Biden reverses stance on Hyde Amendment after blowback

[uawchild]

Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden said Thursday he no longer supports the Hyde Amendment, just one day after reaffirming his decades-long support for the ban on federal funding for abortions.

Biden’s presidential campaign had said Wednesday that he still supported the controversial ban.

The news sparked intense blowback from members of his party, including fellow presidential hopefuls, who criticized Biden for reaffirming his stance amid a spate of anti-abortion measures being passed in state legislatures.


https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/447392-biden-reverses-stance-on-hyde-amendment-after-blowback


OK... 1 week ago Joe Biden Suggested he might change his stance from OPPOSING the Hyde Amendment to supporting it.

Yesterday, Joe Biden said that was not true, he misheard the question and that he still SUPPORTED the Hyde Amendment.

Today, Joe Biden say's things have changed and he NOW OPPOSES the Hyde Amendment.

Seriously?

How are we supposed to put faith in the promises Joe Biden is making when he does this sort of thing?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. Yes, faster than I expected... took less than 24 hours.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

37. Changing one's mind is fine, but doin it within 24 hours has nothin to do with evolving on an issue.

Again, it's fine that Joe walked back his recent affirmation of the Hyde Amendment... indeed, it was a smart move, as he had no other choice.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[bahrbearian]

56. I wonder if he regrets the IWR

[bahrbearian]

62. Well he sure didn't learn from it

[bahrbearian]

65. I imagine shes doing pretty good, not having to walk back any of her votes

or positions.

[bahrbearian]

68. Well if you like war than sure.

[bahrbearian]

85. Yes she served in the war Joe voted for .

She learned 1st hand the carnage of war working in a field medical unit, wars of regime change that's why she is against war. Biden got 2 deferment's during Nam. Did you hear Joe agree with Trump about regime change in Venezuela? Maybe he will walk it back.

[lapucelle]

106. What does IWR stand for? N/T

[lapucelle]

107. Unless, of course, you count this.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s positions on same-sex marriage and LGBT rights have shifted dramatically, from working for her father’s anti-gay marriage organization in the early 2000s to joining the Congressional Progressive Caucus as a U.S. House member.

The Hawaii Democrat announced Friday that she will seek the Democratic party nomination for president in 2020. She has already received criticism for her past anti-gay activism.

snip=========================================

In the state legislature in 2004, Gabbard railed against Democrats for the party’s mostly pro-LGBTQ platform, suggesting that the party paid too much attention to “a small number of homosexual extremists.”

https://www.rollcall.com/news/campaigns/tulsi-gabbard-apologizes-for-past-anti-gay-activism-as-she-prepares-for-2020-race

[still_one]

53. You said it to me in a dialog we were having, and I wasn't sure about it at all. You called it

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

71. It wasn't hard, as Biden didn't have a choice... so that poor women CAN have a choice!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[still_one]

88. There was a possibility he could have dug himself in deeper

You called this

Those that were defending his support of that garbage Amendment, I think are eating some crow

Oh well, it’s going to be a long primary


Thanks

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

93. Eating crow?? Highly doubtful... after touting the merits of Joe's principled approach

of sticking to honest policy differences, now they'll just laud him for being "flexible" in admitting when he's wrong. Either way, it's all good!!

I commend Joe simply for making a smart political decision, and glad to finally have him "on board" with most Democrats... though I'd rather go with candidates who were right all along and weren't faced with having to make a political calculation.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[still_one]

96. Of course. I understand

[Perseus]

2. Yesterday someone pointed out Biden's strength in his conviction and sticking to his principles

I guess his conviction is not as strong as a few people thought.

But this is typical of his generation of politicians, they reverse course as the tide pushes them in a different direction. Someone wrote on that opinion that there many great candidates who are progressive and who represent the now and the future, while Biden represents the past, a good past, but nonetheless the past.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

39. Fair point... but, Joe did the right thing if he is to have any chance of winning the nomination.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Alhena]

3. Pretty lame. Oh well, still our strongest candidate to beat Trump

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. Yes, but what choice did Joe have?

