The selection of anti-abortion judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court is the latest salvo to be fired in the Republican Party’s war on abortion access.
His selection, combined with decades of work at the state level to put in place trigger laws that would ban abortion if Roe vs Wade is struck down, should not be minimized.
It is a danger to women’s health across the country.
But we should also remember that the Republican Party’s true position on abortion is unpopular. Banning abortion is not a popular option in America, despite the GOP’s insistence to the contrary and the media’s parroting of that position.
Americans believe that women have a right to an abortion, with certain restrictions on when abortions can be initiated. An outright ban on abortion is extremely unpopular.
The presidential nominee of the party supporting abortion rights and opposed to a ban – the Democratic Party – has won the popular vote in 6 out of the last 7 presidential elections, including 2016.
While the Republican base – especially Mike Pence – would love an abortion ban, they are pretty much the only ones in America who feel that way.
Kavanaugh’s nomination and the subsequent rightward turn of the court in concert with the Republican Party at the national and state level is an opportunity to repeatedly make this point.
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.