Joe Biden's Views on Abortion Are Unacceptable for a 2020 Democrat

[True Dough]

Some soul-searching to do here for 14% of DUers, and others leaning in Biden's direction...

On Wednesday, representatives of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign confirmed to NBC News that the candidate maintains his support for the Hyde Amendment, a 43-year-old ban on the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services. This revelation places the current front-runner for the 2020 Democratic nomination well outside the party mainstream, and comes at a moment when the anti-choice movement, fresh off last fall's successful confirmation of Republican Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh, is on the verge of gutting abortion rights in this country for good.

Congress first enacted the Hyde Amendment in 1977, just four years after the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Roe v. Wade recognized a constitutional right to access abortion services. It takes the name of its sponsor, Illinois congressman Henry Hyde, who explained on the House floor that since Roe prevented him from introducing legislation to ban abortion altogether, limiting its availability to low-income women was his next-best option. Under the earliest iteration of the law, only if abortion were necessary to save the mother’s life could a Medicaid recipient rely on her coverage to pay for the procedure. Congress has passed some version of the Hyde Amendment in every legislative session since then, and did not include parallel exceptions for rape or incest until 1993. For 16 years, if an otherwise-healthy woman covered by Medicaid sought to end a pregnancy caused by sexual assault, federal law required her to cover the bill herself.

“There’s no political or ideological excuse for Joe Biden’s support for the Hyde Amendment, which translates into discrimination against poor women and women of color,” said NARAL president Ilsye Hogue in a statement. “His position further endangers women and families already facing enormous hurdles and creates two classes of rights for people in this country.” Some 25 million women depend on Medicaid for insurance coverage, and access to abortion services is a fundamental aspect of health care irrespective of one's socioeconomic status. The Hyde Amendment erects an artificial barrier around a specific genre of care and then cordons it off from the less wealthy—and, because Medicaid recipients are disproportionately likely to belong to minority groups, from the less white.

The rationale behind the Hyde Amendment is that taxpayers should not have to fund things to which they are privately opposed. (Biden outlined this precise argument in a letter to a constituent in 1994.) This position privileges the moral objections of certain Americans over the basic human rights of others, and ignores the simple fact that in any system of government, elected officials will spend some money on some things which some constituents do not think are in the public interest. The ability of conservatives to carve out women’s health care for special treatment, turning the provision of basic medical care into a heated political debate, is a testament to how easily latent misogyny still permeates the policymaking process.

https://www.gq.com/story/joe-biden-anti-choice-hyde-amendment

[Turin_C3PO]

1. It's given me pause.

But I still think that, ultimately, he’s our best shot at dethroning Trump. I hope he walks back his support for the Hyde amendment.

[Indygram]

7. He's really not our best shot

Our best shot is someone who doesn't scare the crap out of moderates, doesn't turn off progressives, doesn't attack other Democrats, has great ideas, works their ass off, has mad charisma and who can bring in NEW voters...like a 500% increase in young voters.

Here is the REAL best shot's plan on reproductive rights:

https://betoorourke.com/choice/

Beto on Hyde Amendment:

Repeal Hyde Amendment: The Hyde Amendment, which prohibits spending federal funds on abortion services, disproportionately impacts women of color and women in underserved communities. Any woman who gets her care or insurance through the federal government must be covered for all pregnancy-related care, including abortion.

[Turin_C3PO]

8. I like Beto.

But for now I’m sticking with Biden. That could change in the future.

[Blue_true]

10. Biden is going to have a rough time in the debate in a couple weeks.

That Biden doesn't see that the Hyde Amendment places undue financial stress on the women that least afford such a burden is concerning.

[qazplm135]

72. well

that's why we have debates...and why the polls right now only have a modicum of utility.

[Blue_true]

83. Yes. nt

[Indygram]

12. I think a very large amount of people who support Biden are doing so

Mostly because they are operating under the assumption that he's the best chance to beat Trump and they associate him with Obama. Obama picked Biden because as a black man he NEEDED him for the rust belt and because he is easy going. He didn't pick him because they were aligned on issues and policies. Once Democrats either realize that or are reminded of it they are going to reconsider their support. Hopefully they figure it out sooner rather than later. There's a reason why Biden never lasted long when he ran before. He's just not a great candidate. Good person, yes, but not a great candidate.

