Posted on 08/23/2024 7:43:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Former President Donald Trump again drew outrage from pro-life organizations this week after he said he would not ban the distribution of abortion pills by mail if elected, drawing outrage from pro-life organizations.
In an interview with CBS News on Monday, Trump answered whether he would enforce the Comstock Act if he won the 2024 presidential election. As explained by reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns, the 1873 law could "prohibit the … distribution of medication abortion by mail."
"No," Trump responded. "We will be discussing specifics of it but generally speaking, no."
When asked again if he would enforce the Comstock Act, Trump reiterated he would not.
The text of the Comstock Act states that "every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral use" is "declared to be nonmailable matter and shall not be conveyed in the mails or delivered from any post office or by any letter carrier." It subjects violators to fines and/or imprisonment.
When asked if chemical abortion pills should be "widely available," Trump replied, "It's going to be available," adding, "It is now."
Trump suggested that the U.S. Supreme Court has adopted the view of "keep it the way it is" regarding the availability of the abortion pill, referring to a decision earlier this year dismissing a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's approval of medication abortion pill mifepristone.
The justices concluded that the plaintiffs who brought the case lacked standing to do so. They did not rule on the merits of the case.
The former president and Republican nominee's response to the questions did not sit well with pro-life advocacy groups.
"We can't ignore the rule of law and pick and choose the laws that we want to enforce," Kristi Hamrick of Students for Life of America told Politico.
"Isn't everybody's criticism of the Department of Justice their selective enforcement? So this would be the selective un-enforcement of a law that says these are dangerous drugs and should not be mailed. It's very problematic for a party that respects the law," she said, referring to the Republican Party.
Lila Rose, founder and president of the pro-life group Live Action, told the outlet Trump's comments are a cause for concern.
"It seems like Trump doesn't care about the pro-life base anymore," she stressed.
"When Trump is compromising, it's deeply discouraging to pro-life and pro-family voters, and I think he's putting his own election in jeopardy," she warned. "Quite frankly, this is a losing strategy."
Trump's comments about the Comstock Act were not the only part of the interview that drew the ire of pro-life advocates.
He also declared that "the federal government should have nothing to do with this issue," referring to the legality of abortion. The comment comes as some Republicans and pro-life activists want to push for federal abortion restrictions. Trump has been clear throughout 2024 that he opposes efforts to enact a federal abortion ban and believes the issue should be left to the states.
Tony Perkins, the president of the Christian conservative activist organization Family Research Council, condemned Trump's view.
"It is not a pro-life position, it's not an acceptable position, and it does not provide the contrast on this issue to the degree that we have had in the past between him and Kamala Harris," Perkins told Politico.
"What President Trump is doing is suppressing his own support," Perkins added.
Trump faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The Democratic Party Platform fully embraces "reproductive rights," signaling an intention to codify the Supreme Court's now-overturned 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide into federal law.
Hamrick suggested that if Trump really "wants to be out of the federal business of abortion," he should "No. 1, stop funding it and, two, end the federal prejudice in favor of this distribution."
Pro-life groups have been warning about the risks of medication abortion for several years. A 2020 investigative report compiled by Live Action noted that women who take the abortion pill can experience "severe cramping, contractions, and heavy bleeding." The report detailed how FDA data shows "women can expect the bleeding to last 9 to 16 days on average, while 8% experience bleeding for more than 30 days."
The report cited statistics suggesting that the abortion pill caused 24 maternal deaths between 2000 — when the FDA first approved it — and 2018 and caused more than 1,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 "total adverse events."
We need to learn how to win hearts over to our side and not depend on the laws. There are pregnancy resource centers all over the country that most people don't about which educate women about their choices and offer resources and assist in finding alternatives to abortion. These need to be advertised like Planned Parenthood.
>>Trump’s position is and seems to always have been that there should be no federal abortion laws, pro or against. I’m fine with that. The abortion battle should be fought in the states.
Totally of your opinion.
Win now. Argue later.
Don’t get mad at me but Trump has repeatedly said this is not a Federal Matter (as per the 10th amendment) but an issue for the States. I believe he supports laws banning abortion pills but only if they are State laws.
I’m not in favor of any president banning anything that isn’t directly related to national security.
“ he’s systematically disarming the libtards so they have NO weapons against us. We MUST win”
They could care less what he says.
Geezus morons.
Take the win. Roe V Wade going back to 19th ammendment was the right thing and a generational move.
Move on for a cycle or two and then you can chip away.
For now, focus on getting elected and another SCOTUS judge
If it is taking of human life then it must be stopped, if it is just a medical procedure then proceed as you are.
they do when they think he’s “stealing” their “rights”! we need to quell the libtard turnout at the polls and this is one way to do it
the only way to win the battle culturally is on the state level...we need to change morays and that does not happen anywhere but on the local side. if you try and federalize the issue it can backfire really bad. the abortion issue is not going to be won in the courts it will be won in how we deal with each other and convincing society that it is wrong to the point where a ban is supported by at least 75 percent of the population. the majority rules simply mean a back and forth with the laws
I don’t think he has a choice…. The courts have already ruled at least on a preliminary basis.
It is no longer a Federal issue. That decision has been rightfully been placed with the states. It’s time for Christians to realize they must try to get their states to support those issues. If not, then they need to find a state that does.
Will there likewise be future ramifications for not eradicating abortion in all forms?
Christian Post, huh Seekie? Stirring some Friday news dump from Christian Post? Got a t-shirt for you girls...
And cuckservatives are losers who don’t know how to win.
So, is this report true or false? If false, tell me where. If true, no amount of not liking it changes anything
RE: S&F can got F*** himself.
You just violated the rule against attacking a fellow poster who simply posted an article. And you call yourself a conservative?
I have reported this to the moderators
Yet another compromise Trump is making in favor of the abortion crowd. I thought the Repubs took abortion off their national policiy and prentended it did'nt exist.
You don’t just post articles. Whenever someone calls you out on it you hide behind you are just posting articles. We know exactly what you are doing. This goes back to 2015 with you TDS posters. Nothing has changed. And you can still go Freep yourself
Substitute "race" with "abortion" and this statement is dead on.
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.