¶ Masters Was An Anti-Abortion Extremist
- Masters supported overturning Roe v. Wade, calling it “a horrible decision” that was “responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of babies a year.”
- Masters called abortion “demonic” and said pro-choice supporters see abortion as a “religious sacrifice.”
- Masters compared abortion to “genocide” and called for Roe to be overturned.
- Masters celebrated the overturning of Roe as a “huge victory” and downplayed Americans fears about the implications of criminalizing abortions. He opposed companies’ efforts to assist employees financially with obtaining an abortion.
- Masters sought to strip Americans of their right to contraception; he was very outspoken about his intent to overturn Griswold.
- Masters called on Congress to pass a personhood law and supported a federal personhood law to ban abortions in all states. Arizona’s personhood law would grant fertilized eggs full rights and ban abortion up to conception.
- Masters supported the Texas Heartbeat Act which banned abortion after just 6 weeks, contained no exceptions for rape or incest, and deputized private citizens. He also supported Arizona’s 15-week abortion ban.
¶ Masters Supported Overturning Roe v. Wade
¶ Masters Called Roe V. Wade A “Horrible Decision,” Said Abortion Was “Demonic” And Supported Overturning The Ruling And Banning Abortion
[AUDIO] Masters Said Roe V. Wade Was A “Horrible Decision” That Was “Responsible For Killing Hundreds Of Thousands Of Babies A Year” And Should Be Repealed. According to Relatable, “Yeah I’m unapologetically pro-life. I think that’s just obvious. Obviously, the correct position. It’s so important. I think Roe v. Wade needs to be repealed yesterday. I think it’s a horrible decision. It’s horrible jurisprudentially. You know they just invented some right to privacy out of thin air and then said somehow that covers abortions. I think just on the legal merits. Horrible decision, of course horrible policy too and just responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of babies a year. So we’ve got to get rid of that.” [Relatable, 9/23/21] 210923_ASP_164_A
Masters Claimed That Pro-Choice Supporters See Abortion As A “Religious Sacrifice” And Said “I Think It’s Demonic And I Think We Have To Put A Stop To It.” According to Tucson Weekly, “He added that abortion rights supporters see abortion as a ‘religious sacrifice.’ ‘I think it’s demonic,’ Masters said. ‘And I think we have to put a stop to it.’ Masters campaign manager Amalia C. Halikias did not reply by deadline regarding whether Masters supports an exception to his proposed abortion ban when the pregnancy results from rape or incest.” [Tucson Weekly, 10/7/21
[VIDEO] Masters Claimed Abortion Was A “Sacrificial Ritual” To The Left. “And it's not 50- 50, because even if they get to 50-50, the liberal project doesn't stop there because they don't even like the distinction between men and women. Right. There's three hundred genders or however many of your eight year old is learning about in school today. Right. And so, I mean, I think you're so right. You said God shaped hole in the size there, in the human heart. And I think there is a religious impulse. right. And I think that's why it happened. But I'm a Christian, too. I think that's God trying to pull us back to him in some sense. But for the militant atheists. For the secular liberals progressivism. Right. That's become the new it's a new age in the church. And it's doing all the same work. And you have the sacrificial liturgies. And I think this is why the left is so obsessed with abortion. Right is the sacrificial ritual. And it's I mean, it's ghastly, right? The problem is there's no redemption. There's no forgiveness. This secular progressive religion doesn't have any of the benefits of actual religious truth and beauty. And it's and so it's a dead end. But people believe in it. People believe in it. And I mean, I think this is just, it's the communist impulse.” [Interview with Congressman Madison Cawthorn, 1/20/22]; 220120_ASP_329_A
Masters Opposed The Right To An Abortion But Said He Did Not Arrive At That Position Through Religion, But Rather Said “I Thought That Intellectually.” According to transcript, “Some people are illogical about it . Some people are religious about it . Some people are not. There's going to be disagreement on this issue in America . But for me , it's very clear. I felt it. I thought that intellectually. I thought that seriously before and after having kids , three beautiful boy. Actually , my one year old was brought home during the pandemic back when we thought covid, it actually may have been really bad. But seeing my baby boy born at home , you know how anyone could think that.” [Pima County Republican Club, 08/03/21]; 210803_ASP_083_A
Masters Said Abortion Rights Were “Invented By A Liberal Court.” Blake Masters tweeted, “Because the 2A is in the Bill of Rights and ‘abortion rights’ were invented by a liberal court.” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 12/4/21]
¶ Masters Linked Abortion To Genocide
