Context:
The comment, which is sure to rile abortion-rights supporters, came during a week where Trump is fighting to defend himself on women’s issues on multiple fronts ahead of a key primary in Wisconsin.
At a taping of an MSNBC town hall to be aired later, host Chris Matthews pressed Trump on his anti-abortion position, repeatedly asking him whether abortion should be punished if it is outlawed. “This is not something you can dodge.”
“Look, people in certain parts of the Republican Party, conservative Republicans, would say, ‘Yes, it should,’” Trump answered.
“How about you?” Matthews asked.
“I would say it’s a very serious problem and it’s a problem we have to decide on. Are you going to send them to jail?” Trump said.
“I’m asking you,” Matthews said.
“I am pro-life,” Trump said. Asked how a ban would actually work, Trump said, “Well, you go back to a position like they had where they would perhaps go to illegal places but we have to ban it,” Trump said.
Matthews then pressed Trump on whether he believes there should be punishment for abortion if it were illegal
“There has to be some form of punishment,” Trump said. “For the woman?” Matthews asked. “Yeah,” Trump said, nodding.
Trump said the punishment would “have to be determined.”
Trump said the stakes of the general election are high because of the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February. President Barack Obama has nominated a replacement whom Senate Republicans say they won’t consider because of the impending national vote.
Looks like Trump let himself be badgered by Matthews.
sigh.
Not helpful for Trump or Cruz to take this position.
Focus should be on the clinics and the body parts for sale.
I doubt it. This statement is clearly aimed at the large group of people who are not on either side of the abortion debate. Such a statement is meant to push them into the 'pro-choice' camp.
Which is exactly what Cruz tried to do with legislation that the RINOS and Rats killed in the Senate.
Not helpful for Trump or Cruz to take this position.
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No. Not helpful at all. God forbid that a conservative should take on a conservative position.
/SARC
Exactly.
Fell into a left-wing trap. The proper response would have been something like: “We have so many problems facing America today, I don’t have time to address hypotheticals”.
Of course, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I do know that the MSM is not the friend of the Right.