GOP Candidates’ Responses to Choice-Related Questions Defy Logic, Expose Inconsistency

Washington, DC – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, issued the following statement in response to Republican presidential candidates who said states should decide whether to outlaw abortion.  

"Americans heard yet more nonsensical answers from the anti-choice candidates during tonight's CNN/YouTube debate when it comes to a woman's right to choose. It is astonishing that candidates running for president of the United States do not know that federal law trumps state law.

"To provide these candidates a refresher course, let's look at a recent example:  in 2003, an anti-choice Congress passed the Federal Abortion Ban. Anti-choice President George W. Bush signed the bill into law. The Supreme Court, with the addition of two Bush appointees, then upheld the Federal Abortion Ban, even though it has no exception to protect women's health. All of the anti-choice candidates (and unfortunately, even Rudy Giuliani) hailed the Court's decision.  The Federal Abortion Ban applies to all 50 states, even in states with strong pro-choice laws or where voters rejected similar abortion bans at the ballot box. So, how, exactly, can anti-choice candidates now state that a congressional ban on safe, legal abortion couldn't happen?  Perhaps they should take a high-school civics course."

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032