Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who just lately launched a presidential exploratory committee, tripped over himself on Thursday making an attempt to keep away from questions on whether or not he helps a 15-week federal abortion ban.
At one level, he pivoted to a “essential dialog” he had had throughout a congressional listening to that includes Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Already in full marketing campaign mode a day after saying his intent to run for president, the conservative lawmaker was exterior a New Hampshire diner when reporters confronted him on the place he stood on federal abortion restrictions.
After hemming and hawing when one reporter requested him a few federal choose’s current resolution to droop entry to an FDA-approved abortion capsule, Scott was requested whether or not he supported fellow South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham’s proposal to ban abortions nationwide.
“Would you assist a federal ban on abortions?” Newsmax correspondent Mike Carter questioned, prompting Scott to enter full duck-and-dodge mode.
“I'd merely say that the very fact of the matter is, while you have a look at the problem of abortion, one of many challenges that we've, we proceed to undergo probably the most restrictive conversations with out broadening the scope and having a look at the truth that…I’m 100% pro-life,” the South Carolina lawmaker stumbled.
“I by no means stroll away from that,” he added. “However the reality of the matter is that while you have a look at the problems on abortion, I begin with the essential dialog I had in a banking listening to the place I used to be sitting in my workplace and listening to Janet Yellen, the secretary of the Treasury, speak about a rise within the labor drive participation fee for African-American ladies who're in poverty by having abortions.”
Persevering with to not reply the query, Scott went on to fixate on Yellen whereas insisting that there wanted to be a “severe” nationwide dialogue concerning the concern.
“I feel we’re simply having the unsuitable dialog. I ran all the way down to the banking listening to to see if I heard her proper,” he mentioned. “Are you really saying that a mother like mine ought to have an abortion in order that we improve the labor drive participation fee? That simply appears ridiculous to me. And so I’m going to proceed to have a severe dialog concerning the points that have an effect on the American folks. I need to begin by stating absolutely the hypocrisy of the left on probably the most one of many extra necessary points.”
In an try to comply with up, Carter requested what Scott needed to say to a conservative “who desires a transparent message on that,” just for the senator to disregard him and transfer on to a different reporter.
This wasn’t the primary time Scott had just lately stumbled when pressed on his assist for nationwide abortion restrictions. Throughout a marketing campaign journey to Iowa on Wednesday, he deflected when requested whether or not he backed Graham’s 15-week ban. In a Thursday morning interview with a New Hampshire information station, he did say he’d “undoubtedly” get behind a 20-week federal restriction—a proposal he’s supported previously.
With abortion as soon as once more turning into a serious political concern on the poll field after final yr’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, and a bevy of recent reproductive well being restrictions turning out indignant voters, Republicans have struggled to handle the livid backlash over their anti-abortion stance. Not solely do present polls present most Individuals imagine abortion needs to be authorized normally, however Democrats and liberals have flipped current political races over the problem.
That is in all probability why you see many GOP lawmakers—at any time when they aren’t burying their heads within the sand—saying it’s time to “get off” the abortion concern, or calling for the FDA to merely ignore a right-wing choose’s ruling on an abortion drug.