Are Republicans Only Just Pretending to Fight Over Abortion? [View all]

[Nevilledog]

https://jezebel.com/are-republicans-only-just-pretending-to-fight-over-abor-1850370305

Republicans know they have a huge abortion problem on their hands following their successful, decades-long campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade. Angry voters overwhelmingly support abortion rights, but the GOP has hitched its wagon to activist groups who won’t settle for anything less than a nationwide ban. What are politicians to do in that situation, especially as reporters keep asking them about it?

A CNN story published Sunday is a good example of their approach: Just hide the ball. While a Republican-controlled House passed a 20-week abortion ban in 2012, 2015, and 2017, multiple Republicans told CNN they now think abortion is now a state’s rights issue and don’t want to pursue a federal ban at all.

But those are their on-the-record comments. “Behind the scenes,” CNN reporters say, “Republicans acknowledge that the abortion ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, hurt the GOP in the midterm elections and they’re worried about a similar backlash in 2024 if they embrace a federal ban now that they’re in power.”

The CNN piece is the fifth story published in the last two weeks about GOP “infighting” over the prospect a national abortion ban, following similar reporting from the New York Times, the Associated Press, the Washington Post, and Politico. Who will support South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 15-week ban? Why is Donald Trump saying “states’ rights?” Does Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) still have a place in her party while calling them out for being wrong on abortion?

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