I don’t disagree with you, and I thought, until I read this, that I didn’t disagree with Fred. I was expecting another word-twisting hit job by the writer or interviewer.
I agree that Roe v. Wade should be reversed. It was abysmal constitutional law, because it pretends that there was something in the constitution, a “woman’s right to abortion” that simply is not there.
I also agree that it may not be wise to push for a constitutional amendment. We tried that earlier, and it was counterproductive.
BUT. I am disturbed by what he says about his reservations about criminalizing abortion at the state level, or even setting age limits. Perhaps I misunderstand him. Certainly the interviewer is trying to back him into a corner.
But read what he says. Some of it is very disturbing. He seems to say that abortion should not be criminalized. Which is as good as saying that women and doctors should be free to perform abortions if they choose to. Not good. Not good at all. If he doesn’t correct this impression, HE IS TOAST.
But the following quote from the interview sure makes it sound as though he not only wants the decision at the state level, but he personally is opposed to making abortion illegal.
Maybe I'm missing the context or something, or perhaps he misspoke ... but here it is:
People ask me, hypothetically, “Okay, it goes back to the states. Somebody comes up with a bill, and they say, ‘We’re going to outlaw this, that or the other.’” And my response was, I do not think it is a wise thing to criminalize young girls, and perhaps their parents as aiders and abettors, and perhaps their family physician. And that’s what you’re talking about. It’s not a ‘sense of the Senate.’ You’re talking about a potential criminal law. I said, those things are going to be won in the hearts and minds of people.
Your interpretation.
Correctly Fred is still supporting the notion of letting the states decide on what should be allowed and penaties for it, his consideration here is for what constitutes crime and punishment.
So let me ask, what would be the punishment?
In a world of our choosing, abortion would be outlawed. Period. In a realistic sense, abortion would be limited to the case of danger to the mother, rape or incest. This cannot be done at the Federal level, there is not enough support for it.
Now at the state level is another matter. Once a bill can be made into law, even with some deficiences, it can be strengthened each year far easier than trying to re-write law at the federal level.