Interviews during 2017-2019: on Abortion
Kanye West:
Planned Parenthood founded for eugenics against blacks
Over the past 50 years, West said, more than 22.5 million black children were aborted "strategically and on purpose.""Planned Parenthood was set up and placed in minority communities to kill black people," West asserted. West then discussed Margaret
Sanger, a founder of Planned Parenthood, whom the organization disavowed over her connections to the eugenics movement.
The rapper read a damning account of Sanger, "an avowed racist whose goal was to reduce the black population in America and she
succeeded. 80% of abortion clinics in America are in minority neighborhoods."
Planned Parenthood was co-founded by Sanger in 1916 as America's first birth control clinic. While she was beloved by feminists for her views on women's reproductive access,
she also supported eugenics, the discredited movement promoting selective breeding that often targeted people of color and the disabled.
While noting that black babies were aborted every day, West argued that "we are inside of genocide as we speak."
Source: New York Post "Page Six" on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Sep 2, 2020
Gloria La Riva:
Repeal the Hyde Amendment
We call for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and all other legislation that limits access to abortion services, thus denying "the right to choose" to millions of women, particularly low-income women, women of color, and young women.
We demand full reproductive freedom for all women by removing all discriminating barriers to reproductive rights and reproductive health care.
Source: Socialist PSL Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
Aug 3, 2020
Kanye West:
Pay a million per kid to discourage abortion
At the event in South Carolina, West said that if he were elected president, he would fight to keep abortion legal but would strongly discourage it by offering people $1 million for every child they have.He announced a 2020 presidential bid
earlier this month, running under what he's called the "Birthday Party." According to USA Today, West told the audience at the rally: "The maximum increase would be everybody that has a baby gets a million dollars or something in that range.
Source: Insider e-zine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jul 20, 2020
Kanye West:
I am pro-life because I'm following the word of the Bible
On abortion: "I am pro-life because
I'm following the word of the Bible."
Source: Forbes Magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Jul 8, 2020
Rocky De La Fuente:
Reform Party takes no stance on abortion
The Reform Party takes NO STANCE as an organization on issues such as pro-life/pro-choice and gay marriage. The Reform Party as a national organization believes that social issues or values issues (which include issues such as abortion,
gay marriage, and end of life decisions) should not be our focus as a party. The Reform Party does not, and will not, have stances on Social or Values Issues in our National Platform.
Source: Reform Party Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
Jun 22, 2020
Jo Jorgensen:
Individuals own their bodies; can't violate those rights
Individuals own their bodies and have rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate.
Individuals have the freedom and responsibility to decide what they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety, or life.
Source: Libertarian Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
May 22, 2020
Don Blankenship:
Unconscionable to take life of child for crimes of father
As to matters of rape and incest, we empathize with those abused and assert the need to provide immediate protection and care in a safe environment. Instead of the further violence of abortion, the mother and the child should be
provided with compassionate care. We find it unconscionable to take the life of an innocent child for the crimes of his father.
Although a Supreme Court opinion is binding on the parties to the controversy as to the particulars of the case, it is not a political rule for the nation. Roe v. Wade is an illegitimate usurpation of authority, contrary to the
Declaration of Independence and Constitution. It must be resisted by all civil government officials, federal, state, and local, and by all branches of the government - legislative, executive and judicial.
Source: Constitution Platform adopted by 2020 presidential hopeful
May 2, 2020
Justin Amash:
Pro-life: works through discussion, not legislation
I'm pro-life, 100 percent pro-life. I know that there's a split, even within the Libertarian party, on that issue. I've always said that the best way to advance it is through society, through methods of engagement, and discussion,
conversation, and activism. I've been involved in pro-life organizations that try to change it from the outside, not through the legislative process, but try to change hearts and minds and explain the issue to people.
Source: Reason magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 1, 2020
Joe Walsh:
Science, technology removes exceptions for abortion
After a debate with his Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in Illinois, reporters asked Republican Congressman Joe Walsh if he believed there was no such thing as a medically necessary abortion. "Absolutely," he replied. "With modern technology and
science, you can't find one instance" when a medical issue justified abortion, he continued. In case that didn't make it clear, Walsh opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest, or health threat to the mother.
Source: Slate.com on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 19, 2019
Joe Walsh:
1996: pro-choice; 2010: pro-life without exception
Walsh first ran for Congress in 1996. He positioned himself as "open and tolerant," not "some right-wing conservative," and he supported abortion rights and gun control. He lost by 26 points. In 2010, Walsh rode the Tea Party wave to a seat in the US
House of Representatives. Unlike his two state races, in his congressional race he staked out hardline conservative views. Most notably, he abandoned his pro-life stance, saying that after seven years of prayer he had become pro-life without exception.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 3, 2019
Bernie Sanders:
No anti-choice appointments to Supreme Court
The idea that women in this country should not be able to control their own bodies is beyond belief. They have that constitutional right. So if you're asking me, would I ever appoint a Supreme Court justice who does not believe in defending
Roe versus Wade, who does not believe that a woman has the right to control her own body, I will never do that.
Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 19, 2019
Bill de Blasio:
Supports abortion rights & funding Planned Parenthood
De Blasio supports abortion rights and was on board with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's comments that pro-life New Yorkers are not welcome in the state.
He's rallied behind Planned Parenthood when the organization's funding was threatened and opposed the Trump administration's gag rule on Title X.
Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls)
May 18, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Federal government should protect reproductive freedom
When asked about the Hyde amendment, which prohibits women from using government health insurance to get an abortion and could lead to abortions being˙outlawed under "Medicare for all,"˙Buttigieg˙said he supported repeal. "I think the federal government
has become too much of a pressure against women's reproductive freedoms, and we need to make sure that even though a lot of decisions are being made in the states, we have that leadership from the top of the federal government," Buttigieg said.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 6, 2019
Seth Moulton:
Strongly supports woman's right to choose
He is a "strong defender of a woman's right to choose" and is a member of the House Pro-Choice Caucus. LifeNews notes that he has co-sponsored the
Women's Health Protection Act of 2017, which would invalidate nearly all state and federal limitations on abortion.
Source: CNN Town Hall with 2020 presidential hopefuls
Apr 23, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Abortion is moral question decided by woman, not government
In my view, this is a question that is almost unknowable. This is a moral question that's not going to be settled by science. And so the best way for it to be settled in practice is by the person who actually faces the choice. And when a woman is
facing this decision in her life, I think in terms of somebody besides her who can most be useful in that, the answer to that would be a doctor. Not a male government official imposing his interpretation of his religion.
Source: Meet the Press 2019 interview of 2020 presidential hopefuls
Apr 7, 2019
Howard Schultz:
Pro-choice, but against third trimester abortion
Potential 2020 presidential candidate and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz weighed in on the issue of abortion at a Fox News town hall in Kansas. "I have been a person that is pro-choice," he said. "I recognize that every woman--this is such a
personal issue--and it's between her and her god as to what that decision should be. And in my view, there should be no abortion that is in the last trimester."
Source: Townhall.com on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Apr 5, 2019
John Hickenlooper:
Women have the right control their own health care
I think the vast majority of Americans believe that a woman has the right to control her own health care and that that should be first and foremost sacred and inviolate.
We got $5.2 million per year for five years to provide long-acting reversible contraception, to allow 15- to 25-year-old young women to make sure that if they wanted to have that contraception.
We reduced teenage pregnancy by 60 percent over the last eight years in Colorado.
I would make sure as president that every issue within any state that violated a woman's right to decide her own health care would be met with litigation immediately.
Source: CNN Town Hall: 2020 presidential hopefuls
Mar 20, 2019
Beto O`Rourke:
Oppose limiting abortions to under 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Social Issues: Abortion should be legal and with fewer restrictions.
- An abortion-rights supporter, O'Rourke co-sponsored a bill that would have prohibited states from adding any limits to abortions before a fetus is considered viable,
and placed no limits on abortions after viability if a doctor concludes the life or health of the mother is at risk.
- He has voted against efforts to limit abortions to 20 weeks of pregnancy or less.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Mar 14, 2019
John Hickenlooper:
Supports access to abortion
On social issues; Hickenlooper supports gay marriage,
LGBTQ rights, and access to abortion.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Mar 4, 2019
Jay Inslee:
Allow taxpayer-funded family planning clinics
On abortion rights, Inslee believes in a woman's right to choose and opposed the Trump administration's announcement that it would
prohibit taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from referring women for abortions.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Mar 1, 2019
Bernie Sanders:
Few or no government limits on abortion
- Social Issues: Abortion should be legal, with few or no government limits.
- Sanders is a supporter of abortion rights and voted against a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks.
- When asked in 2016 if he would place any limits on abortions, Sanders did not give a specific answer but repeatedly said he was "very strongly pro-choice" and believed the decision was between a woman and her doctor.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Feb 19, 2019
Bill Weld:
Remove anti-abortion language from GOP platform
- Weld publicly fought to remove anti-abortion language from the Republican Party platform in the 1990s, to the dismay of social conservatives.
-
Weld's liberal stance on social issues often earned him the ire of the GOP, and helped block his nomination to be ambassador of Mexico under President Bill Clinton.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Feb 15, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Make abortions safe and make them rare
- Believes abortion is between a woman and her doctor.
- Klobuchar views abortion as a decision between a woman and her doctor.
- In 2006, Klobuchar said that "we need to start talking about common ground, and about reducing the number of
abortions--making them safe and making them rare."
