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| Abortion unusually absent from election as Trump and Clinton stay quiet Abortion unusually absent from election as Trump and Clinton stay quiet | |
| (2 months later) | |
| An unusual election year has ushered in an unusual silence: the issue of abortion, almost always a cause for pitched battles between presidential candidates, has been all but invisible on the national stage as the campaign between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton draws to a close. | An unusual election year has ushered in an unusual silence: the issue of abortion, almost always a cause for pitched battles between presidential candidates, has been all but invisible on the national stage as the campaign between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton draws to a close. |
| There have been moments of high drama. Trump’s call for “punishment” when women get abortions in illegal circumstances collided with Clinton’s demand, unprecedented for a major party presidential candidate, to roll back a 40-year restriction on public funds for abortion. And the third presidential debate saw Trump unleash an inflammatory line of attack, saying Clinton supported policy allowing doctors to “rip” infants out of the womb days before birth. | There have been moments of high drama. Trump’s call for “punishment” when women get abortions in illegal circumstances collided with Clinton’s demand, unprecedented for a major party presidential candidate, to roll back a 40-year restriction on public funds for abortion. And the third presidential debate saw Trump unleash an inflammatory line of attack, saying Clinton supported policy allowing doctors to “rip” infants out of the womb days before birth. |
| But contrast that with 2012, when the Republican ticket struggled to escape accusations that the party had waged a war on women’s reproductive health. This year, only a handful of ballot races have revolved around issues of abortions. | But contrast that with 2012, when the Republican ticket struggled to escape accusations that the party had waged a war on women’s reproductive health. This year, only a handful of ballot races have revolved around issues of abortions. |
| It’s causing major abortion rights groups, a fixture in modern politics, to readjust. | It’s causing major abortion rights groups, a fixture in modern politics, to readjust. |
| “Trump’s record with women took up a lot of air in this election,” said Marcy Stech, a spokeswoman for Emily’s List. The Democratic political action committee is focused on electing pro-abortion rights women and is throwing its resources into several Senate candidates in swing states. | “Trump’s record with women took up a lot of air in this election,” said Marcy Stech, a spokeswoman for Emily’s List. The Democratic political action committee is focused on electing pro-abortion rights women and is throwing its resources into several Senate candidates in swing states. |
| “He turned Republicans from the party of the transvaginal probe” – a 2012 controversy that Emily’s List and groups like it deftly exploited – into something else entirely, Stech said. “We’ve never had to poll-test before what happens when you make fat-shaming an actual campaign strategy.” | “He turned Republicans from the party of the transvaginal probe” – a 2012 controversy that Emily’s List and groups like it deftly exploited – into something else entirely, Stech said. “We’ve never had to poll-test before what happens when you make fat-shaming an actual campaign strategy.” |
| Kaylie Hanson Long, a spokeswoman for Naral Pro-Choice America, acknowledged that this election had the group feeling a little out of its comfort zone. “It is unprecedented how this race is unfolding.” But it is unfolding, she added, to Naral’s advantage. “Abortion may not have been a staple issue of this election, but that’s only because the oxygen has been taken up by a candidate who has said such awful things about women.” | Kaylie Hanson Long, a spokeswoman for Naral Pro-Choice America, acknowledged that this election had the group feeling a little out of its comfort zone. “It is unprecedented how this race is unfolding.” But it is unfolding, she added, to Naral’s advantage. “Abortion may not have been a staple issue of this election, but that’s only because the oxygen has been taken up by a candidate who has said such awful things about women.” |
| Deirdre Schifeling, the executive director of Planned Parenthood’s Super Pac, agreed that the dimensions of the race were unusual, but to her group’s advantage. In the days after the Washington Post published the infamous tape of Donald Trump bragging that he could get away with groping a woman’s genitals, volunteer shifts for Planned Parenthood increased 126% in Ohio. The group deployed $30mon voter turnout, and its canvassers have knocked on close to 2m doors. | Deirdre Schifeling, the executive director of Planned Parenthood’s Super Pac, agreed that the dimensions of the race were unusual, but to her group’s advantage. In the days after the Washington Post published the infamous tape of Donald Trump bragging that he could get away with groping a woman’s genitals, volunteer shifts for Planned Parenthood increased 126% in Ohio. The group deployed $30mon voter turnout, and its canvassers have knocked on close to 2m doors. |
