Donald Trump: Don't change abortion laws

CBS News ^ | April 1, 2016 | Jake Miller

[ConservativeTeen]

Donald Trump said Friday that he believes the laws regulating abortion should stay as they are, but he doesn't disagree with the proposition that abortion is murder.

The GOP frontrunner lit a fresh controversy this week with his shifting responses to a question on abortion policy. He said during an MSNBC town hall on Tuesday that he'd like to see the practice banned, and that women who undergo it should face "some form of punishment." But he quickly backtracked, explaining in a statement that while he believes it should be banned, the punishment should be levied on abortion providers, not the women seeking abortions.

Trump sought to clarify his position during an interview on Friday with "Face the Nation" moderator John Dickerson. The interview will air, in part, on Sunday's broadcast.

"A question was asked to me. And it was asked in a very hypothetical. And it was said, 'Illegal, illegal,'" Trump explained. "I've been told by some people that was an older line answer and that was an answer that was given on a, you know, basis of an older line from years ago on a very conservative basis."

Asked how he'd like to change the law to further restrict access to abortions, Trump replied, "The laws are set now on abortion and that's the way they're going to remain until they're changed."

"I would've preferred states' rights," he added. "I think it would've been better if it were up to the states. But right now, the laws are set....At this moment, the laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way."

"Do you think abortion is murder?" Dickerson asked.

"I have my opinions on it, but I'd rather not comment on it," Trump replied.

"You said you were very pro-life," Dickerson followed up. "Pro-life means that...abortion is murder."

"I mean, I do have my opinions on it. I just don't think it's an appropriate forum," said Trump.

"But you don't disagree with that proposition, that it's murder?" Dickerson asked.

"No, I don't disagree with it," Trump eventually replied.

The back-and-forth over abortion wasn't the only political controversy involving Trump this week. He also stood by his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, who's been charged with battery after allegedly grabbing a reporter's arm during a public event last month. And he suggested on Tuesday that he no longer feels bound by his pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee, complaining that the party has treated him "very unfairly."

Despite a chorus of critics assailing both moves, Trump told "Face the Nation" it hasn't been the worst week of his campaign.

"I think I've had many bad weeks and I've had many good weeks. I don't see this as the worst week in my campaign," he said. "But certainly, I've had some weeks, and you've been reporting on them, where that was the end. And then the next week, you see poll numbers where they went up and everybody's shocked."

"So yeah, people want to stop me because I'm leading by a lot," he added.

For more of the interview with Trump, tune into "Face the Nation" on Sunday. Check your local listings for airtimes. © 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[RightFighter]

So we should elect the guy who says he thinks the laws should stay the way they are, then. Sigh...

[Jim from C-Town]

Presidents can wholesale eliminate Judges and Federal Courts as Thomas Jefferson did. Why haven’t any of the ‘Pro-Life’ Presidents eliminated the ninth circuit or the DC court of appeals. Jefferson did it.

They are not exactly fervent pro-lifers or even all that conservative. That is why.

[ScottinVA]

So is this going to be his standard response every time he’s pressed for details?

[Jim from C-Town]

We should elect Cruz, but he will not get the nomination. He and Trump should bury the hatchet and agree to run together. Cruz is 44 years old and the best way for him to get to the white house is after a stint in a successful administration.

[Reaper19]

Its getting to the point where Trump’s stance on this issue would give even John Kerry and Mitt Romney whiplash at all the flip-flops.

For me this issue is paramount. While it appears that a full Republican government wouldn’t do anything about abortion itself, the “right” to have an abortion isn’t the only issue here. Parental consent, taking minors across state lines for abortions, partial birth abortion and more are all still issues that are far from settled.

[E20erer]

Bunch of stealth operatives on this thread. LOL

Go Trump!

[sagar]

Trump Flip Flexible Flop.

Trump was for Abortion before he was against Abortion. He also wanted Abortioning women to face punishment, but now treats them as victims. Just mental gymnastics from the principle-less con man.

[hawkaw]

Lol. Flip flop and then hard flip to the left. Yeah Trump, the conservatives will support you with that answer, not. But wait. He has all those independents and democrats that are going to vote with him, not. Trump needs to quit talking about this issue.

[RightFighter]

Exactly. He tries to be all things to all people, often within the same interview.

[highball]

So is this going to be his standard response every time he’s pressed for details?

Well, in fairness, he's used to having many takes to get his lines right. You can't expect him to figure out what you want him to say on the spot.

This is what happens when you have a candidate without any principles beyond the few focus-group-tested soundbites he's memorized. The very moment he runs out of talking points he fumbles around trying to figure out what the "very conservative basis" is on any given issue.

[ScottinVA]

Yep, and every time he’s pressed for specifics, this is what we can expect.

Great pic, Trumpettes.

[odawg]

Headline is false.

[Psalm 73]

OK, parse this out:

Donald Trump said Friday that he believes the laws regulating abortion should stay as they are, but he doesn't disagree with the proposition that abortion is murder."

Trump believes that abortion is murder, but also thinks it should remain legal.
That's a giant of a thinker right there.

[mlizzy]

Both GWB and Ronald Reagan were pro-life "with exceptions." Those babies that die from rape/incest are just as human as the others, and their mothers, too, then are damaged emotionally for a lifetime.

If we cannot even elect a 100% pro-life man when one is available, what does Jesus think of that?

[Pinkbell]

I wish it was, but I heard the actual interview clip, and he says:

“...But right now, the laws are set....At this moment, the laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way.”

It’s that last sentence.

[E20erer]

President Trump has a nice ring to it.

He is the right person to be our nations President at such a time as this.

Quick snapshot about why Trump has the most support for this election.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OYZPKYecRGM

Must see video of Trump calling 2 patriots on stage who helped remove a disrupter. Must see Video from South Carolina, the video went viral.

We are hoping that Donald J Trump gives his acceptance speech on July 21, 2016 at the Republican National Conventions in Cleveland, OH stage. And we will never give up because we will #WriteInTrump in November if we have to.

[Jim from C-Town]

I doubt Jesus thinks much about it at all. He is omnipotent and already knows the outcome. Also being fully human as well as fully God, he knows that man is flawed and fallen.

[arl295]

Exactly,

And the republicans won’t do it

They need the issue so they can get these “values voters” to the voting booth

That is all that matters

[odawg]

If you had read further, you would have noticed that when he was asked if he disagreed with the pro-life position that abortion was murder he said he did not disagree with that position.

So it is a wash.

[mlizzy]

Abortion has deformed this great nation, and we need to work hard to change that around.