Posted on 04/01/2016 4:29:09 PM PDT by 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.
Isn’t that the Kasich justification of homosexual marriage?
LOL! Upper east side liberal
It’s settled law is the common excuse for acquiescing to the left on social issues.
“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.”
Huh?
Well, I hope it’s not a picket fence he’s trying so hard to straddle.
So, Trump would appoint pro-choice justices? Abortion is murder, but that’s ok?
Trump is a buffoon. He hasn’t thought thru any position in any detail. And he’s not conservative enough to be called a RINO.
Unfortunately he is right. Without a constitutional amendment abortion on demand will remain legal.
The House of Representatives have the power of the purse and to impeach justices.
In the 18 years that the Republicans have held power, what have they done about abortion?
They continued to fund Planned Parenthood
They did nothing about federal judges who usurped state laws regulating abortions
They did nothing when abortionists such as Kermit Gosnell outright killed innocent life
House Republicans have the power to defund abortion, to impeach judges, to abolish judiciaries, and to overturn Roe vs Wade.
HAVE THEY DONE IT???
I thought Kasich's justification is that he's a secret rump ranger.
This whole mess reminds me of the Komen mess. For those of you who have forgotten, in, I think 2013, Komen decided not to provide funding any more for Planned Parenthood. With joy I signed up to walk. I had quit walking when I learned that they DID fund PP. Then in a few weeks, after intense pressure from PP, Komen once again said that they would provide grants to PP. Komen sank like a stone. The MSM said it was because of their initial decision. I think it was because they backtracked.
So healthcare for everyone should remain legal because it is the law now?
I can not agree with that.
As a Trump supporter, I’m very confused right now. If he thinks we need to leave the laws this way, I’m going to have a big problem with that. I understand he went “too far” to the right because National Right to Life and other pro-life groups pounced on him just like the left. I understand abortion isn’t an issue that he probably has thought a lot on as his focus is on the economy, security, and immigration. So therefore, I realize he had to huddle up with his advisors and try to “fix” what he said. That said, I don’t know if he has been advised to say this or if he decided to say this himself. However, he has now swung so far to the left with this statement that, unless I’m misunderstanding it or it’s out of context, it will offend his pro-life constituents. I can’t get a read on his true feelings which he voices freely on other subjects. What he should have said is that he is pro-life, was given a hypothetical, the laws are set now, but he believes they should be changed. Obviously he has indicated support for exceptions, so he could add “with those exceptions.” I disagree with the exceptions as my belief is that if it is a person, there is a Constitutional right to life, and that doesn’t change because of the horrible situation surrounding conception. He does, though, and that will go over better with voters as I know my position isn’t popular.
It’s my concern he is going too far the other way. I’m a Trump supporter and have defended him, but I am uncomfortable with this statement from him.
"Do you think abortion is murder?" Dickerson asked.Not a difficult question at all, and Trump couldn't answer it without being asked more questions.
"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.
So the left wing Trump has appeared.
He is losing me very quickly as second choice. He should have ran as a democrat.
There is no supreme court ruling that states that there is a constitutional right to healthcare. There is only a ruling that the Affordable Care act is not unconstitutional.
There is a constitutional ruling that there is a right to privacy in the constitution and that that non existent, non-stated right to privacy includes the right to an abortion. In order to change that ruling and outlaw abortion, a right to life amendment would be required.
New legislation can overturn Obamacare. It can not over turn Roe vs. Wade.
So was George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. Yet nothing changed.
Just shows what a Sodom and Gomorrah America has become. May God smack it down, hard. It's well deserved.
OK... he’s splattered himself all over the policy map on abortion.
What else is “negotiable?”
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