Democratic Primary Debate: on Abortion

Amy Klobuchar: Public supports contraception and safe abortion

What if Donald Trump was standing on the debate stage with me? I'd say, "In your race for president you said you wanted to put doctors in jail. That is exactly what the Alabama law is. It put doctors in jail for 99 years. You are not on the side of women. You are not on the side of people of this country when over 75% of people want to keep Roe v. Wade on the book. When over 90% of people want to make sure we have available contraception. You defunded Planned Parenthood. I would fund Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Cory Booker: Create Office of Reproductive Freedom & Reproductive Rights

Q: If states prevail on restricting abortion how would you stop them?

Senator Booker: Let's be clear about these laws we see from Alabama to Ohio: they're not just attacks on one of the most sacrosanct ideals in our country--liberty, the ability to control your own body--but they are particular another example of people trying to punish, trying to penalize, trying to criminalize poverty. Because this is disproportionately affecting low income women in this country, people in rural areas in this country. It is an assault on the most fundamental ideal, that human beings should control their own body. As president, the way I'm going to deal with this is first of all elevating it to a White House level position. I will create the Office of Reproductive Freedom and Reproductive Rights in the White House. Make sure that we begin to fight back on a systematic attempt, that's gone on for decades, to undermine Roe v. Wade. I will fight to codify it.

Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Cory Booker: Women shouldn't be only ones for reproductive rights

We have another healthcare debate and we're not talking about the clear and existential threat in America that we're in a state that has had two Planned Parenthoods close. We are seeing, all over this country, women's reproductive rights under attack. Women should not be the only ones taking up this cause and this fight. It is not just because women are our daughters and our friends and our wives. It's because women are people and people deserve to control their own body. Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Elizabeth Warren: Americans support Roe, Congress should be able to pass

I lived in an America where abortion was illegal. Rich women still got abortions because they could travel to places where it was legal. The people who are denied access to abortion are the poor, are the young, are 14-year-olds who were molested by a family member. We now have support across this country. Three out of four Americans believe in the rule of Roe versus Wade. When you've got three out of four Americans supporting it we should be able to get that passed through Congress. Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Julian Castro: Codify Roe v. Wade, repeal Hyde Amendment

Q: What about adding new Supreme Court seats to create a liberal majority and protect things like abortion rights?

V.P. Joe BIDEN: I would not pack the Court. What I would do is make sure that the people that I recommended for the Court [would] support the right of privacy.

Mayor Pete BUTTIGIEG: I'm not talking about packing the Court just with people who agree with me. What I'm talking about is reforms that will depoliticize the Court.

CASTRO: I wouldn't pack the Court. The might be to look at term limits or having people cycle off from the appellate courts. So that you would have a replenishment of perspective. I would also make sure that I appoint, as president, people who respect the precedent of Roe v. Wade. That we codify Roe v. Wade. That we do away with things like the Hyde Amendment because you shouldn't only be able to have reproductive freedom if you have money. We have to concern ourselves not only with reproductive freedom but also reproductiv

Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Kamala Harris: Reproductive healthcare under attack in American today

Reproductive healthcare is under full on attack in America today. There are states that have passed laws that will virtually prevent women from having access to reproductive healthcare. It is not an exaggeration to say women will die, poor women, women of color, because these Republican legislatures who are out of touch with America are telling women what to do with our bodies. People need to keep their hands off of women's bodies and let women make the decisions about their own lives. Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Kamala Harris: Stop men telling women what they can do with their bodies

The reality of it is this is still a fundamental issue of justice for women in America. Women have been given the responsibility to perpetuate the human species. Our bodies were created to do that. It does not give any other person the right to tell a woman what to do with that body. It is her body, it is her right, it is her decision. Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

Tulsi Gabbard: No 3rd-trimester abortion unless life of mother at stake

We see how the consequences of laws can often lead to a dangerous place. As they're passed in other countries, where a woman who has a miscarriage passed that six weeks could be imprisoned because abortion would be illegal at that point. I do however think that there should be some restrictions in place. I support codifying Roe v. Wade while making sure that during the third trimester abortion is not an option unless the life or severe health consequences of a woman are at Source: October Democratic CNN/NYTimes Primary debate Oct 15, 2019

The above quotations are from Democratic Primary Debate in Ohio, hosted by CNN and the New York Times. Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Elizabeth Warren on Abortion. Click here for more quotes by Kamala Harris on Abortion.
*2020 Presidential contenders on Abortion:*
	*Democrats running for President:* Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Marianne Williamson (D-CA) CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY) *2020 Third Party Candidates:* Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI) CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) ~~Gov.Gary Johnson~~(L-NM) ~~Howard Schultz~~(I-WA) Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)	*Republicans running for President:* ~~Sen.Ted Cruz~~(R-TX) ~~Gov.Larry Hogan~~ (R-MD) ~~Gov.John Kasich~~(R-OH) V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) ~~Gov.Mark Sanford~~ (R-SC) Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY) *2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:* Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK) Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Feb 09, 2020