How Republicans Will Fail

Smacking the hornets’ nest

Photo Credit: Getty, Mark Wilson/Pool

In a decision that underscores just how backward the entire Republican Party is, Ron DeSantis’ near total ban on abortion took effect in Florida at the stroke of midnight. It’s a chilling reminder of the precarious state of women’s rights in this country as long as the Republican Party – and Donald Trump’s Supreme Court – has any power at all.

Abortion bans like those we’re seeing enacted in Florida and Idaho are not just a setback to women’s reproductive freedom in those states, they are  a slap in the face to women everywhere. But it’s not just about autonomy — it’s about safety, too. What constantly gets lost in the fight over abortion is the very essential fact that abortion is health care. Making abortions difficult or impossible to attain puts women’s lives in jeopardy. Even if this ban is overturned down the road, people will suffer and women will die. 

Before getting into the specifics of the 6-week abortion ban, it’s essential to understand the history of abortion laws in Florida. The state has largely been a refuge for abortion access in the South since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022. 

Not long after that, Florida banned abortions after 15 weeks, a horrific restriction on women’s rights but one that was still less extreme than those implemented in most of its neighboring states. 9,300 people traveled to Florida for abortion care that they would not have been able to get otherwise just last year.

Now that it’s a felony to perform or receive an abortion after six weeks, the impact will be felt beyond Florida’s borders. And let’s not forget, at six weeks most women have had no more than two weeks to realize they’re pregnant.

Turning the clock back to 1824 

The 6-week abortion ban in Florida is now one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. The law has exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the woman but “health care workers are still prevented from performing an abortion on a nonviable pregnancy that they know may become deadly — such as when the fetus is missing organs or implanted outside the uterus — until it actually becomes deadly.” 

Abortion bans increase the number and severity of physical risks women face. They are often forced to seek unsafe or illegal procedures, which can lead to serious health complications, including infection, hemorrhage, and death. They may also be compelled to carry high-risk pregnancies to term, which can pose significant health risks while endangering their ability to become pregnant in the future.

Psychologically, women may experience distress from unwanted pregnancies, including feelings of fear and shame. They may also suffer from the trauma of being forced to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or carrying a nonviable pregnancy to term.

Loss of autonomy and control over their own bodies can cause feelings of helplessness and depression leading in severe cases to self-harm and suicide. 

This development in Florida presents another opportunity to make sure people tie the draconian anti-abortion legislations being enacted in red states throughout the country directly to Donald’s policies and to his Supreme Court majority. He said he takes responsibility for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and for once we can take him at his word.

Donald’s role in shaping the current landscape of abortion rights in the United States cannot be understated. His appointment of three illegitimate religious extremists to the Supreme Court led directly to the ability of 24 U.S. states to enact laws banning nearly all abortions by January 2023. 

Donald has no ideology and his shifting stance on abortion rights is purely opportunistic. “At one point in 2015, during his run for president, he took ‘five positions on abortion in three days.’’’ During his administration, he supported restrictive abortion laws in more than two dozen states as soon as Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Take it from women like Amanda Zurawski, who says Donald is absolutely responsible for the abortion ban in Texas. Zurawaski has spoken out about the loss of the baby she wanted, and because her state of Texas prohibits abortion, “even when they are medically necessary,” she almost died from a completely avoidable infection.

Turning this into a win

Today presents a unique opportunity for us all. It’s a chance for us to regroup, reassess, and devise a strategy about how best to communicate with swing state voters about the critical issue of abortion and all of the implications that come with making it inaccessible.

Republicans have consistently been punished at the polls after the court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Florida’s law will only galvanize Democrats in a crucial swing state inspiring them to turn out in even greater numbers.

Recent data show that the majority of Americans oppose restrictions on abortion. 

Specifically, 61% of U.S. adults believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. This sentiment is even stronger among young voters. About three-quarters of 18- to 29-year-olds say abortion should generally be legal, and in the 2022 midterms, young voters cited abortion as the top issue influencing their vote.

Let’s turn this challenge into an opportunity for progress. When we stand together, we are stronger. And when we are stronger, we can change things for the better–for everyone.

When framing our conversations about abortion, we need to do so in a way that resonates with these voters. We need to emphasize the potential health risks and socioeconomic consequences that result from restrictive abortion laws — women and children will suffer, and many of them will die.

Abortion is not just healthcare, it’s a human right.

The 6-week abortion ban in Florida is a significant development in the ongoing assault on abortion rights in the United States. Donald’s role in this narrative is undeniable. I will continue to make the case that his illegitimate appointments to the Supreme Court and his vocal support for anti-abortion policies have directly led to the harm we’re seeing. 

Ultimately, Donald and Republicans will have to deal with ALL OF US in the voting booth.