Pro-Choice Republicans are elected officials of the Republican Party and Republican voters who support abortion rights.
Overview edit
The 2016 Republican Platform included support for the human life amendment to the Constitution, legislation to that applied the 14th amendment to fetuses, and the appointment of judges that would uphold anti-abortion ideology in the courts.[1] Although this is the official party platform, not all Republicans support abortion restrictions and the human life amendment. In 2015, 40 percent of Republicans supported legal abortion.[2] Despite their divergence from the party platform, pro-choice Republicans are unlikely to switch parties.[3] Pro-choice ideology has been present in the Republican Party since before Roe v. Wade and the pro-choice ideology is still present today.
According to some pro-choice Republican groups, the Republican belief in limited government and individualism should extend to social issues, such as abortion rights.[4] Research indicates that supporters of pro-choice Republican organizations are motivated by libertarianism.[5] Supporters of pro-choice organizations may hold less conservative views on abortion, but tend to hold relatively conservative views on other political issues.[6]
Pro-choice ideology and support for abortion rights ranges. The 1992 American National Election study asked respondents about their support for the legal rights of abortion. Respondents either believe abortion should only be allowed in cases of rape, incest, and to save the mothers life, abortion should be allowed if there is a "clear need", or that abortion should not be restricted in anyway. [7]
Timeline edit
1970s edit
Before and during the 1960's most abortion laws only allowed the procedure when the woman's life was in danger. At this time many Republicans were for less strict abortion laws.[8] Between 1974 and 1978, studies showed that political ideology had a very weak correlation with support for abortion rights. The correlation between political party identification and support for abortion rights was even weaker.[9] Mary Louise Smith, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee from 1974 to 1977, was pro-choice.[8] Justice Blackmun wrote the Supreme Courts decision on Roe v. Wade. Blackmun was a conservative Justice appointed by President Nixon.[8]
During his presidency President Gerald R. Ford took a moderately conservative stance on abortion, despite First Lady Betty Ford's urges for him to take a liberal stance on the issue. Ford believed abortions should be allowed in certain circumstances and opposed a human life amendment to the Constitution.[8] Ford later stated that he was pro-choice after he had left office[10] and Betty Ford was supportive of the decision made by the court in Roe v. Wade.[8]
The 1976 Republican Party Platform was the first to include a pro-life stance. This comes during the same year that the Hyde Amendment Was passed.[11] The Republican Party's shift to a pro-life stance was a gradual change and was not caused by one election or event.[12]
1980s edit
Democrat and Republican Party elites and elected officials became more divided on the issue of abortion in the 1980s. It was not until after Republicans in Congress started consistently voting against abortion in the 1980s, that polls showed republican voter's opposition to abortion.[13] Until 1988 there was little difference in pro-choice attitudes among Democrat and Republican voters.[14]
1990s edit
During the 1992 election, President Bush and Vice President Quayle tended to downplay the importance of abortion during the election so they would not risk turning away Republican voters who supported abortion rights.[7] A substantial number of Pro-choice republicans in the 1992 election did not vote for President Bush because of his stance on abortion. Most of these pro-choice Republicans voted for Perot.[7] While President Bush and the Republican Party took a pro-life stance in 1992, First Lady Barbara Bush stated that she believed abortion to be a "personal choice." [15]
2000s edit
In an interview in 2001, First Lady Laura Bush stated that she believed Roe v. Wade should not be overturned[16] and later stated that abortion should remain legal because she believes "it's important for people, for medical reasons and other reasons."[17]
In 2005, The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act was passed by congress with the help of the Republican Main Street Partnership. However, President George W. Bush vetoed this legislation in 2006. [18]
2010s edit
After the 2012 election, Senator John McCain, who is pro-life, advised his fellow Republicans to "leave the issue [abortion] alone." He warned against going beyond stating one's pro-life belief and actions could hurt the Republican party with women voters and young voters.[19]
In a 2015 poll, 6 out of 10 moderate Republicans believed that abortion should be legal in most or all instances.
