Former Vice President Mike Pence reaffirmed his support for new efforts to ban abortion on Tuesday, even as senior Senate Republicans distanced themselves from Sen. Lindsey Graham’s new plan to outlaw abortion at 15 weeks.
When asked about a nationwide abortion ban, Graham responded, “I encourage all attempts to advance the cause of life in state capitals and the nation’s capital.”
‘And I have great confidence that the next Republican president, whoever that may be, will stand for the right to life,’ he told Real Clear Politics on the same day he addressed a Washington fundraiser for an organization that supports abortion restrictions.
“It is vital that Republicans and conservatives declare, here and now, that we will not back down from the battle,” said Pence, who has long championed pro-life causes as Indiana governor, House GOP leader, and then as Donald Trump’s vice president.
Tuesday, former Vice President Mike Pence addressed at the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Gala held at the National Building Museum in Washington. In response to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s proposed 15-week abortion restriction, he stated that he supported “any and all attempts to advance the cause of life.”
Pence also dismissed political concerns, despite Democratic advances in the polls since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. In the wake of the court decision throwing down Roe v. Wade, voters in deep red Kansas rejected a referendum to allow state legislature to regulate abortion.
Pence, a potential GOP candidate for president in 2024, infuriated Trump by rejecting his call to refuse to accept votes certified by states during the tally of electoral votes on January 6, 2021. “I’m convinced that the enthusiasm among pro-life Americans in states across the country is equal to or greater than any new motivation by people who support abortion rights,” Pence said.
Graham introduced his new prohibition on Tuesday, but GOP leaders reacted coldly.
Regarding his bill, you will need to inquire with him. In terms of scheduling, I believe the majority of my conference members would prefer that this be handled at the state level,’ Senator Mitch McConnell told reporters.
Pence stated that it was essential for Republicans to “not shy from the fight.”
Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced a plan to ban abortions after 15 weeks, with few exceptions.
John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, stated, “I believe there will be some differences of opinion.” My desire is for each state to solve these matters on its own.
The Washington Post reported that Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, McConnell’s number two, stated, “Right now, I believe individual states are forming their own political consensus on this subject.”
The White House’s criticism of Graham’s initiative on Tuesday is an indication that Democrats feel they may use it against Republicans in the battle for control of the House of Representatives.
The press secretary for the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, deemed the new legislation introduced by Senator Graham at the Capitol to be ‘extreme’ and then referenced remarks made by Graham just weeks ago in response to the court’s judgment.
I’ll cite Lindsey Graham from August 7, 2022. And he answered, I’ve been consistent. I believe that the states should resolve the question of marriage and the issue of abortion. This is from his own mouth, and now he wants a nationwide ban,’ Jean-Pierre stated during her daily briefing.
After the Supreme Court’s decision, senior Republicans including Sens. Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn favored states handling abortion regulation.
‘The senator’s proposal would maintain the strictest abortion restrictions at the state level, which prohibit all abortions and make no exceptions for health, rape, or incest. That is precisely what his measure would accomplish. In addition, no exceptions are made for women who may require access to abortion for their health. That is the effect of his bill.
It is an extreme piece of legislation that is consistent with the extreme agendas we are seeing from Republicans, which are not in line with the majority of Americans.
In his appearance at the White House to support the Inflation Reduction Act, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer also attacked Graham.
What are the Trump-supporting Republicans doing in the Capitol today? Introducing countrywide abortion prohibitions. Just incredible,’ he added.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre rebutted remarks made by Sen. Lindsey Graham on allowing states to decide on abortion, after Graham proposed a new national abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Graham told CNN last month, “I’ve been consistent: I believe states should decide the question of marriage and the problem of abortion.”
Graham tweeted in May prior to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.
Graham stated that he planned his law to go into effect when a fetus is able to experience pain. The phrase “late-term” appears in the title, which enforces the ban at 15 weeks.
He termed the Roe v. Wade ruling a “power grab.”
Graham’s comments on CNN, after President Biden and Democrats cited to a concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas to argue that gay marriage protections could fall next, were in line with the current position of Senate critics.
Graham stated, “I’ve been consistent: I believe states should resolve the question of marriage and the issue of abortion.”
In May, he also tweeted that if the Supreme Court were to overturn Roe, ‘each state will decide whether abortion is allowed and on what terms.’
Graham’s measure would permit conservative states to implement more stringent abortion prohibitions.
However, it would supersede generally Democratic-leaning states with stronger abortion restrictions.
When asked at his news conference to reconcile his previous assertions, Graham responded, “Pretty simple.” After they introduced a measure to define who they are, I believed it would be appropriate for us to do the same.
He was referring to the Democrats’ efforts to legislate Roe v. Wade’s safeguards. The law cannot now pass the 50-50 Senate, but Democrats want to gather sufficient support by adding two votes, providing they can overcome a filibuster.
During a tense moment on Tuesday, a woman who survived the horrific shooting in Highland Park challenged Republican Senator Lindsey Graham at a press conference where he introduced legislation to prohibit abortions beyond 15 weeks.
Ashbey Beasley, who claimed to have had an abortion at 16 weeks, informed reporters afterwards that she ‘crashed’ the media event while lobbying Republican Senators Pat Toomey and Mike Braun on gun restriction at the US Capitol.
Graham’s plan allows exceptions for abortions beyond 15 weeks when the pregnancy threatens the mother’s life and for rape, however the rape victim must have sought medical treatment and counseling at least 48 hours prior to her abortion.
At one point, the South Carolina senator attacked the Democrats’ own plan meant to protect abortion access, alleging that its permissive legal window places the United States on par with Syria and Iran.
Graham stated, “Democrats wanted a national standard, and their standard was abortion up until the moment of birth, placing you in the same club as Iran and Syria.”
In addition, he referred to the Democratic measure, which passed the House but would likely fail in the Senate, as “bizarre.”
Graham’s abortion bill is the first abortion-related legislation introduced by Republicans since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1973.
Senator Lindsey Graham, flanked by pro-life campaigners, introduced new legislation that would ban abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape and incest.
Ashbey Beasley, a survivor of the Highland Park tragedy, ‘crashed’ Graham’s news conference to question him about the fate of women like her who had an abortion after discovering a deadly fetal abnormality at 16 weeks.
Given how much the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health electrified the left’s supporters, he dismissed during his news conference fears that the law could make Republican midterm candidates more vulnerable.
Graham stated, “I don’t think this is going to affect us.”
I believe it will damage the Democrats more when they attempt to explain to a sensible person why it is acceptable to be more like Iran and less like France on abortion.
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