WomenCount PAC Denounces NARAL Endorsement of Barack Obama

San Francisco, CA -- May 16, 2008 The newly formed WomenCount PAC strongly denounces the endorsement of Barack Obama by NARAL Pro-Choice America, joining mounting opposition to the move from Emily’s List, a long list of woman Members of Congress, and other longtime supporters of NARAL.

"The idea that NARAL would create a divisive and potentially permanent rift in the pro-Choice movement is a shortsighted, irresponsible rush to judgement," says Allida Black, a founding member of WomenCount PAC and editor of The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers at George Washington University. "Using this important issue in such an irresponsible way can only be interpreted as blatant pandering."

WomenCount views the endorsement as disrespectful not only to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s lifelong commitment to protecting womens’ reproductive rights but also to the millions of women around the country who are supporters of both NARAL and Sen. Clinton.

Susie Buell, a longtime supporter of NARAL Pro-Choice and a founding member of WomenCount added, "What this tells me is the disconnect between NARAL’s political advisors, its Board, and its Leadership and very women they are sworn to protect. This is an egregious violation of the tenets of respect and neutrality that had been carefully observed during this historic campaign for the White House."

WomenCount was created to ensure that the 51 percent of American citizens who are women have their values and votes counted in the political process.