[Celerity]

59. Beto has been slowly inching up in the polls, he is far from being a lost cause at this point.

The debates are his (and others like Buttigieg, Inslee, Harris, Klobuchar, Booker, etc) best chance to gain traction.

[Demsrule86]

21. He is our only shot. Mark my words, if he is not the nominee, we lose. Biden is the only on who can

reuild the blue wall...our only path to victory. Look at the electoral college map.

[marylandblue]

25. It's not a Republic anymore if our fate depends on one person, but

I will note that majorities in all three states have recently voted for Democrats not named Joe Biden.

[Demsrule86]

67. It sure as he'll won't be a Republic if Trump wins in 20. If we have Biden as

the candidate, we can stop Trump.

[marylandblue]

74. No,.it already isn't. It's just a matter of which contender for the throne you like better.

Prince Biden has the advantage of being the son of the previous king and a better relationship with the nobility. King Donald has advantage of being the present King but the disadvantage of insanity. However, many nobles still back King Donald because his insanity gives them license to steal from the peasants. Fortunately, the peasants in the Midwest are restless and may bring out the torches and pitchforks in support of Prince Biden.

[Demsrule86]

78. I don't agree.

[marylandblue]

80. I know you don't, but that's pretty much the upshot.

According to you, it doesn't matter what Biden says or does, he's our only shot. Which means he can do anything he wants, and you'll back him, like a king.

Alternatively, he'll do something so beyond the pale that you won't back him, thereby conceding the race to Trump.

King in either case, only one of them is nicer, smarter and less corrupt.

[True Dough]

85. Damn!

I admire your posts more and more daily!

[Indygram]

36. People said the same thing about John Kerry...the "safe" candidate

I am exactly the kind of voter Democrats are supposedly trying to appeal to and exactly the kind of voter NEEDED to beat Trump. I am an Independent. I live in a red district in Florida. I BELIEVE in Beto. The ONLY candidate who I am giving money to and who I will get out and volunteer for is Beto. He is the only one that motivates and inspires me. That is the kind of candidate Democrats need. I am old enough to remember that Biden is not a great candidate. Biden does NOT excite or energize people. They THINK he is safe just because he was Obama's VP. Biden WILL screw up in a major way. That is what he does. It's what he has always done. It's why he has never been a serious contender before. Does it mean he's not a decent guy...no. It just means he is NOT the best choice. We need someone who is going to have the energy, endurance, work ethic and determination to get it done. No one works harder than Beto. Don't believe me? Watch Running With Beto. Fate shined down on this country when he lost that senate race because we NEED him to win this one. If Democrats want to win they need to open their eyes and stop making the same mistake they made that gave us a second term of Bush Jr.

To beat Trump Democrats need NEW voters that can't be targeted or predicted by Trump and Russian interference. Biden is NOT going to excite young voters. There is only ONE candidate who has PROVEN the ability to DELIVER real VOTES from young people at a 500% increase. Beto CAN do that on a national level. He also has a devoted, loyal army of volunteers in Texas who will crawl over glass for him and only him because they know and love him. They will probably vote for Biden or any Democrat but they won't be motivated to fight like they will for Beto. It's going to take FIGHT to beat Trump.

[Demsrule86]

65. It is not 2004.

This is a new reality

[qazplm135]

73. yes

one were apparently you can see the future.

[JI7]

84. so you will not vote for the democratic candidate if it's not Beto ?

[redstatebluegirl]

76. Yes, I love a couple of the other candidates but if we go to far left we lose.

[guillaumeb]

2. By the Hyde rationale,

can a pacifist refuse to pay taxes that go to the war budget?

[Blue_true]

11. The right's has successfully put abortion on a plateau that no other right has to live on.

They have a history of blindly pushing a concept until it gets ingrained in voters' minds.