| Susan B Anthony List, the Republican answer to Emily’s List, will by next week have knocked on 1m doors. Some of its canvassing is aimed at discouraging support for Clinton. But a substantial proportion is aimed at keeping control of the Senate seats, in states such as Missouri and Florida, that are crucial to a Republican majority. | Susan B Anthony List, the Republican answer to Emily’s List, will by next week have knocked on 1m doors. Some of its canvassing is aimed at discouraging support for Clinton. But a substantial proportion is aimed at keeping control of the Senate seats, in states such as Missouri and Florida, that are crucial to a Republican majority. |
| These canvassers are highlighting Clinton’s longtime support for abortion rights, said Mallory Quigley, a spokeswoman for SBA List, including her “extremist” vote as senator in 2003 against a ban on a method of second- and third-trimester abortion. | These canvassers are highlighting Clinton’s longtime support for abortion rights, said Mallory Quigley, a spokeswoman for SBA List, including her “extremist” vote as senator in 2003 against a ban on a method of second- and third-trimester abortion. |
| Trump’s record as an anti-abortion rights crusader, by contrast, is much shorter. In an August 2015 primary debate, Trump said he could not commit to defunding Planned Parenthood without considering how the organization was “good for women”. He did not commit to stripping Planned Parenthood of federal funds until this past February. Then, in April, Trump suggested that as president he would make no effort to overturn Roe v Wade. “The laws are set,” he said. “And I think we have to leave it that way.” He reversed himself one month later, telling Fox host Bill O’Reilly that as president he would nominate “pro life judges” to the supreme court. | Trump’s record as an anti-abortion rights crusader, by contrast, is much shorter. In an August 2015 primary debate, Trump said he could not commit to defunding Planned Parenthood without considering how the organization was “good for women”. He did not commit to stripping Planned Parenthood of federal funds until this past February. Then, in April, Trump suggested that as president he would make no effort to overturn Roe v Wade. “The laws are set,” he said. “And I think we have to leave it that way.” He reversed himself one month later, telling Fox host Bill O’Reilly that as president he would nominate “pro life judges” to the supreme court. |
| But the reaction of pro- and anti-abortion rights activists alike has been to gloss over Trump’s bumpy journey on abortion rights. | But the reaction of pro- and anti-abortion rights activists alike has been to gloss over Trump’s bumpy journey on abortion rights. |
| “We can only go by what he has said in this campaign,” Long said. “That has ranged from saying that a woman should be punished for having an abortion” if the procedure were illegal “to taking advice, we assume, and talking points from anti-choice politicians like Mike Pence”. | “We can only go by what he has said in this campaign,” Long said. “That has ranged from saying that a woman should be punished for having an abortion” if the procedure were illegal “to taking advice, we assume, and talking points from anti-choice politicians like Mike Pence”. |
| “I don’t doubt his sincerity,” said Quigley of Trump’s current anti-abortion views. “In the third debate, you could really feel his passion.” Trump himself, she added, has acknowledged that he is a convert to the cause. | “I don’t doubt his sincerity,” said Quigley of Trump’s current anti-abortion views. “In the third debate, you could really feel his passion.” Trump himself, she added, has acknowledged that he is a convert to the cause. |
| Still, it was only nine months ago that Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of SBA List, pleaded with Iowa caucus-goers in an open letter to “support anyone but Donald Trump”. | Still, it was only nine months ago that Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of SBA List, pleaded with Iowa caucus-goers in an open letter to “support anyone but Donald Trump”. |
| Pressed on this, Quigley replied: “Well, when it came down to a general election scenario, and we had two candidates, there is no question. We would of course support Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. Policy” – not the person – “is the most important consideration.” | Pressed on this, Quigley replied: “Well, when it came down to a general election scenario, and we had two candidates, there is no question. We would of course support Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton. Policy” – not the person – “is the most important consideration.” |
