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."
Which is precisely what conservatives were arguing for years. Getting sick of “our side” giving the idiots ammo on this issue.
4-6% of the US population commits about 60% of the violent crime. Maybe Margaret Sanger had a point.
If Trump loses all abortions will be legal and paid for by the government. Why do these people not understand that you need strategy. I’m sure you’d love for him to run on No Abortions for anyone at any time but he’d definitely lose and 2, that wouldn’t happen if he wins. He’s making this a non issue and he should. I doubt anyone on this forum is for unfettered abortions but making that the central issue of the campaign is what will happen if Trump engages with this and everything will be lost. There are casualties in war. Fight this battle locally, don’t let them make the election a referendum on Roe.
This is designed to make abortion the central issue of the campaign. Don’t be fooled (again). Economy, Immigration, WW3. Stay focused. The fight to save the children in the womb has to be fought at a state level. It doesn’t mean give up the fight but it does mean be strategic.
he’s systematically disarming the libtards so they have NO weapons against us. We MUST win. This is war.
If we don't win the war against Molloch, what exactly have we won? A very disappointing shift from the president who gave us 3 anti-Roe justices.
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.
A fat lot of good that does unborn children in blue states and red states whose pro-life voters were tricked into voting for abortion via misleading language in the referenda. You're either for protecting innocent life or you're not.
The only thing that matters right now is winning.
Otherwise, everything is moot.
Under our Constitution, Amendment 10, abortion regulation is reserved to the states. So, abortion opponents, we have two options: (1) change the culture state-by-state, and abortion will disappear state-by-state; or (2) seek a Constitutional amendment allowing a nationwide ban.
I don't know about the quotes because I don't know the reporter. But Christian Post is permanently stained by their op-ed operator Michael Brown, who is the biggest Laodicean *********r on this earthly kingdom.
Zero unborn babies are saved when pro-life candidates lose elections
Do you really think Kamala stands a chance against Trump?
I believe Trump is committed to doing what is constitutionally his role to do, which is appoint judges who stand for the Constitution and left Roe v. Wade back up to the states.
Trump also empowers Christians and protects our freedoms. And that is what is at stake this election. WE are called to help end abortions.
Yep. I was talking about this several weeks ago, Trump HAS to win by whatever it takes. I think he made a fatal mistake by picking JD Vance. I like JD, I think he’s an awesome, smart guy who would make a great President, but Trump lost a lot of the women vote by picking him and it may cost him the election. He should have picked Tulsi Gabbard. A lot of freepers don’t agree with me, but like I said up top: Trump HAS to win this election by whatever it takes! Nothing else matters. We cannot cannot cannot lose this election otherwise we are finished as a nation.
can you explain why Dobbs decision was bad? (Not a legal scholar.)
“...drawing outrage from pro-life organizations. “
Love Tulsi, thought the same as you initially, and I’m a woman voter - but her (voting) record is far too left (not moderate) on abortion, and would have caused even more of a stir among the base than the article above.
The base needs to be unified and who knows, maybe Vance draws in some much needed male voters who may have been on the fence? And you’re right: he is very qualified to be president!
Why has this non-story languishing in Front Page News — which it did not merit — suddenly been promoted to the top of Breaking News 6:30ET? Who did this?
Yes.
I’m hoping to be proven wrong, but I think if Trump wins it will be VERY close.
Too many morons in this country who vote stupidly and who allow cheating.
If we don’t win this election we lose EVERYTHING. Patience grasshopper...DJT is making promises to the left to lure them in just like the left does to people.
He was ‘pro abortion’ during his first campaign (really made me mad too) and turns out, he’s the only one that was able to destroy RvW. God speed DJT
no way. JD is a powerhouse and this identity politics crap needs to swirl down the toilet once and for all.
Women are going to vote for DJT in droves. Just watch.
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