Former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg was confronted by a pro-life voter about the Democratic Party’s platform on abortion and its acceptance of diversity of thought on the issue.
During a town hall in Iowa hosted by Fox News on Sunday, Buttigieg was asked by a woman, who identified herself as a “proud pro-life Democrat,” if he wants her support during the election.
“I am a proud pro-life Democrat, so do you want the support of pro-life Democrats?” She asked, adding, “If so, would you support more moderate platform language in the Democratic Party to ensure that the party of diversity and inclusion really does include everybody?”
Buttigieg said that he hopes to earn her support, but added that he is pro-choice and does not want to trick pro-life voters into supporting him.
“I respect where you’re coming from, and I hope to earn your vote. But I’m not going to try to earn your vote by tricking you. I am pro-choice, and I believe that a woman ought to be able to make that decision.”
“The best that I can offer is that if we can’t agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line,” he added.
Watch the exchange below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idrOQnWPMEs
When it came to the issue of making sure the party was inclusive of pro-life voters, his answer didn’t satisfy her.
She pressed Buttigieg on whether he would support changing the party’s platform to add language that makes it clear that while pro-life voters have a different opinion, they are still welcome in the party.
But he didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he said he supports the party’s position on abortion.
“Well, I support the position of my party that this kind of medical care needs to be available to everyone. And I support the Roe versus Wade framework that holds that early in pregnancy there are very few restrictions and late in pregnancy there are very few exceptions.”
“The best that I can offer is that we may disagree on that very important issue, and hopefully we will be able to partner on other issues,” he said.
Ilyse Hogue, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, responded to the exchange in a series of tweets, and said that there is a difference between “people who feel personally pro-life and those who are anti-choice.”
“The latter category believes it’s fine to force their beliefs on others through law. The former does not,” she added.
Anyone, regardless of personal beliefs is and always has been welcome in the party as long as they are not trying to exert control over others, with massive damaging effect. Pete said as much in his answer. /3
— Ilyse Hogue (@ilyseh) January 27, 2020
Hogue said that the “personally pro-life” voters are welcome in the party, but those who try to “exert control over others with massive damaging effect” are not welcome.