[CrispyQ]

49. Of course not.

Once one enters the ranks of the living, there is extreme vetting to determine if one is worthy of respect, compassion, dignity, food, healthcare, & basically anything that sustains or enhances life.

[guillaumeb]

82. Thank you for this one. eom

[BannonsLiver]

3. There's going to be a lot of soul searching ahead for all of us.

And for a variety of different reasons and situations that go well beyond the finer points of the Hyde Amendment.

[True Dough]

13. And I'm okay with that

There are many months of campaigning and debates coming up. The process should be allowed to play out and the best candidate will still be standing when all is said and done. Yet there have been plenty of Biden supporters talking like it was a foregone conclusion that their guy deserves to be anointed already.

[BannonsLiver]

14. Biden supporters would be wrong on that count.

We have a long way to go. In the end, the most important part will be producing a nominee that isn’t so damaged by the primary process they aren’t viable in a general election.
Today it’s Biden in the crosshairs, tomorrow it might be someone else. All of this stuff has to be weighed and measured. For example is Biden’s history with Roe and Planned Parenthood enough to cancel out his support for the Hyde Amendment in the eyes of most primary voters? I have no idea at this point.
I’m frankly not optimistic such a nominee will be produced in the end. We’re on track for acrimony probably equal to what was seen in 2016, likely worse.

[True Dough]

15. "We're on track for acrimony probably equal to what was seen in 2016, likely worse."

I wish we could keep it dialed back to Obama/Hillary levels. There were shots fired back then, but no mortal wounds (referring to the campaigns, not DU as I wasn't a member here back then).

[BannonsLiver]

16. That was a nasty one too

I remember being angry at Bill more than Hillary during that primary race. It was disappointing given that he was my first ever presidential vote and I defended him during impeachment. He said some fairly nasty things about Obama during that race.

But in the end Hillary’s 2008 convention speech was my favorite, and I supported her enthusiastically in 2016 from the get go. It was a kindler gentler time before woke Twitter and the purity wars.

[The Blue Flower]

4. Very much out of step

I think there are others who can de-throne il drumpf.

[Skya Rhen]

5. And whoever wins the primary will have the chance to do just that.

[BannonsLiver]

18. The last public polling done on this issue

Found only 36 percent of Americans believe there should be federally funded abortions. That may have changed since 2016 when the poll was done but in lieu of additional evidence at this point there’s no indication he’s out of step with the electorate he would face in a general election.

[Kentonio]

24. Those numbers will change radically depending on the phrasing of the question

[BannonsLiver]

44. Ok. Let's see the evidence.

Lots of big talk the last couple of days about how this is a winning issue. Let’s see the data.

[emmaverybo]

53. And in states we need to win, moderate Catholic Democrats, working class, will better accept

Biden’s staunch support of abortion if they feel they aren’t paying for it through their taxes. Yes, Hilary won the popular vote, but not the electoral college.
According to the Pew poll, 51 percent of Catholics, more non-practicing than practicing, support abortion.
That leaves 49 percent who don’t.

[bdamomma]

6. I hope

Biden thinks very hard on his ill-conceived thoughts and beliefs on the Hyde Amendment.

[Ligyron]

9. I think almost any Democrat we put up could beat Trump.

Biden has been in Washington for a very long time and not just the Hyde biz but those who supported making Bankruptcy more difficult by carrying water for the credit card overlords rather than stretched out citizens are going to have that flung back in their face and rightly so.

[customerserviceguy]

17. That seems optimistic

I think Pete Buttigieg could do well against Trump, and I believe Joe Biden could, too, but I have doubts about the rest of the field.

[Demsrule86]

20. Untrue.this wll be a battle and we could lose.

[Demsrule86]

19. I have no issue with Biden's views. He will and has protected ROE very wade.

He is the only candidate who can win

[True Dough]

22. "He is the only candidate who can win"

Oh, how easily you forget 2008 when Hillary supporters insisted the same. And yet the Dems had the audacity to choose a relatively unknown black man who was great with the microphone. What were they thinking???

