Scott Powers
Does abortion give Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and his (most likely) November challenger Democratic Rep. Val Demings a high-profile wedge issue for the fall campaign?
“This is an issue that we’re going to talk about on this trail,” Demings said Wednesday in Orlando, “and we are going to fight about it, not just for women, but for men too, who believe that women should have the ability to make their own decisions.”
The topic emerged Monday night with the news that the Supreme Court of the United States is on the verge of overturning the Roe v. Wade federal assurance of legal abortions. A draft opinion leaked Monday to POLITICO shows the High Court is ready to turn the legality of abortions over entirely to the states, with many states ready to outlaw them, sparking the prospect that Florida might join them.
Demings’ Senate committee already has gone into attack mode, pushing out releases that include video clips of Rubio pledging support for abortion bans without exceptions.
On Wednesday, following a rally at which the Amalgamated Transit Union endorsed Demings, she expanded her thoughts to Florida Politics.
“For Marco Rubio to sit in the United States Senate and feel that it is OK to take away a constitutional right from women, to treat women like property, again, or as second-class citizens. To feel like he can tell us what to do, and that’s OK,” Demings said. “To say that even our America’s daughters and girls, who may be victims of a vicious rape, no exception, I think that is just disgraceful.
“In addition, telling 70% of the American people that what they think doesn’t matter, that you don’t give a damn what they think,” she added.
In his statements, Rubio has sought to confirm his position of being opposed to abortion. In a tweet Monday night, he called a proposed federal bill to codify Roe v. Wade “a federal law legalizing the killing of unborn children right up to the day of delivery.”
Rubio campaign spokesperson Elizabeth Gregory expanded on that Wednesday: “Sen. Rubio has been a consistent champion for the rights of unborn children. Rep. Val Demings is a radical who supports abortion up until the moment of birth while forcing Florida taxpayers to pay the bill.”
Rubio’s proposed federal bill reference was to the Women’s Health Protection Act, HR 3755, which was approved by the House in February, with Demings as a co-sponsor. In the Senate, SB 1975, has been in legislative limbo.
Demings on Wednesday characterized the Supreme Court draft opinion as the court’s effort to remove existing constitutional rights. Her message already has grown beyond just the potential elimination of the right to abortion offered through Roe v. Wade.
“Even though the Supreme Court has teased this we weren’t absolutely certain. So, I’m shocked and appalled that the Supreme Court — who is supposed to protect our constitutional rights — would take one away,” she said.
“But not just this issue, because they believe if you would basically say, ‘Roe v. Wade didn’t have any merit, or didn’t happen,’ then people are worried about what’s next,” she said. “I talked to a gay couple last night who’ve been married for six months. They came up to me and said they are scared to death that they will be next. When you believe that constitutional rights can be taken away, what is next?”
21 comments
Impeach Biden
May 4, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Val feels energized. The Dems got their so called break and of course they will milk it for all it’s worth. One day Val and her other Democrats running for office will have to defend out of control inflation, rampant big city crime, the Southern Border chaos and on and on.
SteveHC
May 4, 2022 at 8:32 pm
– Sure beats the fascism of Republican autocracy!
Impeach Biden
May 4, 2022 at 9:31 pm
Wow. Chaos at the border. Runaway inflation which is topping 40 year highs. Look at the price of fuel since the “senile” one has taken office. The Fed just raised interest rates one half a percent. The biggest increase in nearly twenty years, yet you focus on Roe. If anything the power will go to the states as it should. Not to worry abortion clinics will be like 7-11’s in New York, California, Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Illinois, etc. By the way I’m in favor of a woman’s right to chose, just like I’m in favor of an individual’s choice to get vaccinated.
No regular
May 6, 2022 at 8:42 pm
I hope you have to sell your car becuase up you can’t afford fuel lol
Harry kamalatoe
May 5, 2022 at 2:26 pm
I always hear about the fascism of the right but I only ever see the left using violence and the fear of violence to push their narrative… Do you have any examples of republican fascism?
Ocean Joe
May 7, 2022 at 8:45 pm
Where were you on Jan 6?