Organizations edit
There are several organizations and Political Action Committees that support pro-choice republican candidates. The most prominent are Republican Majority for Choice, Republicans for Choice, and The WISH List. These organizations provide money, endorsements, and training to candidates who support abortion rights. Republican Main Street Partnership has shown support for pro-choice legislation.
Notable Figures edit
This is a list of Republican figures that have expressed pro-choice stances or self identify as pro-choice. This is not a complete list.
U.S Senators edit
Susan Collins - Senator from Maine
Shelly Moore Capito - Senator from West Virginia
U.S. Representatives edit
Charlie Dent - Representative of Pennsylvania's 15th District
Richard L. Hanna - Representative of New York's 22nd District
Governors edit
Charlie Baker - Governor of Massachusetts
Bruce Rauner - Governor of Illinois
Brian Sandoval - Governor of Nevada
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "A Rebirth of Constitutional Government | GOP". GOP. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
- ^ "AP-GfK Poll: Support for legal abortion at highest level in 2 years | Associated Press GfK Poll". ap-gfkpoll.com. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
- ^ Killian, Mitchell; Wilcox, Clyde (2008). "Do Abortion Attitudes Lead to Party Switching?". Political Research Quarterly. 61: 561–573 – via SAGE.
- ^ "Republican Majority for Choice | ABOUT RMC". www.gopchoice.org. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
- ^ Day, Christine L.; Hadley, Charles D.; Duffy Brown, Megan (2001). "Gender, Feminism, and Partisanship among Women's PAC Contributors". Social Science Quarterly. 82: 687–700 – via Wiley Online Library.
- ^ Day, Christine L. (2001). "Feminist Diversity: The Policy Preferences of Women's PAC Contributors". Political Research Quarterly. 54: 673–686 – via SAGE.
- ^ a b c Abramowitz, Alan I. (1995). "It's Abortion, Stupid: Policy Voting in the 1992 Presidential Election". The Journal of Politics. 57: 176–186 – via JSTOR.
- ^ a b c d e Williams, Daniel K. (2011). "The GOP's Abortion Strategy: Why Pro-Choice Republicans Became Pro-Life in the 1970s". Journal of Policy History. 23: 513–539 – via Project Muse.
- ^ Granberg, Donald (1980). "Abortion Attitudes, 1965-1980: Trends and Determinants". Family Planning Perspectives. 12: 250–261 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Frankovich, Nicholas (2016). "The Republican Party Cools Its Ambivalent Romance with the Pro-life Movement". The Human Life Review. 42: 31–42 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Karrer, Robert N. (2011). "The Pro-Life Movement and Its First Years under Roe". American Catholic Studies. 122: 47–72 – via Project MUSE.
- ^ Adams, Greg D. (1997). "Abortion: Evidence of an Issue Evolution". American Journal of Political Science. 41: 718–737 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Siegel, Reva B.; Greenhouse, Linda. "Before (and After) Roe v. Wade: New Questions About Backlash". Retrieved 2016-12-16 – via Yale Law Journal.
- ^ Carmines, Edward G.; Woods, James (2002). "The Role of Party Activists in the Evolution of the Abortion Issue". Political Behavior. 24: 361–377 – via Springer.
- ^ Hadley, Janet (1994). "God's Bullies: Attacks on Abortion". Feminist Review. 48: 94–113 – via JSTOR.
- ^ News, A. B. C. (2006-01-06). "Laura Bush Speaks Out on Abortion". ABC News. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ News, A. B. C. (2010-05-13). "Laura Bush Supports Gay Marriage, Abortion". ABC News. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Smith, Alexander Thomas T. "Faith, science and the political imagination: moderate Republicans and the politics of embryonic stem cell research". The Sociological Review: 623–637 – via Wiley Online Library.
- ^ Woodruff, Betsy (2015-01-22). "Why the GOP Isn't as Pro-Life as You Think". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
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