Graves First 9th District Candidate to be Certified 100% Pro-Life

(RANGER, GA) – State Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ranger), Republican candidate in Georgia’s 9th Congressional District, became the first candidate in the race to sign the Georgia Right to Life PAC Principles Candidate Affirmation Statement.  Graves signed the statement in June 2009.

“I am proud to be the first candidate in the race to earn the 100 percent Pro-Life certification by Georgia Right to Life,” said Graves.  “Protecting innocent life is a very important issue to my family and me.  The reason I became involved in politics today was a result of the life issue.  In Congress, the pro-life community will have no stronger ally than me when I am elected.”

The Georgia Right to Life PAC Principles Candidate Affirmation Statement says:

WHEREAS, the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law,” Georgia Right to Life PAC affirms the principle that the right to life is the bedrock upon which all other Constitutional rights are derived.

IN ADDITION, we believe, in the face of compelling biological evidence, that a continuum of human life and personhood begins at the moment of fertilization and ends at natural death, the ethical treatment of human embryos must include their “best interests,”

THEREFORE, as a candidate for public office, I affirm my support for a Human Life Amendment to the Georgia Constitution and other actions that would support these principles. This would assure that regardless of race, age, degree of disability, manner of conception or circumstances surrounding a terminal illness, that the civil rights of the pre-born at an embryonic or fetal level, the elderly and those with mental or physical infirmities are protected by law and are violated when we allow destructive embryonic stem cell research, therapeutic or reproductive cloning, animal human hybrids, abortion (except to save the life of the mother), infanticide, euthanasia or assisted suicide.

Georgia Right to Life President Dan Becker said, “What is unique about Tom and his wife Julie is that they were engaged in protecting the innocent unborn before ever entering the political arena.  Tom’s support isn’t politically convenient and Georgia Right to Life knows his commitment is genuine.  Not only was his first speech from the House well in support of the unborn, but he has been a consistent advocate for pro-life policies in the Georgia House of Representatives.  Georgia Right to Life is confident that Tom Graves will continue to fight for the rights of the innocent unborn in Washington.”      

In 2001, Graves supported his wife Julie as she founded and became President of the Gordon County Chapter of Georgia Right to Life.  The Graves joined with churches throughout the community in opposition to an announced abortion clinic.  Through their efforts and Divine intervention, the abortion clinic never opened.

“I saw how much of a difference someone could make by getting involved,” said Graves.  “That issue raised my awareness to getting involved and engaged in the process.”

A year later Graves successfully won a seat to the Georgia House of Representatives.

Graves then joined with State Rep. James Mills (R-Gainesville) and others to co-author the “Woman’s Right to Know” and “Sonogram” legislation, which provide mothers with more information about their pregnancy and the options to abortion.

Graves is also co-author of Georgia’s Human Life Amendment, which is a state constitutional amendment that defines life from conception to natural death.
 
Graves’ campaign is earning the support of conservatives throughout the 9th District and fundraising reports filed with the Federal Election Commission last week revealed the momentum in the race is behind Graves.  His fundraising out paced all candidates in the race with over $279,000 raised for the election cycle from 753 contributors.  The campaign continues to have the largest online presence of any candidate in the congressional race, has over 350 grassroots volunteers and is organized in all 15 counties of the district.