OPINION:
The Biden administration and Democrats are generally underwater in polling that has consistently shown voters are displeased with their performance on the economy, foreign policy and virtually everything else except one issue: abortion.
The president and Democrats up for reelection in Congress believe they can ride this single issue to victory in November. It is why Vice President Kamala Harris recently visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota, becoming the first vice president to tour a site where abortions are performed.
Just as cities clear the streets of the homeless when heads of state arrive so as not to embarrass mayors and governors, Ms. Harris’ visit appeared to go no further than a photo-op in the clinic lobby. Behind her was a sign that appealed to “reproductive freedom.” Controlling the language (homeless people are now described in some quarters as the “unhoused”) often means one gets to control the debate and its outcome.
I doubt any abortions took place during the vice president’s visit. Just as with the streets when foreign dignitaries show up, everything was likely spotless at the clinic.
Ms. Harris should have been asked if she has had any experience with abortion, as that frequently colors one’s attitude toward the procedure. She didn’t watch an ultrasound-guided abortion. They likely didn’t show her the “products of conception” room where they examine pregnancy tissue to make sure all of it has been removed from the womb. Or the room most women go to after an abortion, where some are crying or in shock, waiting to be released.
That’s too bad, because if she had witnessed an abortion and the aftermath, especially one in the second or third trimester, it might have at least rattled her uncompromising position of no restrictions on the procedure and for any reason. Maybe not, as there appears to be no room for discussion or compromise with the “pro-choice” side.
Securing the language and not showing horrifying images of the Holocaust was a tactic used by the Nazis during World War II. No photographers for Life magazine had access to the gas chambers and ovens until after the Allied victory. It is why Gen. Dwight Eisenhower ordered cameras to visit some of the death camps so no one would be able to deny what had occurred (though many antisemites still do).
Republicans should not shy away or try to appease the “pro-choice” side. Polls show that many voters in the middle want at least some restrictions on abortion. If Democrats are going to make abortion in the post-Roe era a major issue in the coming election, Republicans should fight back with facts. They should create ads in which women say they regret having had an abortion (especially women of color, who are disproportionately affected).
Feature information about the free services at pregnancy help centers (abortion clinics usually charge for their services). Interview people who survived abortion and are happy to be alive. Interview women who have had abortions who say they would have made another choice had they had more information or had not been pressured by a husband, boyfriend or parents. Show ultrasound images of babies in the womb.
Abortion is a moral, medical and political issue. Republicans can fight back on all three levels because they hold the high ground on each one.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (HumanixBooks).
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