Republican? Get Involved
Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice® (RFC) is dedicated to the preservation of individual rights and reproductive freedom. We believe our nation is best served by policies that support family planning and a woman's right to choose, and we actively support Planned Parenthood as a critical health care service provider, especially for women and young people worldwide.
As national co-chairs of Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice, we represent women and men across the country who believe our nation is best served by policies that support family planning and a woman's right to choose.
Never once have we felt that our core Republican values were in conflict with our support for providing women with the necessary means to ensure that every child is a wanted child. The Republican Party was founded on a commitment to individual liberty and freedom. The party has a proud history of defending individual rights — from fighting to end slavery and working to secure equal protection and voting rights for African Americans, to leading the way in achieving women’s suffrage.
Too often, we only hear about anti-choice Republicans who claim to represent the majority of our party. The simple truth is that they don’t. Republicans for Choice is working to make sure pro-choice Republicans’ voices are heard across the country. We will not be silent while others try to perpetuate the myth that most Republicans are anti-choice.
— Darlee Crockett & Randy Moody, National Co-Chairs, Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice
Core Republican values are in harmony with our statement of beliefs:
- We believe in the constitutional right of individuals to exercise freedom of reproductive choice without government intrusion.
- We support the principles of religious freedom and separation of church and state.
- We oppose using the Republican Party to impose specific religious beliefs on others and respect each individual’s right to make private, moral decisions.
- We believe that honest, medically accurate sexuality education — including, but not limited to, abstinence — and affordable, accessible family planning services help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions.
Each day, we work at the local and national level to build support for contraceptive equity, emergency contraception, comprehensive sex education, access to affordable birth control, and access to abortion services.
Each year, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) presents a number of awards for outstanding Republicans for Choice endeavors. The Barry Goldwater Award is presented at the Planned Parenthood National Conference to an outstanding public official who has supported Planned Parenthood and our issues. Republican Outreach Enterprise (ROE) awards are also presented each year at Planned Parenthood regional meetings to deserving Planned Parenthood affiliates.
 At the November Eastern Region Conference held in Philadelphia, Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks County (PPABC) received the Republican Outreach Enterprise Award for their work in support of pro-choice Republicans, and staff and volunteers from the affiliate were on hand to accept the award. Standing with PPFA President Cecile Richards is PPABC CEO Linda Hahn. PPABC Vice President of Public Policy Maggie Groff, who is responsible for the outstanding Republican program, stands to the far right.
In early October, the Western Region Conference Republican award was presented to Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties, and in late October, the Central Region award was presented to Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota for their very meaningful work with South Dakota Republicans.
Congratulations to one and all!
Take action today. Join the Planned Parenthood Action Network, identifying yourself as a Republican who supports reproductive choice and health care, and connect with your local Planned Parenthood affiliate to learn what you can do at the local and state level. Attending a public forum or event in your area? Here’s a list of questions you can ask government officials related to sexual and reproductive health policy:
- REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IS BASIC HEALTH CARE: Accessible, affordable health care is one of the most important issues facing our country. Can you discuss how women’s reproductive health care will be front-and-center in your health care reform plan, and tell us what specifically you will do to address barriers to affordable birth control?
- ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION: As backup birth control, emergency contraception is a critical way to prevent unintended pregnancies, yet some doctors are not informing patients about it and some pharmacies are refusing to stock or dispense it. What will you do to increase access to emergency contraception?
- REAL SEX EDUCATION: Teenagers today are not getting the information they need to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. What would you do to ensure that public schools teach responsible, age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education?
- ABORTION RIGHTS & JUDICIAL NOMINEES: Recently, the Supreme Court issued a decision that undermines Roe v. Wade and insists that politicians, rather than women and their doctors, are better equipped to make serious medical decisions. Where do you stand on Roe v. Wade?
- INTERNATIONAL HIV/AIDS PREVENTION: While this administration has committed resources to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, the U.S. is funding abstinence-only programs at the expense of more effective approaches that also include condom education and distribution. What would you do to address these issues?
For more information on how to get involved, contact Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice at 202-973-4920.
 Republicans for Choice honors a courageous California State Assembly member, Dr. Keith Richman. Dr. Richman, a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar, obtained his pre-med instruction at the University of California at Davis, before earning his Medical Doctor and Master of Public Health degrees at UCLA.
