DNC Platform Pushes Abortion Agenda, Ignores Public Opinion

The Democratic National Convention’s policies are wildly out of touch with mainstream America when it comes to regulations and restrictions on abortions.

The DNC platform has devolved from abortions that are “safe, legal, and rare,” as Bill Clinton espoused in the early 90s, to abortion funded by the taxpayer with little, if any, restriction or regulation.

But the position of the American people is largely unchanged.

The Marist Institute conducted a poll, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, to examine the views of Americans of voting age regarding restrictions on abortions.

Pro-life activist, Ryan Orr, 17, of Manassas, Va, waits holds a silent vigil as he waits for rulings in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images) 

The director of the poll, Barbara Carvalho, stated [emphasis added]:

“The majority of Americans in favor of abortion restrictions has been consistently around 8 in 10 for the better part of a decade. Though self-identification as pro-life or pro-choice can vary substantially from year to year, the support for restrictions is quite stable.”

The American People Care About Women’s Health

The Supreme Court case Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt sought requirements for an abortion clinic to meet surgical center standards and requiring a doctor who performs abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. The Court’s decision said these restrictions placed an “undue burden” on a woman’s ability to have an abortion.

In light of that decision, Marist found 78 percent of Americans “want abortion clinics to be held to the same standard as other outpatient surgery centers.” More specifically, 77 percent of women and 74 percent of people who are pro-choice want those same standards for abortion clinics.

The survey also found that 70 percent of Americans, believe doctors who perform abortions should have hospital admitting privileges.

The Women’s Health Case sought to protect the health and life of women who choose to receive an abortion. One would think the Democratic Party would be in favor of such policy, especially considering their platform states:

“We believe unequivocally, like the majority of Americans, that every woman should have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion …”

One could reasonably assume that “safe and legal abortion” means holding abortion clinics accountable to meet the minimum standard of a surgical facility. However, when the Women’s Health case decision was released and declared that abortion clinics do not have to meet such standards, the DNC declared:

“[T]he Court has given Texas women and women everywhere a victory in the ongoing fight to protect abortion rights.”

This decision is a great loss to women, not a victory.

Is the DNC more concerned with protecting the legality of abortion than they are with ensuring the health and safety of women?

Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

Americans largely oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. In fact, Marist pins that number at 62 percent of Americans, including 61 percent of independents and 44 percent of democrats.

Yet, the DNC platform heralds their goal of repealing the Hyde Amendment, the sole purpose of which is to prohibit federally funded abortions.

The DNC is moving further away from long-held bipartisan consensus on abortion restrictions, and leaving behind the very people they claim to represent.

Of the People, By the People

The Democratic elite are tone deaf to Americans on Main Street.

The DNC has forgotten that the United States government is one “of the People, by the People,” evidenced by a platform that clearly breaks with the views of a significant majority of Americans when it comes to restrictions on abortions.

Despite political rhetoric, the Republican platform closely aligns with the convictions of mainstream America. In their platform, Republicans oppose the Women’s Health decision and not only support but also want to strengthen the Hyde Amendment to ensure no taxpayer has to fund abortion.

It is the DNC that has radically shifted and left the American people behind.

They are ignoring the voice of the people in favor of pursuing their extreme, unrestricted agenda on abortion. Beyond the empirical data, how else could one explain putting women at risk or violating individual rights of conscience merely to promote abortion at all costs?

It is up to the people of the United States to hold government and those in power accountable in their obligation of being “of the People, by the People, and for the People.”

November is coming.

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