USA Today: on Abortion
Greg Abbott:
Abortions unnecessary except for woman's life or health
Attorney General Ken Paxton said that all clinics in the state must stop providing abortions unless a woman's life or health are in danger. He said abortion providers were included under Abbott's emergency order that banned medically unnecessary
surgeries to conserve medical supplies. Abortion rights advocates called the ban bad policy and accused Paxton and Abbott of using the crisis to issue a de facto ban on a procedure strongly opposed by the two Republican leaders.
Source: USA Today on 2022 Texas gubernatorial race
Mar 25, 2020
Mike DeWine:
Deflects questions about abortion during pandemic
The issue has become a political hot potato as DeWine and Attorney General David Yost seem to have conflicting views on whose role it is to settle the issue. When Health Director Amy Acton was asked about abortions, DeWine interjected and said the issue
was being addressed by "lawyers" and Yost's office. Earlier, Yost's office said whether clinics are in violation of Acton's order will be decided by the health department and, if so, the attorney general would then take legal action.
Source: USA Today on 2022 Ohio gubernatorial race
Mar 25, 2020
Tate Reeves:
Abortion services elective and unnecessary during pandemic
Reeves promised to take action against his state's lone abortion clinic if it continues to provide abortions during the coronavirus pandemic. Reeves, who has worked for years to limit and end abortion in
Mississippi, said that he considers abortion elective and unnecessary. "We're doing everything in our power, and have for many years, to make Mississippi the safest place in America for unborn children," he said.
Source: USA Today on 2023 Mississippi gubernatorial race
Mar 25, 2020
Andrew Cuomo:
Protect right to abortion if Roe is overturned
During his State of the Union address, Trump charged lawmakers in New York with having "cheered with delight" after recently passing legislation to "allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth." [What is that about?]:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law three reproductive health bills to protect abortion access if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the 1973 decision guaranteeing a nationwide right to abortion. That includes allowing abortions after
24 weeks of pregnancy it the fetus isn't viable or the women's health is threatened.
Only 1.3 percent of abortions occur after 20 weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the issue blew up after New York changed its laws.
The new Democratic majority in the House will prevent any anti-abortion legislation from getting to his desk. (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's guests for the speech included the president of Planned Parenthood.)
Source: USA Today fact-check on 2019 State of the Union speech
Feb 5, 2019
Donald Trump:
Completed conversion from 1999 pro-choice to 2019 pro-life
President Donald Trump--who once described himself as "very pro-choice"--burnished his anti-abortion credentials during his State of the Union address with harsh attacks on recent state actions. (Trump called himself "very pro-choice" in 1999.)Trump
charged lawmakers in New York with having "cheered with delight" after recently passing legislation to "allow a baby to be ripped from the mother's womb moments before birth." He accused Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam of "basically" stating that "he
would execute a baby after birth." [see separate Fact-Checks!]
"There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days," Trump said, in calling for legislation
to curb 3rd-trimester abortions.
It was the first time that Trump mentioned abortion in any of his three addresses to Congress since becoming president. Republicans see abortion as an issue that will help fire up Trump's base for his 2020 re-election.
Source: USA Today fact-check on 2019 State of the Union speech
Feb 5, 2019
Republican Party:
OpEd: Democrats now openly support the murder of newborns
Trump accused Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam of "basically" stating that "he would execute a baby after birth." [see separate Fact-Check!]. Video of Democratic VA Del. Kathy Tran answering questions about her legislation went viral after Republicans
circulated a clip in which Tran acknowledged that her bill would allow abortions up until moments before birth. State law allows abortions up to the point of delivery if the life or health of the woman is at serious risk.Trump jumped on the issue: "I
thought it was terrible," Trump said of Tran's remarks. "Do you remember when I said Hillary Clinton was willing to rip the baby out of the womb? That's what it is. That's what they're doing. It's terrible."
"The Democratic Party has become so
extreme they are now openly supporting the murder of newborn babies," Camille Gallo, spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee said last week after Democrats in Virginia pushed to loosen restrictions on abortions later in pregnancy.
Source: USA Today fact-check on 2019 State of the Union speech
Feb 5, 2019
Pope Francis:
Abortion is like hiring a hit man to solve a problem
Pope Francis compared abortion to hiring a "hit man to solve a problem," and complained about a "depreciation of human life." The pontiff departed from the prepared text of his homily at his weekly audience on Saint Peter's Square to make the comments,
some of his strongest yet against abortion."Interrupting a pregnancy is like eliminating someone," Francis said. "Is it fair to hire a hit man to solve a problem? It is not fair. We cannot take out a human being, even if it is small."
The pontiff's address was dedicated to the commandment exhorting the faithful not to kill. He also denounced war, exploitation and a culture of wastefulness. Francis said some people justify abortion as respecting other rights, but asked "How can an
act that suppresses innocent and defenseless life as it blossoms be therapeutic, civil or simply human?" It was the second time within recent months that Francis has expressed the church's longstanding opposition to abortion in violent, stark terms.
Source: USA Today's Jane Onyanga-Omara on 2018 Papacy
Jul 25, 2015
Pope Francis:
Abortion for fetal abnormalities same as Nazi-era eugenics
[Likening abortion to hiring a "hit man to solve a problem"] was the second time within recent months that Francis has expressed the church's longstanding opposition to abortion in violent, stark terms. In June, Francis denounced how some couples resort
to pre-natal testing to see if their unborn babies have malformations and then choose to have an abortion, which he said was the "white glove" equivalent of the Nazi-era eugenics program. Francis has framed both abortion and euthanasia as part of what
he calls today's "throwaway culture," where the sick, the poor, the elderly and the unborn are considered unworthy of protection and dignity by a society that prizes instead individual prowess and success.Official church teaching opposing abortion
is absolute, providing for no exceptions. That said, Francis has acknowledged that women sometimes are driven by circumstance to abortion and he has extended the ability of ordinary priests to absolve them of the sin of abortion if they repent.
