By Steve BermanJoe Biden wants to make the 2024 election about abortion. He’s got good reason to pick that issue, mainly because it’s the one issue he didn’t completely bungle. If Biden picks the economy, he’s got to deal with inflation and the prices of things being so much higher. If he picks COVID and how four years ago things were so much worse, he’s got to face the draconian, tyrannical policies of progressive states that shut down churches while saying Black Lives Matter gatherings were not public health hazards.
If he picks foreign policy, well, I think we all know. I personally believe it’s in America’s interest to have Ukraine beat Russia, but Biden’s policy has not been to enable that–it’s been to prolong the war while Russia has time and manpower on its side. If there ends up being a negotiated peace that hands Putin a win, blame that on Biden’s half-measures. Afghanistan was a disgraceful mess. Biden betrayed Israel after saying America’s on their side, just to squeeze a few Muslim votes out of Michigan and Minnesota. (Trump leads Biden by 2.8% in Michigan, according to the RCP Average, so it didn’t help).
So Biden is going with abortion, where most Americans think there should be limits, but not outright bans. “Restore Roe” is some kind of rallying cry, as if the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade, a terrible decision, needs to be reversed. That won’t happen. States are now free to legislate how they please–how their citizens believe–to limit medical abortion procedures. Most states are trending toward limits between six and 36 weeks. I think 36 weeks is a travesty, given that babies born at 23 weeks can survive and thrive with current medical technology. A 36-week abortion is basically a birth where doctors coldly let the baby die, alone and in pain.
But the Biden campaign managed to recruit a woman in Texas who went into premature labor and had to travel outside the state, and a Louisiana woman who claims she couldn’t get medical care for a miscarriage to campaign for him. This has little to do with the actual issue of abortion, and everything to do with squeezing a few votes out of places he’s losing, and shoring up support in states where he loses “ten votes a day” despite his big campaign war chest.
Donald Trump says he’s going to weigh in on abortion today, April 8th. He’s going to speak on Florida’s six week abortion limit. On Truth Social, Trump posted “Great love and compassion must be shown when even thinking about the subject of LIFE, but at the same time we must use common sense in realizing that we have an obligation to the salvation of our Nation, which is currently in serious DECLINE, TO WIN ELECTIONS, without which we will have nothing other than failure, death, and destruction.”
At least Trump acknowledges this is all about votes, not life.
However, if Trump rails against a six-week abortion limit, I think he will lose some voters who otherwise might have cast a ballot for him. I think he’s more interested in not energizing Biden voters, who might stay home, giving Trump an advantage in close swing state races.
The fact is, no matter how many women campaign for Biden because they couldn’t get a doctor to kill the baby in their womb, none of the murdered unborn can campaign for anyone. As Ronald Reagan said, pithily, “Everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” The silent voices can never campaign, but we can stand up for them. Donald Trump can stand up for them.
And he should. It’s not about votes. It’s about life.
Follow Steve on Twitter @stevengberman.
The First TV contributor network is a place for vibrant thought and ideas. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of The First or The First TV. We want to foster dialogue, create conversation, and debate ideas. See something you like or don’t like? Reach out to the author or to us at ideas@thefirsttv.com.