Masters Said That “There’s A Genocide Happening In America” Due To Roe V. Wade. According to The Daily Wire, “Masters continued that trend on Thursday by releasing a campaign video imploring the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn Roe v. Wade. Masters said the country needed to ‘get back to not killing babies’ and provided a special emphasis on the impact that abortion has had on the black community. ‘There’s a genocide happening in America. Under Roe v. Wade, the federal government recognizes a ‘right’ to kill babies in the womb,’ Masters stated in the video. ‘And so every year, hundreds of thousands of young lives are destroyed.’ ‘Thirty percent of black babies are aborted in this country. We’re talking 20 million babies since 1973. We got to get back to not killing babies,” he added. “And it starts with overturning Roe.’” [Daily Wire, 12/2/21]
¶ Masters Celebrated The Supreme Court’s Decision To Overturn Roe
¶ May 2022: In A Leaked Draft Opinion, The Supreme Court Confirmed Its Intent To Overturn Roe, Masters Immediately Took To Twitter To Celebrate The News
Masters Tweeted: “Bye Bye Roe” Blake Masters Tweeted: “bye bye Roe” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 5/2/22]
[VIDEO] Blake Masters On Roe V Wade Being Overturned: ““I Think It’s A Pro-Life State And I Think This Is A Pro-Life Country.” “I think it’s a pro-life state and I think this is a pro-life country. Mark Kelly, he doesn’t care about the open border, he doesn’t care about inflation, it’s why he’s a rubber-stamp vote for the Joe Biden agenda. What he does cares about apparently, is unlimited partial-birth abortion. He can’t articulate any single restriction. He’s for, he’s all for Planned ParenthooD going in at seven months in utero to sever spinal cords and dismember babies. I’m sorry to be so graphic, but like, we have to talk at this level. That’s what it is. I think it’s ghastly. He’s out of step with Arizona. I’m running on a bold agenda, this President Trump 2016 agenda. It was great on the life issue, it’s great on every issue,,, . What’s happening to our country is unacceptable. What the left is doing is unacceptable and we’re going to take this country back.” [Fox News: The Ingraham Angle, 5/5/22]
¶ June 24, 2022: Roe Was Officially Overturned By The United States Supreme Court, Masters Called The Ruling A “Huge Victory” And A “Wonderful Gift”
Following The Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe Masters Tweeted: “This Is A Huge Victory For Children Across This Country. For Decades, We Allowed A Terrible Court Ruling To Justify An Abortion Regime. That Ends Today.” Blake Masters tweeted, “This is a huge victory for children across this country. For decades, we allowed a terrible Court ruling to justify an abortion regime. That ends today.” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 6/24/22]
- Masters Continued: “Now The Pro-life Fight Must Continue In The States. Mark Kelly — And Nearly Every Other Democrat In The Senate — Voted To Legalize Abortion Up Until The Moment Of Birth. These Democrats Must Be Held Accountable.” Blake Masters tweeted, “Now the pro-life fight must continue in the states. Mark Kelly — and nearly every other Democrat in the Senate — voted to legalize abortion up until the moment of birth. These Democrats must be held accountable. That’s exactly what we’re going to do in November.” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 6/24/22]
Masters Called The Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe V Wade “A Wonderful Gift” “For Life.” Blake Masters tweeted, “Happy Birthday to @cathiherrod, who has been leading the pro-life fight in Arizona for decades. Only fitting that this monumental decision came today — a wonderful gift for Cathi and for life.” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 6/24/22]
Masters On The Supreme Court Decisions On Abortion And Gay Marriage: “The Supreme Court Just Squinting And Making Up So-Called Rights In The Constitution—The Right To Privacy That Was For Abortion, The Right To Gay Marriage—I Disagree With That.” “Frankly, the Supreme Court just squinting and making up so-called rights in the Constitution—the right to privacy that was for abortion, the right to gay marriage—I disagree with that.” [Daily Beast, 6/27/22]
Masters Posted To Facebook: “Overturning Roe Is A Tremendous Victory. Millions Of Americans’ Prayers Have Been Answered. We Have To Create A Pro-life, Pro-family Culture In This Country Again.” Blake masters posted to Facebook, “Overturning Roe is a tremendous victory. Millions of Americans’ prayers have been answered. We have to create a pro-life, pro-family culture in this country again.” [Facebook, Blake Masters, 6/30/22]
¶ Masters Downplayed The Impact Overturning Roe Would Have On America And Sought To Block Efforts To Maintain Access To Safe Abortions
¶ Masters Said Abortion “Is Not Healthcare”
Masters Attacked Mark Kelly For Using “Clinical Stock Phrases” Such As “Reproductive Freedom” And “Health Care Decisions” And Said “But Worse Than Being Boring And Generic – He’s Dead Wrong. Abortion Is Not Healthcare.” Blake Masters tweeted, “Clinical stock phrases from Mark Kelly, as always. ‘Reproductive freedom.’ ‘Health care decisions.’ But worse than being boring and generic — he's dead wrong. [Twitter, @bgmasters, 9/2/21]
¶ Blake Masters Attacked Companies For Offering Funds To Assist Employees With Obtaining An Abortion
