make the same concession to those of us who believe in a woman’s right to choose.
If we are to grow and succeed in all parts of this great nation, we must be a “big-tent” party. There are people of goodwill on both sides of the abortion issue, and we need to send a message to voters that there is room in the Republican Party for differing perspectives.
The Party platform is, of course, not a platform for every Republican candidate. In Massachusetts, I’ll be running on my own platform, and focusing on how to create jobs and get our economy moving again, strengthening our employer community by keeping taxes low and reducing burdensome regulations, and controlling spending through passage of a balanced budget amendment.
But the Republican Party would be well-served to recognize in its platform that you can be pro-choice and still be a good Republican. I hope you and the Platform Committee will recognize this reality as you finalize this year’s Platform document.
Sincerely,
Scott P. Brown
U.S. Senator
CC: Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA), Chairman, Convention Platform Committee
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Co-Chairman, Convention Platform Committee
U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), Co-Chairman, Convention Platform Committee
