Graham Attempts To Defend Abortion Ban -- Even in the Face Of Skeptical Fox Host
Other Republicans aren't pleased with senator's talk of national restrictions, either
Just days after he stunned his colleagues — and the nation — by proposing a sweeping new ban on abortion access across the country, Sen Lindsey Graham was on Fox News Wednesday evening to defend the new legislation.
However, even the right-wing Fox News host interviewing the South Carolina Republican remained unmoved on the wisdom of unveiling such a proposal now, just ahead of crucial midterm elections in which Democrats already have wrested political momentum away from the Republicans.
Graham proposed a complete ban of abortion across the United States following 15 weeks of pregnancy except for cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother.
The new jockeying over abortion rights is the result of the Supreme Court decision earlier this year overturning Roe v Wade and upending half a century of national abortion rights.
A variety of political commentators and analysts have said that Graham's proposal only gives Democrats even more political ammunition given that majorities of Americans support abortion rights.
Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) refused to support Graham's bill.
“With regard to his bill, you’ll have to ask him about it. In terms of scheduling, I think most of the members of my conference prefer that this be dealt with at the state level,” he told reporters.
McConnell and his team want to focus instead on issues where they believe Democrats are more vulnerable, such as President Biden’s handling of the economy and inflation.
Still, in an interview with host Jesse Watters, Graham appeared defiant.
“Republicans are very angry with you — you have a lot coming for this — why'd you do it that day? Not great timing, don't you see that?” Watters began.
"I’m proudly pro-life and I have no apology for being pro-life. And there’s no bad time to defend the unborn,” Graham responded. “So, if you expect me to sit on the sidelines and watch the Democratic Party try to pass the most radical abortion law in the history of the country, you are talking to the wrong guy.
“What do I oppose? [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer and [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi have proposed a law for the entire nation that would allow abortion on demand until the point of birth,” Graham claimed, although the Democratic legislation which he referred to only would legally codify the same rights to abortion which existed under the previous, 1973 Roe v Wade ruling.
Host Watters remained unconvinced.
“No one is saying you need to sit on the sidelines, but yesterday wasn’t the day to do that. Yesterday was the day they lost all momentum when this inflation thing punched them right in the face and you gave them an out,” he said, referring to an announcement by Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting that inflation increased 8.3 percent over the past year.
“A lot of people don’t like that. You could have done it on any other day, just like you could have delayed the whole press conference like Joe should have delayed that stupid party,” Watters added.
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