[AUDIO] Masters Attacked Companies For Offering Funds To Assist Employees With Obtaining An Abortion. “The thing that companies are telling you they’ll pay you to go and terminate a pregnancy to, you know, to kill a child in the womb. But they don't offer generous maternity leave benefits. You know, for a woman that's working that does want to start a family, it's these companies, these WOKE companies, they pretend to care about women and they're just showing that they don't. Right. They're just putting their thumb on the scale and left wing ideology. And they actually don't support working families because they don't want families. They want workers. They want workers without children.” [Breitbart, 6/26/22]
¶ Masters Played Down The Impact Overturning Roe Would Have On The United States
Masters Lamented That The New York Times Was Focused On Climate Change And Abortion Access Instead Of A Mass Shooting In Which The Shooter Was Killed By A Bystander. Blake Masters tweeted, “Things the NY Times finds more important than an armed 22-year-old heroically stopping a mass murder in an Indiana mall: 1. British heatwave 2. Wind Turbines in Spain 3. Colleges Students’ Access to Abortion Pills 4. ‘Stop the Steal’ 5. Glowing fish” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 7/19/22]
¶ Masters Called On Congress To Recognize Personhood
[AUDIO] Masters Advocated For Congress To Recognize Personhood In An Effort To Ban All Abortions. According to Relatable, “I think the federal government has a role to play here. I think that Congress should have a debate and pick a certain point and say no we’re going to recognize right here federal personhood and pass that absolutely no abortions. Maybe they leave some amount of states below that. I think that’s a workable compromise we could get to in the next two or three years if we get a Republican House and Senate and presidency in 2024.” [Relatable, 9/23/21]; 210923_ASP_164_A
Masters Said He Believed Congress Should Pass A “Personhood Law.” According to Tucson Weekly, “It appears that none of the major Republican candidates seeking to oust Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly support abortion rights. Tech edgelord Blake Masters, who is making his political debut backed by bazillionaire Peter Theil, told the Relatable podcast last week that he’s ‘unapologetically pro-life’ and believes Roe v. Wade was a ‘horrible decision.’ He said he believed Congress should pass a ‘personhood law.’” [Tucson Weekly, 10/7/21]
¶ Masters Supported A Federal Personhood Law To Ban Abortion In All States
Masters Opposed States Rights For The Issue Of Abortion, Claiming Democrats Want To “Go In At Seven Or Eight Months In Utero And Kill Babies, Sever Spinal Cords And Dismember Babies” And Arguing “At Some Point The Federal Government Has Got To Step In And Protect Life.” According to the Daily Caller, ‘“They use this sort of Federalist language, federalism, to try to just get off the hook,’ Masters said. ‘But I don’t think you can simply return the issue to the states, ’cause I don’t think that California, or Oregon should allow Planned Parenthood to go in at seven or eight months in utero and kill babies, sever spinal cords and dismember babies. And that’s what the left really does want to do, to be clear … At some point the federal government has got to step in and protect life.”’ [Daily Caller, 5/22/22]
Masters Supported Banning Abortion Federally, Saying “I Think You Do Need A Federal Personhood Law.” According to the Huffington Post, “While many Republican lawmakers are shying away from talking about banning abortion outright, Arizona GOP Senate candidate Blake Masters is embracing it. The issue has jumped to the front of the political debate since the emergence of a leaked Supreme Court draft written by Justice Samuel Alito that would overturn Roe v. Wade and take away the federal guarantee of abortion rights. Three days after Politico published the draft, Masters said that the Roe decision was ‘absolutely horrible’ and noted that the Constitution ‘does not mention abortion.’ He said that ‘at a minimum,’ abortion should be left up to the states. But, he added, ‘I actually think we should go further than that though.’ ‘I think the 14th Amendment says you have the right to life, liberty and property,’ he said at an event in Carefree, Arizona. ‘You can’t deprive someone with that without due process. Hard to imagine a bigger deprivation of due process than killing a small child before they have a chance to take their first breath. So I think you do need a federal personhood law.”’ [Huffington Post, 5/9/22]
Masters Had Said That “At A Minimum” Abortion Should Be Left Up To The States, But Added “I Actually Think We Should Go Further Than That Though” And Said “I Think You Do Need A Federal Personhood Law.” According to HuffPost, “He said that ‘at a minimum,’ abortion should be left up to the states. But, he added, ‘I actually think we should go further than that though.’ ‘I think the 14th Amendment says you have the right to life, liberty and property,’ he said at an event in Carefree, Arizona. ‘You can’t deprive someone with that without due process. Hard to imagine a bigger deprivation of due process than killing a small child before they have a chance to take their first breath. So I think you do need a federal personhood law.”’ [HuffPost, 5/9/22]