A pioneer in the field of health care management, Dr. Richman currently serves as a director of Lakeside HealthCare, Inc. Dr. Richman has also returned to UCLA as a Distinguished Fellow in the School of Public Affairs. After nearly 20 years in medical practice and building an $80 million health care provider group, Keith Richman began his public service by winning the 38th Assembly District in 2000, and proudly served in the Assembly from 2000 to 2006 as a 100-percent pro-choice Republican legislator!
While in the Assembly, Dr. Richman championed health care reform and developed a comprehensive, bipartisan individual mandate health care plan to enhance the quality of care for all Californians. Over the course of his years in the Assembly, Keith Richman never wavered in his stalwart support for the right to choose, for family planning, and for Planned Parenthood. We honor his courage and commitment and, in gratitude, thank him for his friendship.
 Darlee Crockett, national co-chair of Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice, has a long history of working with Planned Parenthood and other service organizations. Darlee started as a pregnancy counselor at Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties. Years later, she became president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, and then chair of the Planned Parenthood Western Region. She served on the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Board of Directors for six years, serving two years as an officer.
In addition to her work at Planned Parenthood, Darlee has served as a board member of the first San Diego County Status of Women Commission, vice-chair of the California Family Planning Council, and board member and chair of the San Diego County Civil Service Commission. She was also a member of the California Elected Women’s Education Association and the California Republican League, and a board member and vice-chair of Charter 100, a women’s professional and community leader organization.
Darlee has received many honors, including the California Elected Women’s Education Association “Woman of the Year” for volunteer service in government, and the National Women’s Political Caucus Award for Community Service.
When Darlee is not busy working on Republicans for Choice, she is actively participating as an associate member of the California State Republican Party, the California Republican League, and the San Diego Republican Businesswomen group.
 Randy Moody, a lifelong Republican, is manager of federal advocacy at the National Education Association in Washington, DC. He is chief lobbyist of the 3.2 million member teachers’ union. Randy was an original board member of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and a founding member of its PAC Committee. Active as a 20-year volunteer for Planned Parenthood, he was a member of the PPFA Board of Directors from 1995 to 2002.
A native of Nebraska, Randy is a graduate of Creighton University in Omaha and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law (with distinction), and a member of the Nebraska Bar. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Lincoln from 1987 to 1999, and was board president of Nebraska Planned Parenthood Voters for Choice, the statewide pro-choice advocacy and political organization.
After four years as an Army officer, including a year in Vietnam where he was news director for American Forces radio and television, Randy worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald and a top aide to two members of the U.S. House of Representatives and a member of the U.S. Senate. Active in politics since 1964, he served as chief of staff to Nebraska Republican Governor Charles Thone.
Randy has been a Republican county chairman, delegate to the 1984 Republican National Convention, member of the Nebraska State Party executive committee, and candidate for the Republican nomination for Nebraska lieutenant governor in 1986. He managed the Media Operations Center at the 1976, 1980, and 1984 Republican National Conventions. Randy returned to Washington, DC, in June 1999 to begin his work with the NEA and continue volunteering with Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
"A lot of so-called conservatives today don't know what the word means. They think I've turned liberal because I believe a woman has a right to an abortion. That's a decision that's up to the pregnant woman, not up to the pope or some do-gooders or the religious right. It's not a conservative issue at all."
— former U.S. Senator and Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater
"I want to take abortion out of politics. I want to keep the Republican Party focused on the vital economic and foreign policy issues — and leave moral issues such as abortion to the conscience of the individual. I believe abortion is an issue to be decided by women — not by big government."
— U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Planned Parenthood affiliates in several states are currently involved in organizing Republican Planned Parenthood supporters. Working with our affiliates, PPFA provides Republican-specific organizing materials and PPFA field staff to assist with local Republican activities. Our national RFC co-chairs are available to keynote events and facilitate strategy sessions organized by local or state affiliates, as well as national PPFA events — such as the annual Public Affairs Retreat and Roundtable, the National Conference, and regional conferences.
Affiliate public affairs staff mobilize Republican volunteers in lobby activities on our issues at the local and state level. And PPFA national public policy staff involve Republicans when lobbying Congress on federal legislative campaigns.
For more information on the resources mentioned above, please contact Planned Parenthood Republicans for Choice by calling 202-973-4920.
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