Cruz Slams Trump: We Shouldn't Be 'Punishing Women' For Abortion

thehill.com ^ | March 30

[Helicondelta]

Ted Cruz lashed out at Donald Trump on Wednesday for saying that women who get abortions illegally should be punished.

"Of course we shouldn’t be talking about punishing women; we should affirm their dignity and the incredible gift they have to bring life into the world,” he added. Trump was asked what a nationwide ban on abortion would look like in an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews.

“The answer is that there has to be some form of punishment,” Trump said.

“For the woman?” Matthews asked.

“Yeah, there has to be some form,” Trump responded.

Trump's comments sparked a firestorm. The celebrity businessman later attempted to walk back the comments in a statement released later on Wednesday.

“If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman,” Trump said.

“The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb. My position has not changed — like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions.”

[fortheDeclaration]

For attempted murder?

[Kit cat]

Yes she IS making a choice an illegal choice!!!!

[fortheDeclaration]

So, anti-abortionist candidates are really lying.

They want abortion illegal, but to have no legal consequences for doing it.

[fortheDeclaration]

Well, both should be punished.

The woman is not a victim.

[fortheDeclaration]

Why? For speaking the truth?

Is the woman a victim when she has an abortion or is she responsible for her actions?

[fortheDeclaration]

For speaking the truth?

Then all anti-abortionists are hypocritical liars!

[fortheDeclaration]

It was a logical question.

[Wpin]

So, Cruz does not believe the baby within the womb is life...

[fortheDeclaration]

Yes, because the anti-abortionists like Cruz don’t have the guts to admit what making something illegal means.

[little jeremiah]

I agree.

[thecodont]

... the “right” not to be inconvenienced over a child is extremely important to the majority of this country, including a significant number of “conservatives”.

So, how did things get to that point?

[Wpin]

“Try running against a female saying you’re going to jail women who seek abortions”

wow, is that really a justification for murder? How low we have sunk as a society when otherwise good people justify murder and killing for convenience or to win office...wow

[Freedom56v2]

Bill Mitchell ‏@mitchellvii Glenn Beck today: "Ted Cruz has got something, maybe not National Enquirer, but something. We're all human..." ------------------------------ Woah Jenny! What does this mean?

[fortheDeclaration]

If the life of the mother is at stake is a legitimate reason to terminate the pregnancy.

[fortheDeclaration]

What words,? That something illegal should have punishment?

How is that a Liberal view?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Hard to change anything without gaining the office needed to do so.

[Wpin]

“That’s what I thought, but totally bizarre seeing an FR Catholic, who has argued with me passionately in the past over Catholicism, freaking out over penalizing women who have abortions. Just... bizarre. Pretty sure there are Protestants in there too also contradicting their world view.”

The Catholic who justifies and in affect condones abortion is committing a mortal sin. That is bizarre but it is also extremely sad. I would say same with Protestants or any Christians who hold such views...it does truly sadden me.

[fortheDeclaration]

So the 'conservative view' is that grown women are not responsible for their actions and shouldn't be punished for breaking the law?

Or is that the pragmatic view to get elected?

[fortheDeclaration]

There would be places that would still perform abortions illegally.

[Wpin]

“Yet Cruz gets praise for taking the “constitutional” positions? I am really confused.”

Cruz misapplied the constitution...the constitution in no way supports abortion. But, it does give insight that Cruz is really not pro life...he obviously does not believe the baby is a life if a mother illegally kills the child and he wants no penalty.