“It all comes from, I would argue, this right to privacy that doesn't exist in my opinion in the United States Constitution, this right that was created, it was created in Griswold -- Griswold was the contraceptive case -- and abortion. And now we're just extending it out. And the further you extend it out, the more you -- this freedom actually intervenes and affects the family. You say, well, it's my individual freedom. Yes, but it destroys the basic unit of our society because it condones behavior that's antithetical to strong, healthy families.” --Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Media coverage of Senator Rick Santorum’s (R-PA) April 7th Associated Press interview has focused on his comparison of homosexuality to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery. What has not been highlighted is his attack on the Constitutional right to privacy. Specifically, he stated that the U.S. Supreme Court erred in the 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut case, which established the right of married couples to use contraceptives. Griswold is the backbone of reproductive freedom and helped establish the basic principle in Roe v. Wade-- that the constitutional right to privacy extends to decisions regarding whether or not to have children.

Some Senators have already called for an apology and his resignation as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the No. 3 job in the party leadership. We need you to support reproductive freedom by urging your Senators to speak out in support of the Constitutional right to privacy and to call for the removal of Senator Rick Santorum today.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a supporter of women's rights, I am very concerned about the recent comments made by Senator Rick Santorum concerning the right to privacy. His insensitive and hateful comments included a clear intolerance for the rights that were granted in the 1965 Griwswold v. Connecticut case, which held that the Constitution contains a "right to privacy" that protects the decision of married couples to use contraceptives. He specifically says:

"It all comes from, I would argue, this right to privacy that doesn't exist in my opinion in the United States Constitution, this right that was created, it was created in Griswold -- Griswold was the contraceptive case -- and abortion. And now we're just extending it out. And the further you extend it out, the more you -- this freedom actually intervenes and affects the family. You say, well, it's my individual freedom. Yes, but it destroys the basic unit of our society because it condones behavior that's antithetical to strong, healthy families." --Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA)

Such a mentality is divisive and poses a threat to the rights of women. As my Senator, I urge you to stand up for the Constitutional right to privacy and to call for Santorum's resignation as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference immediately.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 25, 2003