Biden Vows To Protect Abortion Rights, Provoking Harsh Response From Trump

Topline

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Monday that, if elected, he’ll protect abortion rights should the Supreme Court strike down Roe v. Wade, vowing he would enact legislation making Roe v. Wade “the law of the land” if it were overturned by the court, which prompted President Trump to lash out at Biden via Twitter Tuesday morning regarding reproductive rights, still one of the more continuous and divisive issues among the American populace.

Key Facts

Key Background:

Biden’s position on reproductive rights has shifted throughout his political career. In a 1974 interview with Washingtonian, Biden, a practicing Catholic, criticized Roe v. Wade. “I don’t like the Supreme Court decision on abortion. I think it went too far. I don’t think that a woman has the sole right to say what should happen to her body,” Biden said. According to Axios, he voted several times, including in 1983, to prevent federal employees from obtaining abortion services through their health insurance. In 2006, in an interview with Texas Monthly, the former Vice President stated, “I’m a little bit of an odd man out in my party,” adding, “I’ve made the groups—the women’s groups and others—very angry because I won’t support public funding and I won’t support partial-birth abortion.” In 2007, during an appearance on Meet the Press, Biden was asked whether he supported a ban on partial-birth abortions or late-term abortions. “I did, and I do,” he replied. During the Vice Presidential debate against Paul Ryan in October of 2012, Biden stated, “I accept church rule personally, but not in public life.” During a debate in 2019, Biden said, “Reproductive rights are a constitutional right. And, in fact, every woman should have that right.” President Trump’s views on abortion have also changed dramatically. During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press in 1999, Trump claimed, “I’m very pro-choice. I hate the concept of abortion… But you still — I just believe in choice.” While running for president in 2016, Trump said his views had changed and that he was now opposed to abortion.

Tangent:

Some 56% of respondents in a New York Times/Siena College poll published last month said they would be less likely to vote for Trump if his choice for justice would help overturn Roe v. Wade, versus just 24% that said they would be more inclined to vote for him. When asked which candidate would do a better job picking a Supreme Court justice, 50% of voters trust Biden, 43% trust Trump, and 7% are undecided.

Further Reading:

Polls Show Key Voting Groups Want Supreme Court Seat Filled After Election (Forbes) 

Trump blasts Joe Biden following pledge to pass national abortion law (New York Post)