Despite predictions in the immediate aftermath of Dobbs that abortion would not be that big a deal compared to issues like inflation, it has only grown in importance. Republicans are scared and Democrats are smelling blood because there is no position for GOP politicians in any but the safest districts that satisfies the base without being toxic in a general election, at least not given the own the libs ratcheting action that keeps the party's candidates from back away from unpopular stands.
There is, ,the possibility of telling the base one thing and the rest of us something else, an approach that requires the press to meet the lies halfway. Fortunately for Trump, we have just such a press.
From Kate Riga:
It’s a clear effort to triangulate on an issue that has cost Republicans dearly since the Dobbs ruling. And more importantly to Trump, this is the first election he’ll
be running in since then. It’s a politically transparent attempt to
lure back the voters, many of them women, who have defected due to
abortion extremism.
It’s also, obviously, baloney.
Nowhere in the video does Trump say that his devotion to state
autonomy is so great that he won’t sign a federal ban, should he win the
White House and his party, Congress.
He doesn’t promise not to appoint a Food and Drug Administration
commissioner who would revoke the authorization of abortion drug
mifepristone, something anti-abortion activists are trying to do in
federal court currently (the Supreme Court is poised
to hand down a decision on reimposing restrictions on the drug). He
doesn’t take the 19th century Comstock Act off the table, something his
Department of Justice could use without any new legislation to keep
mifepristone and its (currently) less regulated partner, misoprostol,
from being mailed.
He’s making a bet that feigned moderation will be enough to see him
through the election, when he will then be free to impose whichever
restrictions his anti-abortion supporters demand.
Part of that bet depends on the credulity of mainstream media outlets
to buy his new framing, despite his frequent crowing about overturning Roe,
and his very recent willingness to embrace national gestational bans
(he supported a 16 week one, like, a month and a half ago, per a report from the New York Times). But betting on the goldfish-like memories of the big outlets is always a safe one.
NYT: Trump Says Abortion Restrictions Should Be Left to the States
Washington Post: Trump says abortion should be left to states, does not endorse national limit
And Kate's boss.
Though in defense of at least part of that organization.
There are still some call-a-spade-a-spade journalists out there. More importantly for this election, there are deep-pocketed Democrats who can't wait to go on the attack starting with this devastating ad.
A friend of mine also saw this ad discussed on PBS News Hour.
Trump has given the Biden/Harris campaign plenty to work with.
Trump's supporters are also providing ammo for the Democrats.
I remain amazed that Fox, to their credit (other than their polling operation, when's the last time you heard me say that?) has kept Tarlov on the air.
One of the most interesting parts of the story has been the reaction from the militant anti-abortion wing.
And the counter-reaction.
And the inevitable pockets of capitulation. (Again from Kate Riga.)
“We are deeply disappointed in President Trump’s position,” Susan B.
Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a
statement, adding that “leave it to the states” cedes the debate to
Democrats.
But, but, but: “With lives on the line, SBA Pro-Life America and the
pro-life grassroots will work tirelessly to defeat President Biden and
extreme congressional Democrats.”
No skin off Trump’s back then!
“We clearly have some work to do to educate President Trump in the
many ways that abortion has been made federal. But with the mutual goals
of supporting families and welcoming young children, I can work with
this,” Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins tweeted.
It is easy to read too much into this anger from the right, but it is perhaps just as easy to read too little. None of these people are going to vote for Biden, but some of them may not make quite the same effort to show up for Trump either with their checkbooks or at the polls.
And finally, there's the question of how Trump will deal with the cold shoulder from some of his previously most adoring followers. I realize that I'm not supposed to use psychological terms to describe public figures, but how can we describe Trump as anything other than a narcissist? He craves love and attention and he desperately wants to spike the ball in Biden and the Democrats' faces by bragging about Dobbs. Does he have the self-control to resist going off script over the next seven months and tell a cheering crowd that he will personally end abortion in the United States?
