OPINION:
There is not much in common between President Trump and Joe Biden, but one regrettable thread which renders them two peas in a pod is hypocrisy on the issue of abortion rights. Mr. Trump had formerly proclaimed himself “strongly pro-choice.” He became “pro-life” for political gain, seeing it as the way to garner support from Republicans, and particularly from people of faith, and it worked. He has gone even further in seeking to make it more difficult for women here and in other countries to secure birth control. (I wonder what those who tout the president’s current position on abortion think he would do if one of the women with whom he had affairs had an inconvenient pregnancy.)
Mr. Biden has for years supported the Hyde Amendment, which precludes federal tax dollars from being used to fund abortion. Only after his fellow Democratic candidates for president and a significant portion of the rank-and-file membership of the party expressed disdain over his position did he suddenly reverse course.
Does anyone believe he would have done this if he had not been running for president? Although a majority of Democrats want the Hyde Amendment done away with, a majority of the American people do not. Will Mr. Biden swing back to the middle on this issue if and when he is nominated? It will mean making his case to Democrats, Republicans and independents.
OREN SPIEGLER
South Strabane Township, Pa.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.