Trump Backtracks After Call For Abortion Ban That Punishes Women Unleashes Firestorm From Both Sides
Teflon Don Showing Chips Over Abortion Position That Would Lead to Countless Horrific Deaths of Women
Wednesday afternoon Donald Trump called to make abortion totally illegal, including a requirement that women who get illegal abortions be punished under the law. The GOP frontrunner also acknowledged that some women women would end up going to back-alley abortionists, but stressed there must be “punishment.”
Trump says “there has to be some form of punishment” for women who have abortions. Interview airs tonight at 8pmET.https://t.co/SR3st1X665
— Meet the Press (@meetthepress) March 30, 2016
His comments, which he made to Chris Matthews at a town hall which will be aired on MSNBC tonight, have caused the “Teflon Don,” as some call Trump, considerable harm – and caused a rare statement from both Trump and his campaign walking back his extremely offensive and callous remarks.
“If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman,†Trump said in a statement reported by Talking Points Memo. “The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb. My position has not changed—like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions.â€
EARLIER:Â Trump Says ‘We Have to Ban’ Abortion, Wants ‘Some Form of Punishment’ If Women Get Illegal Abortions
That’s a dramatic change from Trump’s comments just a few short hours ago, in which he said, “There has to be some form of punishment,†of women who get illegal abortions, and “Well, you go back to a position like they had where they would perhaps go to illegal places but we have to ban it.â€Â
Before issuing the statement above, the Trump campaign said the issue of abortion is “unclear†and “should be put back into the states for determination.â€
Clearly, both Trump and his campaign staff are unaware of how U.S. law and the judicial system work, or perhaps, that the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade already decided the issue.
As others have said, what have people who claim to be “pro-life” been thinking would happen if abortion somehow were once again banned? Women would not face punishment for breaking the law? Women would not die because there were no medical professionals who could legally perform the procedures?Â
Some responses via Twitter:
Trump on abortion is like Trump on basically everything else: the man has quite evidently put zero thought into the issue. None.
— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 30, 2016
24 hour period: Trump campaign manager arrested for battery on a woman. Trump says women should be punished for an abortion.
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) March 30, 2016
The abortion remarks are just today’s reminder that Trump’s entire platform is based on who he is. That will manifest in policy if elected.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) March 30, 2016
Trump’s position on abortion is alarming but he’s not alone. How do all the other Republicans plan to enforce their ridiculous bans?
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) March 30, 2016
Pretty incredible. Trump’s advocated partial birth abortion and criminalizing abortion for women. Largest tax increase ever/huge tax cut.
— andrew kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) March 30, 2016
Fascinating watching antis clutch their pearls re: Trump wanting to punish women for abortion. What do they think anti-abortion laws DO?
— Lauren Kelley (@lauren_kelley) March 30, 2016
Years – decades! – of the pro-life movement saying it’s not looking to punish anyone for abortion, cut out at the knees by Trump.
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) March 30, 2016
Firestorm over Trump abortion comment leads the network evening newscasts across-the-board.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) March 30, 2016
Good thoughts from @JonathanCohn on the disingenuousness of conservatives’ feigned revulsion to Trump on abortion pic.twitter.com/NEFF6zcnx6
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) March 30, 2016
Between Heidi Cruz, Lewandowski & ignorant abortion comments, it’s as if Trump’s pursuing new personal “best” on unfavorability among women.
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 30, 2016
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Image: Screenshot via Meet the Press/Twitter
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