President Obama will no longer be delivering the keynote address at Planned Parenthood’s annual gala Thursday evening, White House press secretary Jay Carney announced during his daily press briefing with reporters Wednesday, according to news reports.
Carney said that Obama will instead be spending additional time with the victims of the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, according to the Washington Times.
While Obama will not speak at the gala, he has been rescheduled to deliver remarks to Planned Parenthood Friday morning.
Obama’s appearance at the abortion provider’s annual gala had sparked outrage in pro-life circles, with some saying the speech would be inappropriate given the ongoing trial of Kermit Gosnell, a Philadelphia abortionist. Gosnell is charged with murdering one woman and numerous babies born alive in botched abortions.
“In the wake of the gruesome and horrific revelations emanating from the trial of abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell, we urge President Obama to cancel his fundraising speech for big abortion giant Planned Parenthood on Thursday night,” pro-life Live Action president Lila Rose said Tuesday.
In response to Wednesday’s schedule change announcement, the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List called on Obama to reconsider his support for Planned Parenthood.