Today the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America organization blasted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for a recent discussion where he detailed how a number of states used a successful “bottom-up” approach with six or 15-week abortion bans to protect life. When asked about a federal ban DeSantis previously said he would “always come down on the side of life” and describes himself as “pro-life, and I’ll be a pro-life president.”
SBA released a statement which said in part that there is “a clear consensus for protecting babies in the womb at least by the point they can feel pain at 15 weeks, while allowing states to enact stronger protections … The pro-life movement and the American people deserve a president who will boldly advocate this consensus and will work to gather the votes necessary in Congress … Gov. DeSantis’s dismissal of this task is unacceptable to prolife voters.”
I like SBA a lot, but it’s hyperbolic to characterize DeSantis’s answer as a “dismissal.” In fact, it sounds like he did answer the question: He sides with life, and it seems a given that the Governor who signed into law Florida’s six-week abortion ban would sign something similar should Congress pass it.
SBA previously slammed Trump and called his position “morally indefensible” after Trump said he favored a states’s rights approach to protecting life, an answer some say is the correct, Constitutional approach given the federal government’s clear limitations; others argue the 14th Amendment protects unborn persons so it is a federal issue. Interestingly, SBA slammed him before speaking to him on the matter, which seems like a tactic that would work against their interests, especially if there was opportunity to secure them in a private audience first.
I fully understand SBA’s position and I know their only focus is on protecting life, but to intimate that others are less predisposed towards protecting life because they favor a different strategy could alienate allies or potential allies. Here’s the reality of the situation, like it or not: Most Americans approve of abortions — but with a 15-week limitation by a close five-point margin. This makes messaging tricky. Too hard, you lose the independents required for electoral victories. Too soft, you lose your base required for electoral victories. Twelve states have passed six-week abortion bans with other states passing eight and fifteen-week bans. Since Florida is one of the states that signed a six-week ban into law and its termed-out Governor both signed it and is running for President, the left and its media have made him the face of their scare tactic campaign on abortion messaging. They can simultaneously ding DeSantis while tarring the GOP with the same narrative.
Democrats campaigned hard to make the 2022 midterms a referendum on abortion after Roe v. Wade was overturned. When Lindsey Graham introduced a federal ban proposal two months before midterms, stunting GOP messaging on Biden’s economy, Democrats were positively elated. If the goal is to protect life, you don’t snatch defeat from the jaws of victory after Roe by giving Democrats a fear-mongering narrative that they can use to reduce Republican victories — the only people voting to advance the interest of life, by the way — right as people go to the polls.
The GOP is simultaneously criticized, by ... the GOP, of either going too far on abortion, with six or 15-week bans, or not far enough if they favor a state-by-state approach. The suggestion that either of these represent a soft position on abortion is dishonest. The disagreement centers on which approach will guarantee the most lasting victory, not on life. Pro-life politicians must maximize chances of saving lives while negotiating where the public stands. It’s strategy.
It is not unrealistic to say that many Democrat voters do not want further restrictions place on abortion. It is not unrealistic to say that many moderates or independents can be swayed by progressive fear-mongering on abortion. It’s not unrealistic to say that in some purple states or districts there may exist more of these voters than steadfast advocates for life. It is unrealistic to say that if only Graham’s method was implemented that any issue of opposition would be resolved. It’s also unrealistic to scare candidates into silence on the issue so Democrats can outplay them in messaging.
Here’s another consideration: Florida only very recently became a red state. It was blue all the way up until 2016 — and Trump only beat Clinton by one point. Palm Beach and Miami Date were blue. Fast-forward to 2022: Even after campaigning on a six week ban by focusing on parental rights and finessing messaging on abortion as opposition to taxpayer-funded abortion-as-birth-control, Florida eliminated Democrats from every statewide elected office, cemented a supermajority in their legislature, and flipped Palm Beach and Miami Made counties. Messaging and strategy are important. Do not encourage politicians to Leroy Jenkins their messaging on life.
In a perfect world there wouldn't even be a need for such strategy or legislation. As it is, the strategy requires a marketable approach that can deliver lasting results, even if it is incremental.