Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumWhere Male Presidential Candidates Stand on Reproductive Rights
Supporting reproductive rights goes beyond saying you stand with Planned Parenthood or support Roe v. Wade.
Lets start with the man whos leading opinion polls, former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden has a mixed record on reproductive rights: Hes been in public life since before Roe v. Wade was decided, and said at the time that the decision went too far because he didnt think that a woman has the sole right to say what should happen to her body. Hes voted for so-called partial birth abortion bans, even though hes conceded that he shouldnt force his anti-choice views on others. Bidens official website does not mention anything about womens reproductive rights, rather, his section on health care simply states that he plans to build upon the Affordable Care Act and name-checks the opioid crisis and mental health as priorities. (I reached out to Biden's camp about the candidate's current stance on reproductive rights, but did not receive a response.)
Comparatively, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is outspoken in his support for reproductive rights. The Independent is championing Medicare for All, the expansion of government-run senior health care to the whole population, and his campaign says that under this plan, all comprehensive reproductive health care would be covered as a right. Right now, abortion is carved out from government-run coverage under Medicaid, meaning that poor women who rely on Medicaid have to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket for abortions. Through his policy director, Sanders told me that he believes we must fight back against any efforts to undermine a womans right to choose at the state, federal, and local level.
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker is one of the rare male candidates with a track record of showing up for reproductive rights. In 2013, he co-sponsored the Womens Health Protection Act, which would have limited the restrictions states can place on abortion providers, but that bill didnt make it out of committee. In 2014 he called on Congress to reinstate the ACAs contraception mandate, which was hollowed out by the Supreme Court that year. When asked about his position as a presidential candidate, a spokeswoman for Booker pointed to his support for the Affordable Care Act, which provides coverage for womens health screenings and contraception, and noted that Booker is a staunch defender of Roe who has stood with Planned Parenthood.
https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a27409131/male-presidential-candidates-2020-reproductive-rights/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demit
(11,238 posts)I had read that before, and when I did a chill went through me.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Freddie
(9,256 posts)He has to come out now and clarify his support for reproductive rights. Being Catholic hes one of those personally opposed but its not my place to impose my opinion on everyone types which is fine.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demit
(11,238 posts)He is positioning himself as being the one who can attract Trump voters. He will keep things as noncommittal as he can, or try to stake out some vague centrist stance, the way he is doing on the issues of climate change and healthcare.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
MarcA
(2,195 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demit
(11,238 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
MarcA
(2,195 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
demigoddess
(6,640 posts)where your nose begins." Why do I have to obey their religious beliefs if I have freedom of religion myself. Seems to me, if they make the rules according to their religion, that forces me to obey their religious beliefs not my own.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indygram
(2,113 posts)He not only supports choice, he also calls for ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided