Posted on 03/30/2016 2:50:43 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump quickly walked back a statement he made earlier Wednesday that if abortion were illegal in the United States, then women who have the procedure should be punished - saying later that only those who performed the procedure should be punished.
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 in a written statement. The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb.
Earlier, at a taped MSNBC town hall to be aired later Wednesday, Trump said if abortions were illegal, women should be held responsible.
Host Chris Matthews pressed Trump to clarify, asking him whether abortion should be punished and who ultimately should be held accountable.
Look, people in certain parts of the Republican Party, conservative Republicans, would say, Yes, it should, Trump said.
The candidate later put out a statement saying: This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination.
Trumps comments come at a time when hes losing traction with women voters.
When asked specifically at the town hall what he thought, the New York businessman answered, I would say its a very serious problem and its a problem we have to decide on. Are you going to send them to jail?
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
ping to 60 for link
Yeah whatever, this is the standard snotty liberal question for pro-lifers. It’s akin to the ‘what if your daughter became pregnant by rape’ question that they also love. Personally, I am getting tired of Cruz’s histrionics. To me, he sounds like an annoying student trying to appeal to other college Republicans. One day Trump is not sincerely pro-life, the next day he is too extreme on the issue... the day before that, his campaign manager should be fired for a nothing event. I mean, enough already. Anyway, Ted has zero chance of getting the nomination. Either Trump wins on the first ballot or the GOPe will pick someone other than Cruz. Think how stupid it would be for the convention to pick the guy who finished second and therefore has less claim to the nomination than the first place guy does. So I think it will be Trump or some non-Trump who is not named Cruz. Anyway, I am tired of the most brilliant lawyer ever schtick and odd grimace smile. The dude is simply not going to sell outside hardcore conservative circles. He has zero crossover appeal, in my opinion. And the idea that Trump is not conservative and trustworthy enough so let’s hand the election to Hillary also makes zero sense to me. This cannot be over soon enough for my taste.
I hope you all don’t choke saying president hillary. I know I will. I wonder what she promised the Trojan horse.
I like Trump....he should have handled that question way better. This will leave a mark. Hillary and the rest of them will use it forever.
Blow this off? But this goes right to the heart of what Trump thinks about the social issues, the issues that built our party and has sustained us all these years.
For him to just "blow this off" makes him no different than the GOP Establishment who work like dogs to rid the Republican party of anything substantial having to do with the life issues.
Do we really want a leader who has to backtrack on every other statement he makes?
Yes, abortions back then were significantly more dangerous to the woman compared to today. Forensic science has also improved significantly since then as well. Thus the ability to convict is must easier.
“That really sound ominous. Care to cite some evidence, I mean, other than venom?”
From Fox News today: “Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump quickly walked back a statement he made earlier Wednesday that if abortion were illegal in the United States, then women who have the procedure should be punished - saying later that only those who performed the procedure should be punished.”
Let’s start with that.
There you go. As most pro-life groups say.
Look, Trump gets stumble mouth sometimes. And the media is trying to punish him for it....but clarification statements are meant to clear up any confusion.
Amazing how only Republicans are ripped for off the cuff remarks, and Democrats are forgiven ad infinitum.
Trump fan are sure to eat it all up though.
Now they’re killing him on Fox News for correcting. Can’t win.
Punishment for a crime doesn’t necessarily mean jail time. But I guess that point was overlooked as well as the secondary part of that statement which included it would need to be discussed.
I am pro-life and I do not advocate jailing or prosecuting women who get abortions....often enough they are the ones who are being coerced...besides, if abortion is made illegal and the suppliers are dried up, it’ll likely make the procedure rare.
The murderers are the doctors who chop the baby up. They and their colleagues convince the pregnant teens and women children are a pain and need to be killed.
The Christian attitude is to protect the child and the mother, and to love them both.
This man can NOT be President. He has to clarify or walk back so many statements. He’s a loose cannon and has a terrible temprement. Republican voters are making a terrible mistake.
+1
something else that annoys me is the fact that 99% of the media has ignored the beautiful moment between the dying woman and Donald Trump the other day in Wisconsin.
The hug of Kasich was treated like a national event. If Hitlery holds a baby or sheds a tear, it is front page yahoo....
Trump misspeaks on abortion and everyone loses their mind.
22 states TRUMP.
8 little caucuses and Texas w 43% and Ok.= 10
Almost 300 more delegates than establishment man Ted Bush.
Over 2 million more votes than establishment mouthpiece
Ted Bush.
www.tedbush.org
From the article;
“The former reality television star later added that there has to be some form of punishment, for women who get abortions after a ban is implemented, acknowledging the punishment would have to be determined.
What Trump actually said;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1Jpoecf0xY
Note that nowhere does Trump say “women should be punished for abortions”. NOWHERE.
Trumps statement is here;
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trump-statement-regarding-abortion
Not sure what that has to do with the conversation. But ok.
Did you? Read post 77 and 20.
Thanks. This underlines the legal basis for treating the woman as a victim and not as a perp.
I am willing to leave individual moral judgment to
God. What I want the this-worldly justice system to do, is to shut down the abortion industry —— which you can ONLY do by framing your proposals as woman-protective legislation.
This cannot be doubted by anyone who actually knows the history and the way the political process works in this country.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.