Editor’s note. This is a page one story that appears in the digital May edition of National Right to Life News. Please be sure to share this 41-page edition far and wide. We count on you to “get the word out.”
Democrats have their sights set on the 2020 elections, where they hope to unseat pro-life President Donald Trump.
Which presidential candidates support abortion on demand? Who will protect unborn children 20 weeks and older – babies capable of experiencing pain during an abortion?
National Right to Life has researched the top presidential candidates’ positions on abortion and prepared a shareable, downloadable flyer and posted it online for your use.
The comparison considered the following issues:
- Roe v. Wade/Abortion
- The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
- Taxpayer Funding of Abortion and/or Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Providers
A candidate’s position on abortion, in spite of what you will hear in the media, is important to the electorate. In 2016, 49% of all voters considered the issue of abortion when they voted.
It will be again in 2020. Consider just what has happened since the beginning of 2019.
On January 22, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed and celebrated the “Reproductive Health Act” (aka the Abortion Without Limits Until Birth and Beyond Act). It removed all limitations on abortion through birth and protections for abortion survivors.
Almost simultaneously, Virginia Del. Kathy Tran (D) admitted her bill would allow abortions up until the moment of birth. Soon afterward Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) casually announced that doctors [abortionists] could allow infanticide on babies who survive abortion.
This and actions in other states and the resistance of pro-abortion Congressional Democrats means that 2020’s percentage of voters who consider the issue of abortion is likely to be higher than 2016 and 2018 voters’ interest.
So where do the presidential candidates stand on abortion?
Not surprisingly, the Democrat candidates have very different views on abortion than Donald Trump’s.
Following is an overview of their positions on abortion-related issues. (The downloadable version of “Where do the Candidates Stand on Life?” is available here.)
Roe v. Wade and Abortion on Demand
Donald Trump has proven his pro-life commitment through his many pro-life accomplishments as president. Among many others they include: appointing pro-life advocates to his administration and cabinet; restoring and then expanding the “Mexico City Policy”; nominating strict constructionists to federal courts and the Supreme Court; and pledging “to veto any legislation that weakens current pro-life federal policies and laws, or that encourages the destruction of innocent human life an any state.”
In contrast every one of the top twenty Democratic presidential candidates (who have filed to run and are polling at least 0.5%) support New York-style abortion on demand policies: Michael Bennet, Joe Biden, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Julian Castro, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, John Hickenlooper, Jay Inslee, Amy Klobuchar, Seth Moulton, Beto O’Rourke, Tim Ryan, Bernie Sanders, Eric Swalwell, Elizabeth Warren, Marianne Williamson, and Andrew Yang.
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would prohibit abortions after the unborn child is capable of experiencing pain from abortion.
At his 2019 State of the Union speech, President Donald Trump called on Congress to “pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.”
Again, every one of the top twenty Democratic presidential candidates listed above support New York-style abortion on demand policies, which allows abortion after 20 weeks, when the unborn child is capable of feeling pain.
Taxpayer Funding of Abortion and/or Abortion Providers
Direct taxpayer funding of abortion, as well as taxpayer funding of abortion providers – such as Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider – results in more abortions and more dead babies.
Data demonstrates that restricting taxpayer funding of abortion saves lives. Yet the 2020 Democrat Party platform will no doubt repeat the 2016 platform plank which calls for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment (which restricts the use of federal funds for abortion). The Hyde Amendment is responsible for saving at least two million lives.
Their platform also supports government funding of abortion providers.
By contrast President Trump opposes using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion, and he is committed to defund abortion providers. In 2018, President Trump’s HHS Department issued regulations to ensure Title X funding does not go to facilities that perform or refer for abortions. His Administration cut off funding for the UNFPA due to their involvement in China’s forced abortion program.
Nearly all of the leading Democrat presidential candidates support taxpayer funding of abortions and/or taxpayer funding of abortion providers. Many have voting records. To see their positions, go to cqrcengage.com/nrlc/scorecard
Please download and share the flyer. A downloadable version of the flyer, “Where do the Candidates Stand on Life?” may be found here.
Look for updates in future National Right to Life News Today.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
