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| Trump says punish women for illegal abortions, then back-tracks | Trump says punish women for illegal abortions, then back-tracks |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Presidential candidate Donald Trump briefly called for "some form of punishment" for women who have abortions, if it became illegal. | Presidential candidate Donald Trump briefly called for "some form of punishment" for women who have abortions, if it became illegal. |
| His initial comments made during a town hall event with cable network MSNBC sparked a wave of criticism. | His initial comments made during a town hall event with cable network MSNBC sparked a wave of criticism. |
| However, Mr Trump quickly reversed his position, saying only the person who performed the abortion should be punished. | However, Mr Trump quickly reversed his position, saying only the person who performed the abortion should be punished. |
| But he maintained: "My position has not changed." | But he maintained: "My position has not changed." |
| The front-runner supports a ban on abortions, with certain exceptions. | The front-runner supports a ban on abortions, with certain exceptions. |
| Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 after a landmark Supreme Court ruling. | Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 after a landmark Supreme Court ruling. |
| Only the high court or a constitutional amendment has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal. | Only the high court or a constitutional amendment has the power to overturn Roe v Wade and make abortion illegal. |
| Once a Democrat, Mr Trump has been criticised for supporting abortion rights in the past. | Once a Democrat, Mr Trump has been criticised for supporting abortion rights in the past. |
| Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America reporter | Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America reporter |
| The Republican Party's official position is that abortion should be illegal. Conservative politicians and anti-abortion activists who view abortion as akin to murder, however, tend to avoid outlining any criminal punishment for women who undergo the procedure, instead targeting the doctors responsible. | The Republican Party's official position is that abortion should be illegal. Conservative politicians and anti-abortion activists who view abortion as akin to murder, however, tend to avoid outlining any criminal punishment for women who undergo the procedure, instead targeting the doctors responsible. |
| The reason for this is simple - to make abortion bans more acceptable to a general public that does not want to see possibly distraught women grappling with unwanted pregnancies sent to prison. | The reason for this is simple - to make abortion bans more acceptable to a general public that does not want to see possibly distraught women grappling with unwanted pregnancies sent to prison. |
| Donald Trump, as he is wont to do, just trampled through this carefully constructed conservative political dance with all the grace of a rhinoceros at a tea party. Thanks to his assertion, after prodding, that women should face "some form of punishment" for having an illegal abortion, the conservative pro-life movement is going to be forced to defend their beliefs on uncomfortable ground. Republican candidates will be asked, again and again, to defend or denounce Mr Trump's comments. | Donald Trump, as he is wont to do, just trampled through this carefully constructed conservative political dance with all the grace of a rhinoceros at a tea party. Thanks to his assertion, after prodding, that women should face "some form of punishment" for having an illegal abortion, the conservative pro-life movement is going to be forced to defend their beliefs on uncomfortable ground. Republican candidates will be asked, again and again, to defend or denounce Mr Trump's comments. |
| This is exactly the kind of scenario that terrifies Republican politicians about Mr Trump as their party's nominee. His ill-considered remarks and shoot-from-the-hip approach to media interviews could be a political minefield for their candidates in the autumn. | This is exactly the kind of scenario that terrifies Republican politicians about Mr Trump as their party's nominee. His ill-considered remarks and shoot-from-the-hip approach to media interviews could be a political minefield for their candidates in the autumn. |
| In all likelihood it's just a taste of things to come. | In all likelihood it's just a taste of things to come. |
| However, some anti-abortion groups criticised Mr Trump's initial comments as extreme. | However, some anti-abortion groups criticised Mr Trump's initial comments as extreme. |
| "Mr Trump's comment today is completely out of touch with the pro-life movement and even more with women who have chosen such a sad thing as abortion," said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. | "Mr Trump's comment today is completely out of touch with the pro-life movement and even more with women who have chosen such a sad thing as abortion," said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. |
| "No pro-lifer would ever want to punish a woman who has chosen abortion." | "No pro-lifer would ever want to punish a woman who has chosen abortion." |
| Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of Mr Trump's stance on women's issues. | Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has been an outspoken critic of Mr Trump's stance on women's issues. |
| "Just when you thought it couldn't get worse. Horrific and telling," said Mrs Clinton after his latest comments. | "Just when you thought it couldn't get worse. Horrific and telling," said Mrs Clinton after his latest comments. |
| Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Mr Trump's closest rival in the Republican race, also condemned the billionaire. | Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Mr Trump's closest rival in the Republican race, also condemned the billionaire. |
| "Once again Donald Trump has demonstrated that he hasn't seriously thought through the issues, and he'll say anything just to get attention," Mr Cruz said. | "Once again Donald Trump has demonstrated that he hasn't seriously thought through the issues, and he'll say anything just to get attention," Mr Cruz said. |
| His spokesman Brian Phillips added on Twitter: "Don't overthink it: Trump doesn't understand the pro-life position because he's not pro-life." | |
| More on the Trump campaign | More on the Trump campaign |
| The 40-year hurt - How Bruce Springsteen articulated the forces that underpin the rise of Trump | The 40-year hurt - How Bruce Springsteen articulated the forces that underpin the rise of Trump |
| Trumpisms - 22 things that Trump believes | Trumpisms - 22 things that Trump believes |
| A civil war - Lifelong Republicans turned off by Trump | A civil war - Lifelong Republicans turned off by Trump |
| Republican leaders have expressed concern about Mr Trump's prospects in the general election because polls show that the New York businessman is extremely unpopular with female voters. | Republican leaders have expressed concern about Mr Trump's prospects in the general election because polls show that the New York businessman is extremely unpopular with female voters. |
| Mr Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly. | Mr Trump has come under fire for disparaging women including former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina and TV presenter Megyn Kelly. |
| "If Trump's words about women - calling us 'disgusting', 'slobs' and 'fat pigs' - didn't scare us, this should," said Kate Black of Emily's List, a group committed to electing female Democrats who support abortion rights. | "If Trump's words about women - calling us 'disgusting', 'slobs' and 'fat pigs' - didn't scare us, this should," said Kate Black of Emily's List, a group committed to electing female Democrats who support abortion rights. |
| His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on Tuesday, accused of a minor assault on a female reporter. Mr Trump has vehemently defended Mr Lewandowski. | His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested on Tuesday, accused of a minor assault on a female reporter. Mr Trump has vehemently defended Mr Lewandowski. |
| Anti-abortion activists traditionally have avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure. | Anti-abortion activists traditionally have avoided placing blame on women who undergo abortions, but have focused on those who perform the procedure. |
| In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. | In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. |
| Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women's access to abortion. | Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women's access to abortion. |
| The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states. | The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states. |