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Blue_true]

45. He could have not said that he supported that amendment to begin with.

He looks like a waffler now. I read a national news feed that said he disagreed with other democratic candidates in the issue. He was wrong and is now running for cover.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

73. You call Joe a waffler...better that than caught on the wrong side of a critically important issue.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Blue_true]

80. The issue with me is him being on the wrong side of it to begin with.

There are things that democrats, even religious democrats, don't fool around with. One of those cornerstone benchmarks is that EVERY woman, even poor women should have full access to abortion services if they choose that path.

I personally don't care for abortions, but I would never in a billion years attempt to stop a woman from accessing abortion services or vote for a politician that would prevent her from accessing such services - the exception on the vote position is if it is democrat versus republican, I will vote for the democrat, even if that democrat is anti-choice, because anyone who still calls himself or herself a democrat share 85% of what I believe and value, and an abortion stance is just one issue in that values galaxy.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

94. Well said!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Cha]

77. I appreciate that Biden listened, Althena..

I sent a tweet out to Cedric Richmond this morning..

I'm for Biden now.. but please tell him that he shouldn't be basing political decisions on "religion". Separation of Church and State. Thank you

.
And, here's Biden's statement..

Link to tweet

[BannonsLiver]

4. Yep, I called it.

?itemid=9264828

Yesterday: He must walk this back.

Today(after he walks it back): How can we ever trust him!11!1

[highmindedhavi]

7. You did, good call

[BannonsLiver]

8. Easy as pie.

[crazytown]

36. Yes you did!

Now we can get back to really divisive stuff like putting resources into Texas

[Cha]

9. Yeah, ya did!

This spinning suppose to make me drop Biden?

[BannonsLiver]

11. Well I know you're more thoughtful than that

But yeah it is. The goalpost moving in the OP shows it was never really about the issue.

[Cha]

18. Yeah, too obvious.

[redstateblues]

31. Wonder what the next attack on Joe will be?

[Cha]

79. I so appreciate that Biden listened, redstateblues!

I sent a tweet out to Cedric Richmond this morning..

I'm for Biden now.. but please tell him that he shouldn't be basing political decisions on "religion". Separation of Church and State. Thank you

.
And, here's Biden's statement..

Link to tweet

[Scurrilous]

15. That's a handy gif!

[emmaverybo]

24. You saw where this was going. That picture and your little man is making me 😃 smile so. nt

[Blue_true]

46. He could not have said that he supported that thing to begin with.

Where he stands on this SHOULD be a major topic in the first debate and he should have answers that people can believe and TRUST.

[BluesRunTheGame]

5. Joe needs to come out of his hidey hole and give a press conference...

...on his, ahem, cough, cough.....decision making process.

[BannonsLiver]

6. ...

?itemid=9264828

[treestar]

22. Lol love that video

Hilarious!

[Cha]

12. "hidey hole" your words.. says more about

you than where Biden is.

I'm damn glad he's reversing on Hyde amendment.

[treestar]

23. Cha he did what they called the right thing!

Still not good enough! So predictable.

[Cha]

26. Yes, it's so obvious, treestar..

I tweeted Cedric Richmond this morning with this message..'

I'm for Biden now.. but please tell him that he shouldn't be basing political decisions on "religion". Separation of Church and State. Thank you.

I know that's not what did it.. but it's part of the blowback.

As you said.. "..he did the right thing!" And, I'm so grateful!

[Blue_true]

47. But Cha, why would he need to reverse from supporting it to opposing it?

In one day? His detractors have a legitimate issue here. Where does he truly stand on the amendment?

[Cha]

49. This is the Tweet I sent to Cedric Richmond this morning..

I'm for Biden now.. but please tell him that he shouldn't be basing political decisions on "religion". Separation of Church and State. Thank you

.
I barely got in on the blowback.

I'm glad he listened.

[Blue_true]

60. I am glad that you sent that message. I totally agree with you. nt

[mobeau69]

70. He's not basing anything on religion. He's basing it on polling.

Ole Joe with the ole finger in the wind.

[Cha]

72. Sorry, I don't take your opinion on Joe Biden

as something worthwhile.