It’s like your lives
May 8, 2022 at 2:06 am
Jan 6-failed
2020 Election- failed
Recounts-failed
The only thing you people do right is fail lol
SteveHC
May 4, 2022 at 8:30 pm
There is NO SUCH THING as an “unborn child”. Prior to birth there is the germinal stage, followed by the embryonic (“embryo”) and then fetal (“fetus”). But NO “unborn child” – that is just nonsense perpetuated by zealots who insist on forcing their religious beliefs and/or fantasies onto others even if it means denying women the right of control over their own bodies. An absolutely disgusting perversion of biological reality.
Harry kamalatoe
May 5, 2022 at 2:23 pm
Unless you hit and kill a pregnant woman with your car then it is a double homicide.
>An absolutely disgusting perversion of biological reality
How many genders exist?
The vast majority of practicing physicians entirely disagree with you by the way… Loads of facebook and twitter doctors agree with you though.
All that matters
May 8, 2022 at 2:03 am
“How many genders exist”
None that will ever marry you lol
SteveHC
May 9, 2022 at 8:09 am
“ Unless you hit and kill a pregnant woman with your car then it is a double homicide.” – ONLY where that has been so legislated. And no, the “vast majority of practicing physicians” do NOT disagree with me, “by the way”. Boy, the state sure is called Flori-DUH for good reason…
Claude Kirk the younger
May 5, 2022 at 8:39 am
Val Demings its pretty much all thats left for leftist publications to blow their out of tune, out of touch, and out of time trumpets about lately what with the weakest most lame field of leftest candidates for Governor in forever stumbling and mumbling in their dim witted campaign attempts..
I will wager we will see 12 more Val Demings articals by high noon on Tuesday May 10, 2023. The dozen Val articals will surpass all other leftist politicians except Crist. Some of our leftist writers have an un-natural attraction to Crist in the pretty rainbows and unicorns kind of way you know.
martin
May 5, 2022 at 4:05 pm
Val, better yet talk about how you lost your service weapon!
Dave Stites
May 7, 2022 at 11:32 am
Women, be more responsible. When it rains, have your orgasmitizers wear their rubbers.
Stop using expensive healthcare services for birth control when many other much less costly means are available to prevent pregnancy: pills; IUDs; diaphragms and the word “NO!”
Start by keeping your knees together or legs crossed. Orherwise YOU are making yourselves into two-legged mattress pads.
Dave Stites
May 7, 2022 at 11:34 am
It’s always the man’s fault! NOT!
Marconi
May 8, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Val can talk all she wants. The issues that count are: Inflation, shortages of common goods and supplies, food shortages, gas prices, surging crime, and the tanking of the stock market which will effect any and all people with retirement accounts.
Until the democrats can address those issues, they have nothing to say!
Dave Stites
May 8, 2022 at 1:09 pm
Best things Dems Fems Radicals can do right now is keep their mouths AND legs shut.
SteveHC
May 9, 2022 at 8:02 am
– And “Repub Male Right-Wing Extremists” keep their pants on AND zipped SHUT while keeping one hand in its pocket and giving the Nazi salute with the other. Right?
Jerry
May 9, 2022 at 2:32 am
Abortion is not a constitutional right. Where in the Constitution does it say abortion is a constitutional right?
The medical privacy argument is dead now after Biden’s vaccine mandates. You liberals can’t claim a right to medical privacy when you want the government to force vaccines and push for a “vaccine passport.”
SteveHC
May 9, 2022 at 7:56 am
Just remember that “you CONSERVATIVES” can’t claim ANY “Constitutional” right to privacy either, including what goes on within your homes, their locations, ANYTHING about your bodies, etc. For the US Constitution offers NO such right. Next you’ll be banning hysterectomies and birth control pills but oh no not vasectomies or prostatectomies regardless of cancerous state! One day ALL American women will WAKE UP and *stop* voting against themselves.
Dave Stites
May 9, 2022 at 1:03 pm
Offer BOGO vasectomies to Democrats. Maybe that will get ’em under control.
Comments are closed.