“Republicans struggle as they keep getting forced to talk about abortion”
People keep hearing stories like that of Kate Cox, whose medically recommended abortion to end a nonviable pregnancy and preserve her fertility was shut down by the Texas Supreme Court, and saying, “Wait, is that actually your policy? Jesus!” and it turns out that “Yup!” or “Pretty much!” is not a winning answer. Also not great: “Please hold while the Supreme Court figures out if it wants to impose even more restrictions on what medical care you are allowed to receive!”
“Nobody would wish this to happen on anybody,” Ron DeSantis said this past week during a CNN town hall — which is true, except in the strict, limited sense that policies the governor and presidential aspirant has signed into law in Florida have imposed that exact situation on people. I guess it’s the thought that counts! Maybe he imposed it, but he didn’t wish it.
Nikki Haley said “we have to humanize the situation,” which, I guess, are words! “So, you want a 13-year-old to be forced to bear her rapist’s baby at tremendous physical and emotional cost?” has one easy answer: “No!” And if you aren’t allowed to say that, that’s a problem! A messaging problem, of course.
“Wait, you seriously don’t want any exceptions, and you are going to weaponize government against people with reasonable medical needs?” is a question to which “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it” is not a great answer. Or maybe they could stop trying to dehumanize half the population? No. It’s the words. It’s got to be the words.
There’s no changing the underlying policy. That’s out of the question! It’s just unfortunate that so many people see these stories of people struggling to get their abortions and say, “That could be me!” The time-tested Republican response of, “Nonsense! You don’t have a uterus!” only works about 50 percent of the time. If it fails, they are stuck saying things such as “Yikes!” and “Woof!” and “With a condition like that, are you sure you should be voting?”
I wonder why this is so difficult to talk about! Maybe what Republicans need is a better slogan. “Sometimes, too many rights are actually a burden” and “Do you ever get tired of making decisions for yourself?” and “Relax: We’ve got it! But let us know if you think you’re bleeding to death” turn out not to be winners, as far as slogans go. Same for, “You Don’t Get a Say, and We Don’t Care if You Die,” even if you say it with a lot of warm eye contact. Also bad: “You Don’t Get a Say, We Will Laugh at What Your Doctor Says, and We Want You to Do Everything But Die.”
Maybe they should add some exclamation points at the end to make it clear there are no hard feelings! Or try the TikTok approach of calling these “Girl Rights!” like “Girl Dinner!” but it’s a plate of just one or two rights, not enough to support a whole person?
Hmm, what about this isn’t a winner?
