For years, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has said that the issue of abortion should be handled at the state level because it’s a matter of states’ rights, not the business of the federal government to set policy on such a personal matter.
And yet, on Tuesday Graham introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate that would ban all abortions beyond 15 weeks at the federal level.
Why the change of heart from the South Carolina Republican? That’s what Shannon Bream of Fox News asked Graham on Sunday, according to Mediaite:
“Graham’s stunt is a godsend and helps us remind voters Republicans want to ban abortion everywhere,” Bream said, quoting a source from Politico. Bream then brought up The American Spectator, a right-leaning outlet which just ran the headline “Lindsey Graham Hands Abortion Fans a Box of Hand Grenades.”
Graham replied:
“I’m pro-life, even in an election year.
“To those who suggest that being pro-life is losing politics, I reject that. Only in Washington is it extreme to protect a baby at 15 weeks from excruciating death…So I don’t apologize for being pro-life. I think the pro-life movement has found a position that most Americans will agree upon.”
Bream:
“You’ve got to explain the pivot.”
That’s when Graham pitched a full-blown hissy fit, going on an extended rant as he tried to defend his indefensible action which could wind up costing Republicans the midterm election:
“Number one if you know anything about me Shannon for 20 years I’ve been supporting federal legislation banning late-term abortions but you said there are states to make these decisions. The states, here’s what Dobbs says elected officials can make the decision state or federal. I’m not inconsistent in 2020. I had a bill on the floor of the United States Senate right across the Capitol that banned abortion at 20 weeks because the baby can feel pain. I had 51 republicans voting with me and two Democrats to suggest that I’m new to the game opposing late-term uh abortion is ridiculous.”
The senator continued, getting more animated as he spoke:
“No one’s excited. Listen I was the author of the unborn victims of violence act that made it a crime to hurt a baby if you attacked the mother you’d be charged with two crimes if you attack a mother and you hurt the baby it passed 72 votes in the United States Senate I never suggested there’s no place for the unborn in Washington, DC. if you tell the pro-life movement that we’re out of business in the nation’s Capitol that we can’t set some minimum national standard to prevent Chinese abortion policy in Maryland or California they’ll be a revolt by the pro-life community the people with me.”
Graham concluded:
“What am I saying I will not sit on the sidelines and watch this nation become China when it comes to boarding babies up to the moment of birth I reject that I will continue to introduce legislation at the national level setting a minimum standard. Okay at 15 weeks no abortion except for life rape uh save the life of the mother, rape, incest.”
