When Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, the law allowed the medically invasive procedure to be administered at all stages of pregnancy—even up to the point of birth. Thanks to undercover videos, advances in modern technology, and changing attitudes, more Americans are rejecting late-term abortions. This spells bad news for Democrats, who have demonstrated they are out of touch with the majority Americans on this issue.
{mosads}Given polling and recent electoral losses, one would think Democrats would abandon or moderate their extreme views on abortion. Instead, they have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting late-term abortion and funding Planned Parenthood with taxpayer dollars.
Last week, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe vowed to veto any bill banning late-term abortions brought before him in the upcoming General Assembly session. The longtime Democrat bundler and former DNC chairman says this proposed legislation is “socially divisive” for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
“I can’t sit back and have that sitting out the same time I am traveling the globe recruiting businesses to Virginia,” McAuliffe said. “If there’s something that would be damaging toward business, and to our image around the country and the globe, I’ll veto it, you bet I will.”
This doesn’t come as a surprise. When campaigning for office in 2013, McAuliffe pledged to be a “brick wall” for the abortion lobby and suggested late-term abortion is a “constitutional right.” He received a $1,199,121 donation from Planned Parenthood in 2013. Moreover, the Virginia Board of Health under his administration voted to undo hospital-style building codes for all abortion clinics last October.
McAuliffe holds extreme views on abortion similar to those of his longtime friend Hillary Clinton, whose support for late-term abortion—especially her defense of it at the third presidential debate—left even fellow Democrats feeling uneasy.
Not surprisingly, Planned Parenthood has vowed to combat the incoming Trump administration if Congress successfully defunds the organization. The group has said women will be worse off without them if they are stripped of their federal funding.
Really? Though Planned Parenthood receives over half a billion dollars in taxpayer money each year, it also rakes in a lot of private money. Why should Americans subsidize this corporation if its primary service — abortion — is opposed by a majority of voters?
A January 2016 Marist poll found that 80 percent of Americans would restrict abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy—including 82 percent of women and 66 percent of pro-choice supporters polled. This affirms the right-to-life view isn’t extreme; supporting late-term abortion is.
With the 43rd annual March for Life coming up, it’s imperative for lawmakers to keep these realities in mind. Democrats are going to keep losing elections if they continue to ignore their constituents and push extreme positions like late-term abortion on the American people.
Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) is a conservative media strategist and consultant based in Northern Virginia.
The views expressed by Contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.