Former Vice President Mike Pence addressed Christian conservatives at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual conference, calling on Republican presidential nominees to support a 15-week federal abortion ban as a minimum standard. Pence’s message comes a day before the first anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. While many of the 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls spoke at the event, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the exhortation directly targets the front-runner, Donald Trump, who has been hesitant to endorse a federal abortion ban. Pence urged every Republican candidate to support a ban on abortion before 15 weeks as a minimum nationwide standard.
Republican candidates emphasized their anti-abortion credentials at the event while urging like-minded activists to remain on the political offensive. Democrats, on the other hand, were rallying with abortion rights supporters to mark the anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were also present at the rally. Democrats have vowed to codify the right to an abortion in federal law, but their attempts face significant opposition in Congress.
The conference’s dates were set years ago, so the fact that it spans the Dobbs anniversary is a “serendipitous coincidence,” said Ralph Reed, the founder, and chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition. However, the gathering is out to ensure top Republican candidates don’t get complacent when it comes to opposing abortion. The event’s jubilant mood saw attendees cheering every mention of Roe v. Wade’s reversal. “Thank God almighty for the Dobbs decision,” said Scott, drawing sustained cheers.
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, head of the Democrats’ Senate campaign arm, said this week that top Republican presidential candidates will back a nationwide ban to win support in their GOP primaries, then shift to a more moderate position for the general election. However, the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has vowed not to support any White House candidate who doesn’t support a 15-week federal ban at a minimum. Scott also has praised South Carolina’s six-week ban and backs a 15-week federal prohibition. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley supports a federal ban, but hasn’t said at what point in pregnancy she would seek to ban abortions.
Trump has avoided specifying what national limits, if any, he would support on abortion. A deeply devout, evangelical Christian, Pence was greeted far more warmly at this year’s Faith & Freedom Coalition conference than he was the last time he addressed the group in 2021. Then, he was booed by some and faced shouts of “traitor.” The tamer reaction came after Reed warned Friday’s audience about booing or verbally expressing disagreement with any presidential candidates.
Christie, who is Catholic, drew boos when he criticized Trump and claimed the former president was more interested in promoting himself than the country’s interests. Despite the reaction, Christie finished his speech, saying that people have to take responsibility for what they do and stand up and take accountability for their actions.
Read More of this Story at apnews.com – 2023-06-24 08:33:41
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