The New York Times recently published abortion survey responses submitted by 2020 Democrat Presidential candidates — and they show an extreme support for abortion, prompting a Planned Parenthood affiliate to tweet, “According to a New York Times survey, the 2020 Democratic candidates ‘unapologetically support’ abortion rights.” What’s really interesting is that they’re also extremely out of touch with where the American public stands on the issue.
All 2020 Democrats promised to:
- “Codify Roe,” which — with its partner decision, Doe v. Bolton — allows for abortion throughout pregnancy for any reason. (Most Americans disagree with Roe and Doe’s lack of limits on abortion.)
- Repeal the Hyde Amendment, allowing tax-payer dollars to pay for abortions. (Most Americans are against this, too.)
- Fund Planned Parenthood, the nation’s #1 abortion provider, which aborts more than 330,000 children annually.
2020 Democrat Presidential Candidates unapologetically support abortion (Image Planned Parenthood on Twitter)
Almost half of the candidates agreed to allow the abortion pill regimen to be available over the counter (OTC) where minors would be able to access it more easily. Only one candidate would restrict abortions after 24 weeks, while several candidates responded by falsely claiming late-term abortions are only done for extreme medical reasons — a claim debunked here by Live Action News.
New York Times abortion survey of 2020 Democrat Presidential Candidates on abortion pills OTC (Image credit: New York Times)
The questions chosen by the paper used pro-abortion terminology:
- The Mexico City Policy barring U.S. aid from groups that provide or promote abortion overseas is referred to as a “Global Gag Rule.”
- The Protect Life Rule prohibits TitleX dollars from funding organizations (like Planned Parenthood) that commit or refer for abortions is referred to as a “Domestic Gag Rule.”
- Abortion restrictions such as parental consent legislation or limiting abortions for race or after 20 weeks are referred to as “Trap Laws.”
The survey asked the following (names of candidates that responded “yes” are identified under each question):
1. Codify Roe v. Wade?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Steve Bullock*
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro*
- John Delaney*
- Tulsi Gabbard*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
2. Require judicial nominees to support Roe as settled law?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Steve Bullock*
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
3. Repeal the Hyde Amendment?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Steve Bullock*
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro*
- John Delaney*
- Tulsi Gabbard*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
4. Would you sign a budget that included the Hyde Amendment?
YES:
- Pete Buttigieg
- Some responded “no”; others “unsure” or “unclear.”
5. Require private insurers to cover abortion?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Kamala Harris*
- Bernie Sanders
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
6. Require private insurers to cover contraception?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Steve Bullock*
- Pete Buttigieg
- John Delaney*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
7. Repeal the Helms Amendment?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
8. Repeal the “global gag rule”?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Steve Bullock*
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro*
- John Delaney*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
9. Repeal the “domestic gag rule”?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Steve Bullock*
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro*
- John Delaney*
- Tulsi Gabbard*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
10. Ban state “TRAP” laws?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
11. Require preclearance for state abortion laws?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
12. Make misoprostol and mifepristone [abortion pills] available over the counter?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
- Most others “unclear”/Bernie Sanders gave “no answer”
13. Make hormonal birth control available over the counter?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
14. Ban abstinence-only sex ed?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Cory Booker
- Pete Buttigieg
- Kamala Harris*
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
15. Preserve Planned Parenthood funding?
YES:
- Michael Bennett
- Joe Biden
- Cory Booker
- Steve Bullock*
- Pete Buttigieg
- Julián Castro *
- John Delaney*
- Tulsi Gabbard*
- Kamala Harris*
- Amy Klobuchar
- Bernie Sanders
- Joe Sestak
- Tom Steyer
- Elizabeth Warren
- Marianne Williamson
- Andrew Yang
16. Consider a running mate who opposes abortion rights?
- Most responded “No”
*These candidates did not complete the survey, so the NYT “determined their positions from published plans, interviews, debates and forums.”
2020 Democrat Presidential Candidates move past abortion “safe, legal, and rare.” (Image: Twitter)
Excerpts of statements made by some candidates are below (full statements here).
Michael Bennett
- “I support making misoprostol and mifepristone available over-the-counter with an optional pharmacist consultation.”
- “I will immediately reverse the Mexico City policy and Trump’s Title X restrictions.”
Joe Biden:
“Biden’s Justice Department will do everything in its power to stop the rash of state laws that so blatantly violate the constitutional right to an abortion, such as so-called TRAP laws, parental notification requirements, mandatory waiting periods and ultrasound requirements.”
Cory Booker:
- “As president, I’ll create a White House Office of Reproductive Freedom, charged with coordinating and affirmatively advancing abortion rights….”
- “I believe that abortion is health care.”
- “Reproductive freedom and the right to access safe, legal abortion care is core to our values and a central tenet of who we are as a party.”
Pete Buttigieg
“As president, I will first try to repeal the Hyde Amendment.”
Amy Klobuchar
- “Senator Klobuchar is an original co-sponsor of the bill to get rid of the Hyde Amendment, and she will continue to push for this legislation as president.”
- “Senator Klobuchar supports pushing for legislation that codifies Roe v. Wade.”
Bernie Sanders
- “Under Medicare for All, the Hyde Amendment will be repealed and all reproductive and abortion services will be provided free at the point of service. In order to ensure everyone can receive the reproductive health care they need under Medicare for All, Bernie will increase funding for Planned Parenthood….”
- “Under Medicare for All, the Hyde Amendment will be repealed and all reproductive and abortion services will be provided free at the point of service.”
- “Right now, women’s rights are under attack, including by fake health clinics funded by national right-wing groups, so our focus should be on protecting those rights.”
Joe Sestak
- “I would expand funding for Planned Parenthood….”
- “… I will not allow women to lose their reproductive rights.”
- “… I am glad that abortion is legal and I believe it should be socially acceptable…”
Tom Steyer
- “I support expanding the number of justices who sit on the high court. The judicial nominees I will appoint will support reproductive rights.”
- “I believe abortion is health care….”
- “We should be unequivocal: The Democratic Party stands for women’s basic rights. There is no room in the Democratic Party for candidates or officials who deny women their right to choose.”
Elizabeth Warren
- “Once implemented, Medicare for All will cover comprehensive reproductive care, including birth control and abortion.”
- “Abortion is health care….”
Marianne Williamson
- “… reproductive rights are a top priority and I would work vigorously to defend the right to abortion.”
- “Better funding for Planned Parenthood would help prevent unwanted pregnancies….”
- ” To me, abortion is a moral issue, but an issue of private morality.”
Andrew Yang
“Andrew would increase the number of Supreme Court justices if necessary to protect women’s rights.”
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