[Demsrule86]

23. This isn't 2008...we had a crumbling economy and a deeply unpopular president...the tea party didn't

exist. Trump can and will win the way he beat Hillary by winning PA, MI and WI if Biden is not the nominee...these states represent the blue wall and must be resurrected or we lose and not just in 20 either but going forward. These states must be rebuilt as we have nothing to replace them with...a cursory examination of a Senate map or the electoral map will show clearly the truly perilous situation we face. I like Mayor Pete but do not believe he can win a general. He has very little relevant experience, is not popular in the African American community (important constituency) and will lose votes because he is Gay. My daughter is gay and having seen what she has faced, I do not believe this country will elect a Gay president. This election is too important to take a chance. I would also say, no candidate will win a general except Biden...we will be in a popular vote vs electoral college situation or we could lose badly. Trump will be difficult to beat...make no mistake.

[Thekaspervote]

28. +1000

[True Dough]

41. Time will tell

None of us should be forced to back one candidate at this early juncture due to fear mongering. If Biden is deemed the best option when the primary is over, so be it. Until then, there's plenty of campaigning and debating ahead. We'll see who's best suited for the task.

[Demsrule86]

55. Winning ...is important biden can rebuild the blue wall which denies Trump

an electoral college win...you run some one else and he/ she will lose. We have no other path to victory.

[Indygram]

42. bullshit

Biden isn't the only one who can win the rust belt.

[Demsrule86]

56. Yes he is unless Ryan had a shot which he doesn't.

[dsc]

35. No we didn't

sorry but that is utter bull crap. We did say she was better able to govern but literally no one said she was most electable let alone the only electable one. In point of fact, Edwards was viewed as the electable one far more than she was in 2008.

[True Dough]

40. You're speaking for everyone now?

Good to know.

[dsc]

45. Find one, just one article at all that said that

one, find one article. Literally no one was saying this. In no small measure because Edwards tended to do better than she did in general election polls. I won't be gaslighted on this. I was alive, awake, sober, and paying attention during the race in 2008. I know what happened then and what didn't.

On edit here are her polls compared to Obama's.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_clinton-224.html

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

Obama was polling better than she was so no she wasn't saying that nor were her people.

[True Dough]

46. I don't need to find articles. I'm talking about Hillary supporters, not the media

I know much of the media was increasingly supporting Obama. Of course Clinton supporters made all kinds of arguments for her based on electability (what else do you think they supported her for?). They made the same sorts of arguments that Biden's backers are making now: that she's the only candidate who will prevail in the general. As the campaign wore on, Obama emerged stronger and stronger, winning over more and more voters and superdelegates.

[dsc]

47. then find one place where they did

or stop trying to gas light me. The fact is that argument wasn't being made because Obama polled better than she did and it would have been stupid to make the argument. I was alive, awake, sober and paying attention. Oh, and unlike you, I backed my shit up.

[True Dough]

50. You're talking in circles now

Bye bye.

[emmaverybo]

54. He has also, despite a great deal of flack from Catholic leadership, supported same-sex marriage.

[Demsrule86]

57. Yes he has.

[Demsrule86]

58. The Hyde amendment is meaningless now with the ACA and the Medicaid expansion.

And if he embraced getting rid of something that is actually meaninglessness, then he would lose Pennsylvania.

[emmaverybo]

60. Amen. This new argument is about stopping Joe.

[Demsrule86]

63. Exactly right. And the thing is he is the only candidate who can win.

We must rebuild the blue wall...the positions taken by the other candidates will destroy their chances in the general.

[calguy]

77. I agree

Although many of the most progressive issues get good support here on DU, in the general election they can and would be labeled too radical for most voters, putting a very winnable election in jeopardy.
Just my opinion, and know many here will disagree, but it's still my opinion.

[True Dough]

86. The Hyde amendment is meaningless now

and yet Biden, feeling the political pressure, reversed his position today. So how meaningless is it?

Glad he came to his senses but I'm still cheering for a number of other candidates.

[Tarheel_Dem]

75. As I recall, he came out in support even before President Obama. So, I believe Joe will "evolve"....

on the Hyde amendment as he's had to evolve before. Those hoping that this will tank his candidacy don't remember recent history very well. With the help of enlightened pro-choice groups, I have every confidence he'll come around on this.