| Late-term abortion | Late-term abortion |
| One moment when the clash over abortion rights almost resembled a normal election year came when Fox News host Chris Wallace asked about abortion in the final presidential debate. | One moment when the clash over abortion rights almost resembled a normal election year came when Fox News host Chris Wallace asked about abortion in the final presidential debate. |
| His questions touched a nerve on all sides. Asked about abortion late in a pregnancy, Trump opened up an inflammatory line of attack. “If you go with what Hillary is saying,” Trump said, “you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month on the final day.” | His questions touched a nerve on all sides. Asked about abortion late in a pregnancy, Trump opened up an inflammatory line of attack. “If you go with what Hillary is saying,” Trump said, “you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month on the final day.” |
| Clinton shot back that many terminations late in pregnancy take place when “something terrible has happened or just been discovered about the pregnancy”. | Clinton shot back that many terminations late in pregnancy take place when “something terrible has happened or just been discovered about the pregnancy”. |
| “Using that kind of scare rhetoric is just terribly unfortunate,” she said. | “Using that kind of scare rhetoric is just terribly unfortunate,” she said. |
| The exchange concerned one of the least understood and most controversial types of abortion – those taking place when the fetus approaches or passes the point of viability. | The exchange concerned one of the least understood and most controversial types of abortion – those taking place when the fetus approaches or passes the point of viability. |
| It is a topic wracked by falsehoods. Wallace raised the issue of “partial birth abortion”, a political term that doesn’t readily correspond to a specific medical procedure, but which Congress nonetheless banned more than a decade ago. In 2003, the ban was upheld by the supreme court. | It is a topic wracked by falsehoods. Wallace raised the issue of “partial birth abortion”, a political term that doesn’t readily correspond to a specific medical procedure, but which Congress nonetheless banned more than a decade ago. In 2003, the ban was upheld by the supreme court. |
| Clinton has never campaigned on overturning the ban, but as a senator she voted against it. In the final debate, she explained that she voted “no” because the bill didn’t make an exception for the health of the mother. Prior to the debate, she has said she supported “late-pregnancy regulation that would have exceptions for the life and health of the mother”. | Clinton has never campaigned on overturning the ban, but as a senator she voted against it. In the final debate, she explained that she voted “no” because the bill didn’t make an exception for the health of the mother. Prior to the debate, she has said she supported “late-pregnancy regulation that would have exceptions for the life and health of the mother”. |
| Trump, meanwhile, has committed to signing a ban on abortion in the 20th week of pregnancy – before a fetus is viable outside the womb. | Trump, meanwhile, has committed to signing a ban on abortion in the 20th week of pregnancy – before a fetus is viable outside the womb. |
| But his suggestion that pregnancies are ended days before a pregnancy is full term doesn’t appear to be supported in fact. | But his suggestion that pregnancies are ended days before a pregnancy is full term doesn’t appear to be supported in fact. |
| The percentage of women having abortions past the midpoint of their pregnancy is very small. The latest estimate by the CDC is that fully 98.7% of abortions take place before 21 weeks’ gestation. Most fetuses are not viable outside the womb for another three weeks. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion rights thinktank, estimates that proportion of terminations after 20 weeks is slightly higher, or about 15,000 procedures every year. | The percentage of women having abortions past the midpoint of their pregnancy is very small. The latest estimate by the CDC is that fully 98.7% of abortions take place before 21 weeks’ gestation. Most fetuses are not viable outside the womb for another three weeks. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion rights thinktank, estimates that proportion of terminations after 20 weeks is slightly higher, or about 15,000 procedures every year. |
| Clinton’s remarks, which characterized these terminations as being done in cases of severe fetal anomaly, do not fully capture what we know about later abortions. | Clinton’s remarks, which characterized these terminations as being done in cases of severe fetal anomaly, do not fully capture what we know about later abortions. |