- Klobuchar co-sponsored the Women's Health Protection Act. The legislation prohibits states from setting restrictions on abortion.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Feb 10, 2019
Julian Castro:
Opposed Texas blocking abortions after 20 weeks
Castro opposed Texas legislation to prevent
abortions in the state after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Source: Townhall.com: "The 2020 Democrats" (presidential hopefuls)
Feb 4, 2019
Elizabeth Warren:
Legal abortions are safer than tonsillectomies
Did Sen. Elizabeth Warren once say: "Having an abortion is no different than someone having their tonsils removed." FALSE.Warren became the subject of increased scrutiny and rhetorical attacks from the right in January 2019, after she declared she
was in the running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. Against that background, a viral meme re-emerged on social media:
"'Having an abortion is no different than someone having their tonsils removed.'--Liberal Democrat Senator
Elizabeth Warren. Yes, she really said this."
In reality, Warren did not make these remarks. Warren was making a point about the relative safety of the procedure: On 24 July 2018, in Marie Claire magazine, Warren wrote: "When abortions are
illegal, women don't stop getting them--they just risk their lives to do it. Today, thanks to Roe, getting an abortion is safer than getting your tonsils out. Before Roe v. Wade, many women turned to back-alley butchers to end their pregnancies."
Source: Snopes.com FactCheck on 2020 Presidential Hopefuls
Jan 30, 2019
Kamala Harris:
Don't limit abortions to the first 20 weeks of pregnancy
A supporter of abortion rights, Harris voted against a bill that would limit abortions to the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. As California state attorney general, she launched an investigation of anti-abortion activist
David Daleiden, whose undercover videos later sparked charges of breaking privacy laws. His supporters said Harris' relationship with Planned Parenthood was a conflict of interest.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Jan 21, 2019
Kirsten Gillibrand:
Fewer limits on abortion; no 20-week ban
- Social issues: Expand abortion access.
- Gillibrand supports abortion rights, including placing fewer limits on, and expanding access to, abortion.
- She vocally opposed the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, arguing that he
could help overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
- She also voted against a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Jan 16, 2019
Tulsi Gabbard:
Abortion should remain legal and accessible
- Gabbard believes that abortion should remain legal and accessible.
- She voted against a proposed ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Ban discrimination based on sexual preference, identity.
-
Gabbard has changed her position since she entered politics at age 21.
- She was initially anti-abortion, or opposed to increased abortion access.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Jan 14, 2019
Julian Castro:
Allow abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy
Castro is a Roman Catholic who supports legal abortion access and gay rights. He vigorously opposed a Texas law to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and limit facilities and access to abortions in general. Castro has long supported same-sex
marriage, serving as Grand Marshal of the 2009 San Antonio Gay Pride parade. In 2017, he tweeted that the military should allow Americans of all gender identities to serve in the military.
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Jan 12, 2019
Eric Garcetti:
Pro-choice
He has described himself as "a single-payer guy" on health care. He called for stricter gun restrictions in the wake of this month's Florida high school shooting.
He's pro-choice. He prefers a "universal pathway to employment" over the universal basic income proposal some have offered.
Source: J. Lovegrove in Post & Courier on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Feb 24, 2018
Tom Steyer:
Pro-choice is a litmus test for all support
Democratic donor and activist Tom Steyer says he won't support pro-life candidates in the 2018 elections. "We're pro-choice," the hedge fund manager told Politico during the leftwing Netroots Nation conference in Atlanta over the weekend.
"We do not work for a single candidate who is not pro-choice," he added. "I think people like to have litmus tests. We are explicitly pro-choice. We work a lot with Planned Parenthood, we work a lot with NARAL. We are absolutely committed to it."
Source: Susan Berry in Breitbart.com on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Aug 15, 2017
Mike Pence:
Tie-breaker vote to defund Planned Parenthood
Senate Republicans, aided by Vice President Mike Pence and an ailing Georgia colleague who gingerly made his way to the Capitol with the aid of a wheelchair and a walker, voted Thursday to undo an Obama administration rule preventing states from
blocking funding for family planning clinics that also provide abortions.Democrats all voted against the bill, as did two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Ms. Collins and Ms. Murkowski have long opposed
attacks on funding Planned Parenthood, which they argue provides services for women in areas with scarce health care options.
Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, who returned after two back surgeries, was cleared by his doctors to travel
for one day only to help pass the measure, but it took Pence's final vote to break the 50-50 tie. The measure will now head to Trump's desk, a onetime supporter of Planned Parenthood who adopted an anti-abortion rights position during the campaign.
Source: N.Y.Times on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Mar 30, 2017
Oprah Winfrey:
Too young for Roe V. Wade to avoid botched abortion
Oprah HAS been a mother--she has candidly spoken throughout her career of getting pregnant at age 14, hiding her condition, attempting a botched abortion and eventually giving birth to a child who died soon after.
She has said, "When the baby died I knew that was my second chance. So I went back to school and nobody knew." She took that second chance and went on a different path in her life.
Source: Salon.com speculation on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
Dec 12, 2013
Page last updated: Nov 01, 2021