House GOP: Forcing rape victims to give birth is better for them 'psychologically'
House Republicans have a secret plan for defending the Alabama law that bans abortion in all circumstances.
Republicans in Alabama just passed a law that would force rape victims to give birth — and Republicans in Congress plan to defend that law with the sickening claim that it’s better for victims both “physically” and “psychologically” if they are forced to bear their rapist’s child.
Vice News on Thursday reported that a large group of House Republicans are circulating talking points to defend the draconian anti-abortion law Alabama just passed, which would criminalize abortion in all instances and subject any doctor who performed the medical procedure to up to 99 years in prison.
“Committing a second violent act with abortion to a woman who has already been victimized by an act of rape or incest could physically or psychologically wound her further,” reads a memo circulated by the conservative Republican Study Committee on how to message the Alabama law. “Every single child should be afforded the opportunity to live, regardless of how they were conceived.”
The law — a clear violation of Roe v. Wade and decades of Supreme Court precedent — bans abortion from the moment a woman finds out she’s pregnant. The law has no exceptions for victims of rape or incest, meaning survivors of those brutal crimes would be traumatized all over again by being forced to give birth to their abusers’ spawn.
Some Republicans, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, have tried to say that they believe Alabama’s law goes too far — even though the official Republican Party platform calls for a total abortion ban with no exceptions.
Trump has sort of tried to have it both ways, claiming he supported certain exceptions without actually condemning Alabama’s new law, and insisting the party should be united.
“As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions – Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother – the same position taken by Ronald Reagan,” Trump tweeted, adding, “If we are foolish and do not stay UNITED as one, all of our hard fought gains for Life can, and will, rapidly disappear!”
(Of course, Trump has said repeatedly in the past that he is actually pro-choice, and only changed his position when seeking the Republican nomination for president.)
But the talking points Vice obtained from the RSC show that the vast majority of the House Republican conference is not heeding Trump’s call.
The RSC talking points also state that the Alabama law, which is currently being challenged in the courts, is “bold new pro-life legislation.”
“Unfortunately, the media is attempting to use these new developments to create ‘gotcha moments’ for Republicans and a divide within our party,” the talking points claim.
Roughly three-quarters of the House Republican caucus is a member of the RSC, with 143 of the 197 GOP lawmakers in the House signed up as members.
Almost every member of House GOP leadership is also in the RSC, including House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, and Vice Chairman Mark Walker. The only member of Republican House leadership who is not a member of the RSC is Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Polls show that Alabama’s anti-abortion law — which Republicans in the state passed specifically to try to overturn Roe v. Wade — is far out of the mainstream.
First, 67% of Americans support the landmark Roe v. Wade court decision, according to a CBS News poll.
And just 33% of Americans approve of the Alabama legislation, according to a Politico/Morning Consult poll.
Still, the vast majority of the House Republican conference is being advised to defend Alabama’s law.
The GOP is not a party that supports women.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
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