[riversedge]

26. I agree. We can not go back.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

27. I am fine with Joe's position on Hyde....

Instead of jumping on Joe Biden, how about opening up your wallets and making a nice Donation to Planned Parenthood on an annual basis like I do so women who are short on cash can get a Legal, safe abortion as well as other needs taken care of like Birth Control and counseling on Health, etc,.

Instead of getting mad, ACT.

[Thekaspervote]

29. Thank you!

[MrsCoffee]

31. Speaking up for our rights is fucking acting.

So is voting for someone who respects those rights for all women, including poor and minority women.

And dammit I am a huge Joe fan. He is wrong on this. 100%.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

32. .

[MrsCoffee]

33. I agree with this.

[Hoyt]

37. Agree. In reality, not much chance of changing Hyde Amendment. It's been in place since 1976

(with some loosening from the original prohibition over the years).

Don't think we need that debate again under the current political climate, where even Roe v Wade is in jeopardy.

Donations to Planned Parenthood, or similar groups, have worked for 40+ years and should be encouraged and promoted. It would be a different issue if that option were not available.

[Thekaspervote]

30. More purity threads.... really? This is ONLY the 6th one I've seen in the last 24hrs

[True Dough]

43. "Purity" is a convenient way of phrasing it when your preferred candidate is rightfully in hot water

Imagine the gall of DUers to discussed or, gasp, criticize the stance of a candidate on an issue as important as the reproductive rights of low-income earners.

How 2019 of us!

[BannonsLiver]

51. +10000

The virtue signaling =

[50 Shades Of Blue]

34. K & R

[stonecutter357]

38. "See ya around.."

[dlk]

39. The Hyde Amendment Codifies Discrimination Against Women

This law discriminates against women based on their financial status. Do we really want a candidate who supports discrimination of women based on their lack of wealth?

[Demsrule86]

64. No it doesn't.

[dlk]

81. Yes, It Does

Women of financial means have the ability to access legal abortion services. Women without the financial means can’t. The Hyde Amendment blocks federal funds for women who don’t have financial means, thereby blocking poor women from accessing legal abortion services. This is codified discrimination against women without money.

[LanternWaste]

48. I remember Planned Parenthood being thrown under the bus...

by so many when it failed to endorse their sacred cow in the primaries four years ago; so it's little weird to read allegations of such great concern in the here and now over Biden's position being made by many of the same people who said "Planned Parenthood will never get another dime from me..."

Soul searching is great.

Search function is great too, as it allows such clear and accurate illustrations on the standards of this issue being moved dependent on political convenience.

[Politicub]

68. "Search function is great, too"

That’s the quote of the day, and good advice.

[trev]

52. I've not been a Biden fan.

To be honest, some of my prejudice against him is his age. I'm tired of old men running this country. (I'm 64.) I want the newer generations to start rebuilding the Republic.

This stance of his certainly is not going to endear me to him.

[Baclava]

66. Pandering to a few thousand conservative white rust belt voters while pissing off 99% of your base?

What could go wrong

[trev]

69. Indeed.

[Politicub]

61. Shame people somewhere else. You can still support Biden and not agree with his stance on Hyde.

I've been very vocal this week about how I think his support is wrong.

But I also know that Biden supports a woman's right to choose. He also supports something that is in conflict with that.

We all hold opposing views. Calling out Biden supporters to do soul searching is a form of virtue signaling through shaming. It doesn't do anyone any good and it's not productive.

[True Dough]

62. Alert my OP then

If it's not deemed a transgression of the DU rules by a jury, then it stands. And I stand by it.

[Politicub]

70. Why would I do that? I took the time to respond to you.

[True Dough]

71. Because if my post isn't breaking the rules then I have every right

to suggest soul-searching is in order. Have you read the responses in this thread and others dealing with this same topic? Many DUers have said they would not support Biden for this reason and even a few Biden backers have said they will reconsider sticking with him over this issue.

Not everyone is downplaying it.