When pressed on abortion rights throughout a tense CNN interview on Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) snapped at his host and resorted to oft-used Republican assaults in opposition to the media.
Showing on State of the Union, Graham was requested by host Dana Bash about his good friend Donald Trump’s place that entry to abortion is a states’ subject after the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade—a place incongruent with Graham’s need for a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks.
“It’s a human rights subject,” Graham stated, evaluating the Democratic Occasion’s place to international locations like North Korea and China. “What the Democratic Occasion proposes on abortion is barbaric. Abortion up-to-the-minute of beginning, taxpayer-funded, I believe is barbaric. I welcome this debate. I believe the Republican Occasion shall be in good standing to oppose late-term abortion like many of the civilized world.”
Nevertheless, Graham’s characterization of the Democratic place was deceptive: Many Democratic-led states nonetheless have limits on abortion, together with New York and California, as soon as the being pregnant has reached the purpose of viability, typically thought of to be 24 weeks and after. Roe v. Wade additionally allowed abortions up till the purpose of viability, a truth Bash reminded the senator of.
Graham didn’t take it nicely.
Lindsey Graham’s Abortion Ban Invoice Is Dangerous Coverage and Dumb Politics
“No, give up overlaying for these guys,” the senator shouted. “No, no, no you’re media, you retain overlaying for these guys. They introduce laws that allowed abortion on demand with taxpayer funded if you pay in for the taxpayer up on the backside of beginning. That was their place in Washington. That’s the regulation they need to go and no one in your enterprise will speak about it. It’s barbaric.”
Graham was seemingly referencing the Ladies’s Well being Safety Act, a invoice launched by Senate Democrats to take away restrictions on abortion entry. The invoice failed within the Senate twice final 12 months, however it was reintroduced final month.
Whereas the invoice doesn’t prohibit abortions after viability, this can be very uncommon for such procedures to happen through the third trimester. The latest knowledge from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed that just one.1 % of abortions happen after 21 weeks right into a being pregnant, with most abortions occurring lower than six weeks into being pregnant.
Bash pushed again on Graham’s false declare, noting she has grilled Democrats on their abortion positions prior to now.
Bear in mind When Lindsey Graham Mentioned Abortion Ought to Be Left to the States?
“Senator, I’m not overlaying for anyone, you realize that, and when I’ve Democrats on —and I’ve had Democrats—I’ve requested many, all of them about their place on the place, the place they imagine this subject needs to be,” Bash stated. “My query for you, sir, is about President Trump, who you assist to be president once more—is he proper in saying that this subject needs to be a states’ subject?”
Graham demurred, saying any Republican “who has a snowball’s probability in hell” ought to oppose late-term abortions. “I’m assured, over time, that that’s the place our nominee shall be,” he stated.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who appeared after Graham, was requested whether or not she believed abortions needs to be authorized as much as the purpose of beginning. She stated that was not her place and blasted Graham.
“I believe Senator Graham is aware of the place the American persons are on this,” she stated. “They’re with Democratic leaders, and the individuals on this nation imagine that the ladies of this nation ought to be capable to make their very own choices about their well being care and never politicians, they usually don’t need Ted Cruz within the ready room.”
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