[treestar]

92. Where do the detractors stand on it

when they are not happy to have him back on their side? It's like they don't want to take the "win." Sort of proves the issue never really mattered to them.

[Blue_true]

105. Every other candidate that spoke on it was against the amendment.

I still like Biden a lot, but I am shocked as hell about how tone deaf he was on this issue and that he has continued to be that way for years.

[emmaverybo]

51. You know you said this twice, right? In the same thread. nt

[FloridaBlues]

10. Perhaps this whole thing got blown out of proportion

With so many candidates not one of them is a perfect one nor will there ever be a perfect candidate.
For me the bigger picture is removing the entire trump people out of Washington.

[crimycarny]

17. Agreed

I was disappointed when I read that Biden had reversed his opinion on the Hyde amendment. Not because of any strong feelings for or against the Hyde amendment, more because it makes him look like any other politician who will change their views based on polling. I'm really tired of that (one reason I admire Bernie, he seems to stick with his convictions regardless of how it may poll).

The Hyde amendment isn't going away, at least not in the near future. This was not an issue to stake a candidacy on.

All of that being said, I'm not into purity tests. No candidate is going to be perfect and all are going to stumble. So, though disappointed, it won't stop me from voting for Biden if he is the candidate. I'm still leaning towards Buttigieg though I'm really liking Warren and Kamala Harris too.

[BannonsLiver]

87. +1

It is the only thing that matters. Period.

[Indygram]

14. Glad he walked it back but not knowing better shows a lack of judgement

Democrats can do much better. I just don't trust his judgement at this point, at all.

[Scurrilous]

16. Maybe he should have live streamed his walk back.

[peggysue2]

19. Oooooooo!

Low Blow.

Personally, I'm glad he walked the position back though I'd not heard him defend the issue in the first place. For those who weren't going to go with Joe Biden, it's another talking point. For me? It means he's willing to listen and has a politician's savvy to choose his battles wisely. Keep Democrats together. Keep our eyes on the prize.

A GO4JOE 2020

[emmaverybo]

20. Yes!

[Cha]

84. My tweet to Cedric Richmond this morning & Biden's statement, Peggysue..

I'm for Biden now.. but please tell him that he shouldn't be basing political decisions on "religion". Separation of Church and State. Thank you

.
And, here's Biden's statement..

Link to tweet

[peggysue2]

98. Thanks for that, Cha.

Good response from Biden, too!

[emmaverybo]

25. Ho ho. Very good one. And personally apologize to the nation about, well, everything in general. nt

[Politicub]

57. I would pay good money to see Biden do the moonwalk!

His turn around on the Hyde amendment put a check in the plus column for me.

[MustLoveBeagles]

74. Joe stumbled but did a course correction. Good for him.

This was a non issue for me. I didn't hold his stance on the Hyde Amendment against him and thought this issue was blown completely out of proportion. People really had the knives out for Joe and it was disappointing to see.

What's also disappointing are the cheap shots against Beto in this thread. I honestly don't get the scorn directed at him.

[Cha]

76. Mahalo, MustLoveBeagles..

Here's Biden's statement..

Link to tweet

P.S. I haven't read all the thread yet so haven't seen the "cheap shots" at Beto but will do so now.

[MustLoveBeagles]

78. I saw them as cheap shots but maybe I'm being oversensitive

It's references his live streaming and the apologies he made towards the beginning of his campaign rollout.

Thanks for the link Cha.

[Cha]

82. Oh good grief! I happen to

to know nobody is perfect.. and if they're really trying and aren't divisive @ the Democratic Party.. I fully support what they're doing.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Does make one wonder... but, no doubt, Joe has learned from this and now has his sea legs under him.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[crazytown]

42. It's good news for everybody.

We need s united front on abortion now more than ever before.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

44. No question... glad all the top-tier candidates are now on the same page on this issue.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[treestar]

21. I knew it

He is doing the right thing now and you still are not happy. Did you ever really care about the issue then ?

