Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) tweeted a disturbing campaign ad on Monday night in which a woman is jailed for having an abortion in front of her husband and two children. “MAGA Republicans should prosecute women who get abortions. So, this is how it manifests itself, “says the tweet.
People have noticed this advertisement’s terrible, as our pals at Twitchy pointed out on Tuesday morning.
The advertisement’s premise is false, first and foremost. Women who have abortions are not criminally prosecuted under any current or proposed state or federal statute. The person providing abortion services is the one who faces legal consequences. This idea has been reinforced by Alexandra DeSanctis and John McCormack in recent articles for National Review Online.
A statement written by National Right to Life (NRLC) and signed by more than 70 pro-life groups reinforced this view in May. It was written as an open letter to “state lawmakers around the country encouraging them to reject legislation and other measures that would impose criminal penalties on women who have abortions.”
And in response to Swalwell’s advertisement, Townhall also received a comment from NRLC’s Communications Director and Press Secretary, Laura Echevarria. “Now more than ever, Democrats like Eric Swalwell are spreading unfounded panic. The Democrats are actively spreading lies and refusing to face the facts. In fact, in May of this year, dozens of national and state pro-life organizations published a united statement opposing any proposal trying to penalize or punish women, speaking on behalf of tens of millions of pro-life men, women, and children throughout the country “The words came from her mouth. According to the joint letter, “women who have abortions need compassion and assistance, not punishment.”
Swalwell was initially elected in 2012 and is now seeking re-election in California’s 14th Congressional District. This section of a very liberal state is a liberal stronghold. Abortion is a part of this and a fundamental part of this debate.
Only the United States, under the strict guidelines of Roe v. Wade, and six other countries permitted elective abortions into the 20th week of pregnancy. In light of the June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overruled Roe v. Wade, states have the right to enact their own abortion laws, including restrictions and the option to do nothing.
The latter group includes California, whose pro-abortion Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) wants to make the state a “sanctuary” for abortion. Newsom signed a package of abortion protections into law last month, including access to abortion services funding and the legalization of abortions performed after the baby is born.
Newsom erected billboards outside of California inviting people to travel to California for abortions. As Sarah and Leah noted last month, some even inserted Bible texts.
In November, voters in California will also decide whether to modify the state constitution to safeguard the “right to abortion.”
So, unless Swalwell intends to run for president again, the commercial is even more worthless in his district and state. Since his bid for the 2020 primary lasted a few months, we all know how well that worked out for him.
When the population is anxious about economic concerns like record-high inflation, Swalwell’s commercial does highlight the Democrats’ desperate and obsessive pro-abortion agenda.
As Spencer reported yesterday, Vice President Joe Biden has revealed his top legislative objective for the upcoming Congress: passing legislation that he and other pro-abortion Democrats say would finally make Roe v. Wade the law of the land. When approved, the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) will effectively expand Roe v. Wade and render state-level pro-life legislation null and void.
Kamala Harris, the current vice president, is likewise very invested in the topic, having shown up at several pro-abortion events over the previous several months.
The pro-abortion preoccupation of the Biden administration has spread to the Department of Justice and made it a political tool (DOJ).