The 2024 MAGA Republicans running for president are already racing to stake out the most extreme plans to take away women’s freedoms. Now, on the heels of the Iowa Supreme Court reaffirming a woman’s right to choose, anti-choice extremists gathered in Des Moines to reiterate what we’ve known all along: 2024 GOP presidential hopefuls must embrace a national abortion ban to win in the Republican presidential Caucus. The group was led by Senator Lindsey Graham, who just introduced a nationwide abortion ban; political activist Bob Vander Plaats; and Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of an anti-choice group.
Des Moines Register: Anti-abortion leaders tell presidential candidates to embrace national ban to win caucuses
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A panel of anti-abortion advocates sent a message to Republican presidential hopefuls campaigning in Iowa: embrace a national abortion ban or risk losing in the caucuses.
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Graham urged presidential frontrunners to embrace the issue with a clear stance. “Plant the flag in Iowa,” Graham said. “If you want to be the nominee of the Republican Party, carry our banner, you’ve got to give a clear, concise, logical answer on the pro-life issue in Washington, D.C. And if you can’t do that, maybe you shouldn’t be in the race to begin with.”
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“We’re smart enough to regulate the abortion pill, understand who’s getting it and how they’re getting it,” Vander Plaats said. “Require them to (package) the abortion reversal pill with (the abortion pill).”
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Vander Plaats praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signing of a six-week abortion ban in Florida, and Dannenfelser named former Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson as having “done a good job” defining their stance on the issue.
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Graham praised former President Donald Trump, who remains the frontrunner, for “saying that the extremists in the room are the Democrats,” but said Trump has “got to finish the sentence now” and articulate a clear stance of his own. “I think President Trump will get there,” Graham said.
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“They both have serious street cred,” Vander Plaats said, referring to Trump and DeSantis’ history on abortion. He said Republicans needed a “champion” to “rein in” Democratic-led states, as well as the White House, which have pledged to protect abortion rights.
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Vander Plaats last weekend said three justices on the Iowa Supreme Court should resign, be impeached or be ousted in the wake of the 3-3 deadlocked decision. It echoes a successful campaign he helped lead in 2010 to oust three other justices after the court legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa.
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He reiterated that sentiment to reporters Wednesday evening, calling the ruling “disrespectful” and looking toward the legislature and governor to “look at all the options on the table,” including a special legislative session.