[redstateblues]

29. Busted!

[Blue_true]

50. Why did he say the wrong thing to start with?

It is like democrats have not long said that Anendment hurts poor women.

[emmaverybo]

52. Three times now. nt

[Blue_true]

61. Because I am seriously stunned and disappointed that he would do what he did.

It was just tone deaf.

[treestar]

91. So you cannot be happy someone changes their mind to do the right thing?

What is the point then? You'd rather lose than admit that anyone changed their minds to do the right thing?

[Blue_true]

104. I would not rather lose.

But Biden has long supported the amendment and reaffirmed that support. Then a firestorm erupted and the next day he took a position that he has never before taken. So if push comes to shove and republicans are holding something important hostage to keep or expand the Hyde amendment, how much of a fight will President Biden put to to back them off?

[treestar]

108. Can't imagine that happening

That amendment will only be repealed when dems have both houses. And that means 60 senators.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

30. I'm glad about this, and I believe it's an example of how Biden doesn't necessarily believe he has

to work for the nomination.

[Cha]

83. That doesn't make sense.. of course Biden knows

he has to work for the nomination.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

97. Yeah, it really doesn't make sense, does it? That's what I get for posting under the influence.

There's a whole string of thoughts that goes in the middle of the sentence, but it's irrelevant now. Sorry for the confusion.

[Cha]

102. Oh good.. something makes

sense.

[Guilded Lilly]

38. He listened and adjusted/changed his position. Changing position after LISTENING is...

a sign of growth and progression and a thoughtful process. This is coming from a thoughtful, solidly Democratic intelligent man, not a compassionless, megalomaniac control freak Republican misogynist.

Biden is not our enemy or combatant.

[Turin_C3PO]

40. Biden is not our foe.

Donald Trump is the enemy. Let’s all try and remember that.

[Politicub]

55. Biden listens. That goes a long way in my book.

And a smart political move on his part.

[DrToast]

81. It may have been political all along

It’s possible he was against it all along, but didn’t come out against it for political reasons. Remember how Obama (and others) was against gay marriage even though it was obvious he was was making a political decision.

[FiveGoodMen]

101. I think suffering and injustice are the enemy

And the more someone tries to prevent and alleviate suffering and injustice, the better friend they are.

Trump is obviously the worst, but there are lots of enemies and a whole range of better and worse friends.

We should strive for the best we can get.

[SidDithers]

41. Good. That's the correct position to hold...nt

Sid

[Politicub]

54. Glad to see him listening to the base

and important reproductive health organizations.

To answer your question, OP: I put more faith in someone who can be convinced to do the right thing and not stick to a bad decision because of stubbornness.

[still_one]

59. The cynics are going to be cynics regardless. I think this is a good on Joe. I do NOT want in a

President someone who is so stubborn, that they won't change a position no matter how misguided it is.

From my perspective, this reflects very well on him.

Joe admitted he was wrong, and did the right thing

The irony is that everyone of the Democratic candidates now supports the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, and that is a good thing, but the reality is unless we have a majority in Congress, its repeal is going to be very hard to achieve.

[crazytown]

66. 'unless we have a majority in Congress'

abso f’ing lutely!

[still_one]

89. Let's do it!!!

[Cha]

75. Thanks, still_one.. Biden's statement..

Link to tweet

[still_one]

90. it is a perfect statement without ambiguity. Thanks Cha

[LuvLoogie]

63. Joe is still my prefered candidate, since I can't have Hillary

or Barack again. Or maybe Jimmy Carter's second term. Or Jerry Brown's first.

I don't mind when positions change for the better. As long as they're Democrats, like--all the time.

[SouthernProgressive]

95. Good on Biden. NT

[BannonsLiver]

99. ....

?itemid=9264828

%3Fitok%3D-rSH-8HF%261542035750&w=400&c=sc&poi=face&q=85

[flamingdem]

100. Glad he did that

He's flexible, a great quality

[Hekate]

103. Day after day I never see you post in support of Cory Booker, which is odd when you have ....

...his avatar on your posts.

Why the obsession with running down Biden? Why aren't we seeing a dozen positive posts a day about Booker?

Just curious.