This week, the Democratic presidential hopefuls met again for another debate, spanning two nights. While not every candidate was present, the groups who assembled discussed their positions on issues like women’s pay and health care. However, one thing that wasn’t discussed enough, according to Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry was — you guessed it — abortion.
While Kamala Harris and Joe Biden did discuss the Hyde Amendment, the word abortion was never mentioned, and the CNN moderators never brought it up either. Carter Sherman complained at Vice, “CNN moderators didn’t ask the candidates a single question about abortion in either of the two nights of debate, and none of the candidates brought up the word.” It didn’t take long for the abortion industry to begin complaining, too.
The acting president of Planned Parenthood wasted no time speaking out. “Voters need to know what candidates will do to protect their reproductive health care — yet tonight all they got was deafening silence,” Alexis McGill Johnson said in a statement. “We’re talking about our health, our rights, our futures. We can, and we must, do better.”
The complaints also poured out on social media, with many equating abortion with health care.
Tonight, voters missed an opportunity to hear how Democratic candidates will approach a fundamental issue that impacts their lives. Candidates spent more than 30 minutes debating health care, but it’s meaningless if we cannot access it. #DemDebate
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) July 31, 2019
In nearly 3 hours, there was not one question on abortion access or reproductive health care—despite the fact that the Trump administration is actively trying to dismantle our nation’s program for affordable birth control with a gag rule.
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) July 31, 2019
As the American people decide their vote, they deserve to hear about the candidates’ visions for how they will protect and expand access to abortion. We call on the Democratic National Committee and CNN to ensure that efforts to protect abortion access are discussed.
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) July 31, 2019
What issues did you think were missing?
We’re looking forward to specifics on candidates’ plans for confronting the ways our gender & sexuality impacts our lives – from violence and safety, to bodily autonomy, equal pay and childcare. Be back tomorrow evening! #DemDebate
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) July 31, 2019
2+ hours in, and not a single question at tonight’s #DemDebate about reproductive rights, paid leave, child care, or how we ensure women and families can succeed in America.
We need a president who will prioritize these issues—not treat them as an afterthought.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) July 31, 2019
EVERYONE deserves reproductive freedom, regardless of their immigration status. Tearing families apart and denying migrant people the right to parent children in a safe environment is cruel and inhumane. #DemDebate #CloseTheCamps
— NARAL (@NARAL) August 1, 2019
None of us can control the questions that will be asked at tonight’s #DemDebate, but we urge the participants to remember that reproductive freedom is NOT a siloed issue. Our members expect to hear from candidates on the issue, even if not pointedly asked about it. pic.twitter.com/ajUpgqZmXQ
— NARAL (@NARAL) July 31, 2019
Here’s hoping that we address the straight up misogynistic Administration in power right now and how candidates plan to address the needs of more than half the country’s population tonight! #DemocraticDebate
— ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) August 1, 2019
Repro Rights = LGBTQ+ Rights!
And both deserved a larger discussion on the stage tonight. #DemDebate https://t.co/P6MWqC02G7— #VOTEPROCHOICE (@VoteChoice) August 1, 2019
I want us to move beyond, “I support a woman’s right to choose.” I support people’s right to access ABORTION. Say it: ABORTION.
— Tina Vasquez (@TheTinaVasquez) August 1, 2019
These are nothing more than desperate attempts from an industry in crisis to hide the actual issue at hand. Despite repeatedly insisting that abortion is an issue of health care, this is indisputably false. Abortion is not health care; health care does not purposely take a life, and health care does not cause women to experience emotional trauma, guilt, and regret… and abortion is never necessary to save a woman’s life.
Polling also has repeatedly made it clear: people do not like abortion. While it is true that most people want it to remain legal, they want it to be heavily restricted, oppose taxpayer-funded abortion, and favor requirements like parental consent and waiting periods. The number of people with pro-life views is also increasing, and a majority of Americans find abortion to be morally wrong.
People may want abortion to remain legal, but they don’t see it as something to be celebrated. As it is, the full line-up of Democratic candidates is already more extreme than the vast majority of the American people on the issue, but that still isn’t good enough for the abortion industry. Planned Parenthood and its defenders will be satisfied with nothing less than constant enthusiastic affirmation — even if it’s not what the American people want.
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