Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday called Republican state lawmakers who want to restrict abortion “immoral.”
She spoke about the morality of abortion at a roundtable with elected leaders in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ms Harris said Iowa is on the “front lines” of the abortion fight and that it is wrong for lawmakers to make decisions for women.
“We have seen what I, as a former prosecutor, would and do believe to be unethical treatment of rape or incest survivors,” Ms. Harris said. “There is no exception even after individuals have survived such an act of assault.”
“It’s immoral,” she said. “Let’s be clear on this subject: one doesn’t have to give up one’s faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government shouldn’t tell them or any other person what to do with their bodies. Let her make that decision.”
Ms. Harris, the White House’s lead messenger on abortion, has attended more than 40 such events across the country since the Supreme Court overturned nationwide abortion rights in May.
Republican lawmakers in the Iowa state legislature recently introduced legislation that would ban all abortion in the state. The bill would codify that life begins at conception. The state Supreme Court ruled last year that the state’s constitution fails to protect abortion rights, paving the way for tougher abortion laws in Iowa.
Abortion was a top issue in the 2022 midterm elections and reportedly helped Democrats avoid defeat in the House and Senate races. Abortion promises to remain a top issue in the 2024 campaign.
A federal court in Texas is currently considering a challenge to the federal approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, which would have far-reaching implications for abortion providers if the drug were withdrawn from the market or otherwise restricted.
If the Texas court removes mifepristone, Ms Harris said the Biden administration is “ready to do whatever it can” to fight back.
“Politicians are attempting to use the court to implement a political agenda that would negate the accuracy and relevance of an FDA medical decision on a drug, a decision made 20 years ago,” Ms. Harris said.
She called it an attack on “fundamental issues and principles.”
Ms. Harris’ trip to Iowa was her first as Vice President. The Iowans overwhelmingly voted for former President Trump in the 2020 election.
For years, Iowa hosted the opening contest for presidential nomination races. The Democratic National Committee decided this year to move the party’s first nominating contest to South Carolina for 2024.
Republicans are still planning that the Iowa caucuses will be the first contest of the 2024 presidential nomination race.
Source : www.washingtontimes.com