Priebus Delays RNC Winter Meeting for March for Life

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus plans to delay the start of the group's annual meeting so he and other RNC members can join the thousands of abortion opponents in this year's March for Life in Washington.

The annual march is held on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, reports The Washington Times.

"I saw that there was a real interest among a significant portion of our members to attend and support the Rally for Life," Priebus said. "This is a core principle of our party. It was natural for me to support our members and our principles."

This marks the first time a major U.S. political party has delayed its annual meeting, said state GOP chairmen and other RNC members. About 650,000 people attended last year's march, where House Speaker John Boehner was one of the keynote speakers.

In addition to delaying the meeting, Priebus said the RNC will charter a bus for those among the RNC's 168 members who want to attend the march.

Alaska RNC member Debbie Joslin, in an email with other members, noted that she has not known of another RNC chairman to delay the meeting start or make an opportunity for members to attend the Rally for Life.

"They always scheduled critical meetings for the same time as the March for Life," she said. "Big thanks to Reince for standing up for the unborn!"

According to Oklahoma RNC member Carolyn McLarty, the schedule change started during an email reminder about the march from another RNC member, Kathy Hayden of Virginia, who suggested members "could attend at least part of it" before the meetings started. Priebus decided to delay the meeting after hearing about 20 members planned to share the cost of a bus to go to the rally.

Oregon RNC member Solomon Yue said the does not think donors will complain too loudly about the party chartering a bus for members to go to the rally, out of fear of being "viewed as petty."

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