Abortion

Kennedy Jr. Said He Supported A Federal 15-Week Abortion ban But Later Tried To Walk It Back

Kennedy Jr. Said He Supported A Federal 15-Week Abortion Ban. According to Politico, “Speaking to NBC from the Iowa State Fair, Kennedy said, ‘I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life,’ but added: ‘Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child.’ He said he would sign a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks or 21 weeks of pregnancy if he were elected president.” [Politico, 8/13/23]

Kennedy Jr.: “I Think The States Have A Right To Protect A Child Once The Child Becomes Viable.” According to Politico, “NBC reporter Ali Vitali posed a string of abortion questions to Kennedy, who answered ‘yes’ to ‘So you would cap it at 15 weeks?’ She followed up by asking ‘Or 21 weeks?’ to which he said, ‘Yes, three months.’ The exchange continued, and Vitali said: ‘I’m surprised to hear you say you’d cap it.’ Kennedy responded to that last statement by saying, ‘I think the states have a right to protect a child once the child becomes viable, and that right, it increases.’” [Politico, 8/13/23]

Vice President Mike Pence Also Called For A Federal 15-Week Ban

Former Vice President Mike Pence Also Supported A 15-Week Federal Abortion Ban. According to Politico, “Limits on abortion have been widely discussed in the Republican presidential field. Former Vice President Mike Pence, for instance, has called for his fellow GOP presidential candidates to support a 15-week national ban.” [Politico, 8/13/23]

The Kennedy Jr. Campaign Tried To Walk Back His Support Of A National Abortion Ban

Kennedy, Jr.’s Campaign Claimed He Did Not Support The National Abortion Ban He Endorsed. According to Politico, “But his campaign subsequently said Kennedy did not mean to support any federal limits on abortion. ‘Today, Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by a NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair,’ his campaign said. ‘Mr. Kennedy’s position on abortion is that it is always the woman’s right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion.’” [Politico, 8/13/23]