Republicans play dumb about GOP's extreme abortion platform

Anti-abortion Republicans are either clueless or gaslighting us when it comes to the abortion platform the RNC adopted this week. It’s possible they only read the headlines declaring that the new platform is “soft” on abortion. Just as likely, their anger over the platform is performative and aimed at keeping up the fiction that the GOP has officially moderated its position on the issue.  A handful of prominent Republicans are complaining about the fact that language from the 2016 and 2020 platforms declaring a “fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed” and a call for a national 20-week ban has been dropped, News From The States reported. “I’m pro-life and I like the way it was previously,” Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa agreed, saying “I am pro-life and I am always going to be adamantly pro-life.” “[W]ould I like to see more robust (language) in the platform? Certainly,” she continued. “But that’s not the way it’s going to be. So we’re just going to have to continue fighting for life.” Former Vice President Mike Pence, made a statement calling it “a profound disappointment to the millions of pro-life Republicans that have always looked to the Republican Party to stand for life.” What they’re not talking about is the fact that the platform enshrines fetal personhood by embracing an interpretation of the 14th Amendment that “protects” the unborn. It’s the guiding principle behind the movement anti-abortion zealots have been pushing in individual states in recent decades. If that language is adopted by the states or legislatively by Congress, it would prohibit abortion at all stages of pregnancy—starting with a fertilized egg. That’s why plenty of extreme anti-abortion advocates lauded the platform. Students for Life Action’s Kristan Hawkins said on X that the platform is “an open door to passing strong pro-life federal legislation,” and Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, praised the platform’s dog-whistle reference to the 14th Amendment.  “Under this amendment, it is Congress that enacts and enforces its provisions,” Dannenfelser wrote in a statement. “The Republican Party remains strongly pro-life at the national level.”    Of course, the forced birth advocates can get away with saying that. Republicans actually have to run for reelection knowing that the majority of the electorate is pro-choice and is going to be voting on it. At the same time, they have to keep their anti-abortion supporters happy, and declare themselves adamantly opposed to any “softening” of their position. Newbie GOP Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama gave that game away in her response. She said to News From The States that if some of the anti-abortion groups support the platform, then it’s fine with her. “I’m proud to be pro-life and proud to support the party and President Trump,” Britt said. RELATED STORIES: Trump’s platform is a gift for abortion foes. He hopes nobody notices Voters care about abortion more than ever—and that’s a problem for the GOP Poll shows Trump’s wishful thinking on abortion is already costing him Campaign Action