Source: USA Today's Jane Onyanga-Omara on 2018 Papacy
Jul 25, 2015
Catherine Cortez Masto:
Endorsed by EMILY's List
Catherine Cortez Masto, seeking to become the first Latina elected to the Senate, has won the endorsement of EMILY's List. The group that supports Democratic women who back abortion rights hailed the former Nevada attorney general as a champion of women
and families. "Catherine is a dedicated public servant with a record of working to make communities safer, prevent violence against women and increase educational opportunities so that all Nevadans have a fair shot," said
EMILY's List President.If she wins the 2016 race, Cortez Masto also would become the first woman elected to the Senate to represent Nevada. She is the fourth female Senate candidate endorsed by
EMILY's List so far this cycle, joining incumbent Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, who is seeking a fifth term in 2016, and candidates Kamala Harris in California and Rep. Donna Edwards in Maryland.
Source: USA Today on 2016 Nevada Senate race
Apr 16, 2015
Donald Trump:
I am pro-life; fight ObamaCare abortion funding
Billionaire Donald Trump told the Conservative Political Action Conference that he's thinking about running for president. His remarks drew lots of applause and cheers from the crowd, who will play a key role in grass-roots organizing for the eventual
2012 GOP presidential nominee. "I'm well acquainted with winning," Trump said. "That's what this country needs now."In his CPAC speech, Trump sounded many themes popular with
Republican conservatives. "I am pro-life," he said. "I am against gun control."
And in one of his biggest applause lines, Trump vowed to end the nation's health care law: "I will fight to end Obamacare and replace it with something that makes sense for
Source: USA Today report on 2011 Conservative Political Action Conf.
Feb 10, 2011
Charlie Dent:
Support abortion rights
He is a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights and led state Senate efforts to make assaults on gays a hate crime. Dent has also called to limit the number of young people allowed in cars driven by teen-agers.
Source: Candidate Profile of Charlie Dent, USA Today
Nov 2, 2004
Kenny Marchant:
Parental notification for underage to receive abortion
In Austin, Marchant was a key player in the home equity loan bill in 1997. That same year, he sponsored a highly contentious bill that required parental notification before girls under 18 could receive an abortion. The bill died on a technicality.
Source: Candidate Profile of Kenny Marchant, USA Today
Nov 2, 2004
Mike Fitzpatrick:
Oppose abortion rights
Fitzpatrick also was needled by fellow contenders David Denoon and Bill O’Neill, who said his opposition to abortion rights could cost Republicans the seat in the politically moderate district.
Of the four seeking the GOP nomination, only Fitzpatrick opposes abortion rights.
Source: Candidate Profile of Mike Fitzpatrick, USA Today
Nov 2, 2004
Rick Santorum:
There is no federal right to privacy
Q: Your view on the right to privacy?A: The undermining of the fabric of our society all comes from this right to privacy that doesn't exist in the US Constitution. This right was created in Griswold--the contraceptive case--and abortion. And now
we're just extending it out. Whether it's polygamy or sodomy, all of those things are antithetical to a stable, traditional family. The idea of the "right to privacy" is that the state doesn't have rights to limit individuals' passions. I disagree with
that. There are consequences to letting people live out whatever passions they desire. And we're seeing it in our society.
Q: Would a President Santorum eliminate a right to privacy?
A: The right to privacy was created in a law about individual
passions. And I don't agree with that. So I would put it back to the democratic process. If NY doesn't want sodomy laws, if NY wants abortion, fine. I wouldn't agree with it, but that's their right. But I don't agree with the Supreme Court coming in.
Source: Associated Press in USA Today: Santorum Interview
Apr 23, 2003
Lindsey Graham:
Federal crime to harm fetus during an assault
Abortion foes won House approval of legislation that would make it a federal crime to harm or kill a fetus during an assault. The legislation would create a federal offense for destroying or injuring a fetus at any stage of development during an assault.
24 states have similar laws. The measure would not affect a woman who had a legal abortion of health providers who perform the procedure. Supporters of the legislation said the new crime is not related to abortion but would protect women who choose to
have their babies. They did not use the word abortion in their arguments, and they referred to fetuses as “unborn children.” Rep. Lindsey Graham (R, SC), who wrote the bill, said, “America is deeply divided about government interfering with the right to
choose, but that doesn’t mean we consider the unborn child an enemy.” Critics said the measure was unconstitutional and an effort to undo Roe v. Wade, by classifying a fetus as a living being, which the Supreme Court did not do.
Source: USA Today, by Tom Squitieri, p. 4A
Apr 27, 2001
George W. Bush:
Approval of RU-486 is wrong
The FDA approved yesterday the abortion pill RU-486, but leaders on both sides of the abortion issue say debate over the pill will continue. The FDA approved the drug under a regulation that gives the agency more leeway to impose
tighter restrictions or even take it off the market.“The FDA’s decision to approve the abortion pill RU-486 is wrong,” Bush said in a statement. “As president, I will work to build a culture that respects life.”
Source: Rita Rubin, USA Today, p. 1A
Sep 29, 2000
Page last updated: Sep 23, 2022