| “We know very little about women who seek later abortions,” reads a 2013 study published in the journal of the Guttmacher Institute. “But data suggest that most women seeking later terminations are not doing so for reasons of fetal anomaly or life endangerment.” (The study characterized “later abortions” as those taking place after 20 weeks.) | “We know very little about women who seek later abortions,” reads a 2013 study published in the journal of the Guttmacher Institute. “But data suggest that most women seeking later terminations are not doing so for reasons of fetal anomaly or life endangerment.” (The study characterized “later abortions” as those taking place after 20 weeks.) |
| Dr Warren Hern, who is one of only a handful of doctors in the country performing third-trimester abortions, agreed to speak in as much detail as he could about his own patients. | Dr Warren Hern, who is one of only a handful of doctors in the country performing third-trimester abortions, agreed to speak in as much detail as he could about his own patients. |
| Hern estimates that in a majority of his later abortion cases, the women are there because of a severe fetal anomaly. The rest of his clients are a mix. Hern objects to the term “elective abortion”. “It makes it sound like you decided to have curls instead of bangs as a hairdo,” he said. But he allows that many – although not a majority – of patients having later abortions are not there because of fetal anomaly. | Hern estimates that in a majority of his later abortion cases, the women are there because of a severe fetal anomaly. The rest of his clients are a mix. Hern objects to the term “elective abortion”. “It makes it sound like you decided to have curls instead of bangs as a hairdo,” he said. But he allows that many – although not a majority – of patients having later abortions are not there because of fetal anomaly. |
| “Without doing the kind of analysis I would need to do to be sure, I would say that more than half of the patients who come in [post-viability] are there because of fetal abnormalities, and this was a very desired pregnancy,” he said. “The other, smaller proportion are usually very young women, 12 or 13 years old, who are victims of sexual assault, of incest. Or they are adult women who have been told by a doctor they can’t get pregnant, or who thought they were post-menopausal.” | “Without doing the kind of analysis I would need to do to be sure, I would say that more than half of the patients who come in [post-viability] are there because of fetal abnormalities, and this was a very desired pregnancy,” he said. “The other, smaller proportion are usually very young women, 12 or 13 years old, who are victims of sexual assault, of incest. Or they are adult women who have been told by a doctor they can’t get pregnant, or who thought they were post-menopausal.” |
| Hern says he turns many women away. For one, after about 33 weeks, termination carries more serious risks. | Hern says he turns many women away. For one, after about 33 weeks, termination carries more serious risks. |
| “One of the things I have to decide is, first of all, do I feel comfortable ending the pregnancy at a late stage when there is no obvious problem, such a fetal abnormality or a rape? If I have someone who’s 33 weeks pregnant, and she should have had this done four or five months ago, I’m not going to do that, because there’s a certain amount of risk involved.” | “One of the things I have to decide is, first of all, do I feel comfortable ending the pregnancy at a late stage when there is no obvious problem, such a fetal abnormality or a rape? If I have someone who’s 33 weeks pregnant, and she should have had this done four or five months ago, I’m not going to do that, because there’s a certain amount of risk involved.” |
| Trump, he said, “is totally and abysmally ignorant about this subject. His statements are highly inflammatory and obscene and designed to inflame his followers, who don’t need to be inflamed.” | Trump, he said, “is totally and abysmally ignorant about this subject. His statements are highly inflammatory and obscene and designed to inflame his followers, who don’t need to be inflamed.” |
| But it is unclear if Trump’s comments won him any followers. | But it is unclear if Trump’s comments won him any followers. |
| Wallace also asked Trump whether or not he wanted Roe v Wade to be overturned. Trump declined to answer, saying the issue “will go back to the states”. But when Trump reiterated his promise to appoint anti-abortion justices to the supreme court, his support among a group of undecided voters judging the debate for CNN plummeted. | Wallace also asked Trump whether or not he wanted Roe v Wade to be overturned. Trump declined to answer, saying the issue “will go back to the states”. But when Trump reiterated his promise to appoint anti-abortion justices to the supreme court, his support among a group of undecided voters judging the debate for CNN plummeted. |