Masters Reiterated His Support For A Federal “Personhood” Law. According to the Arizona Republic, “Masters, a Stanford-trained lawyer who said his top pick for Senate committees would be the Judiciary Committee, said he thinks a federal ‘personhood law’ would help ban all third-trimester abortions. He said he views Arizona’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks — with exceptions for the life of the mother — is appropriate for his state. ‘The federal government should prohibit late-term abortion, third-trimester abortion and partial-birth abortion,’ he said. ‘Below that, states are going to make different decisions that are going to reflect the will of the people in those states, and I think most reasonable. I think that’s what most people certainly in this state and nationwide are looking for.’ ‘I would look to Arizona’s (15-week) law and say I’m OK with it. I think it’s a reasonable solution, which reflects where the electorate is.”’ [Arizona Republic, 8/8/22]
- Masters Claimed That When He Discussed His Support For A “Personhood” Law He Was Referring To “Personhood” Laws That Would Specifically Apply To Third Trimester Abortions. According to the Arizona Republic, “Masters said last week that he views such a personhood law as applying to third-trimester pregnancies, and said there are arguments for earlier time frames. In a February Twitter broadcast with conservative Andrew Jackson, Masters said an earlier period would have a greater effect. ‘If we got a personhood amendment, even if it was at, you know, two months or three months, even if it was nowhere near what Texas chose to do — and I think Texas should have the right to do what they did — it would still save hundreds of thousands of lives a year, millions of lives over a multiyear span.” [Arizona Republic, 8/8/22]
¶ Arizona’s Own Personhood Law Granted Fertilized Eggs Full Rights And Banned Abortion Up To Conception
The Arizona Personhood Law, Which Granted Fertilized Eggs Full Rights And Banned Abortion Up To Conception, Was Blocked By A Federal Judge In July Of 2022 Before It Could Go Into Effect, But The Attorney General Said It Was “Carefully Considering Our Next Steps” In Their Fight To Defend The Legislation. According to Al Jezeera, “A federal judge in the US state of Arizona has blocked a state law that grants fertilised eggs, embryos and fetuses the same ‘rights, privileges and immunities available to other persons’. The ruling on Monday against the so-called ‘personhood’ law by United States District Judge Douglas Rayes comes as state governments across the country have sought to clarify the legality of abortion after a US Supreme Court ruling in June overturned Roe v Wade, a 1973 decision that established access to a safe abortion as a right protected by the US constitution. […] A spokesperson for Arizona attorney general’s office, meanwhile, said the ruling ‘was based on an interpretation of Arizona law that our office did not agree with, and we are carefully considering our next steps’.” [Al Jezeera, 7/12/22]
¶ Masters Supported Overturning Griswold Which Provided A Right To Contraception
AZ Mirror: “GOP Senate Candidate Blake Masters Wants To Allow States To Ban Contraception Use” [AZ Mirror, 5/6/22]
- Masters’ Campaign Website Said He Would Only Vote To Confirm Federal Judges “Who Understand That Roe And Griswold And Casey Were Wrongly Decided, And That There Is No Constitutional Right To Abortion” According to AZ Mirror, “After the U.S. Supreme Court overturns women’s constitutional right to abortion this summer, one Arizona Republican candidate for U.S. Senate thinks judges should also take aim at the right to buy and use contraception. Blake Masters, a Tucson-based venture capitalist, boasts on his website that he will only vote to confirm federal judges ‘who understand that Roe and Griswold and Casey were wrongly decided, and that there is no constitutional right to abortion.’ Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, decided in 1973 and 1992, respectively, both upheld a constitutional right to abortion access. But the ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 protected a married couple’s right to buy and use contraceptives without government restrictions.” [AZ Mirror, 5/6/22]
- The Ruling In Griswold v. Connecticut Protected A Married Couple’s Right To Buy And Use Contraceptives Without Government Restrictions. According to AZ Mirror, “But the ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut in 1965 protected a married couple’s right to buy and use contraceptives without government restrictions. The case centered on a Connecticut law that banned the use of contraceptives, which the court determined violated a married couple’s constitutional right to privacy, establishing the basis for the right to privacy with respect to intimate practices.” [AZ Mirror, 5/6/22]
- Masters Said: “I Don’t Support A State Law Or Federal Law That Would Ban Or Restrict Contraception — Period. And Griswold Was Wrongly Decided. Both Are True.” According to Business Insider, “‘I don't support a state law or federal law that would ban or restrict contraception — period,’ Masters said in a statement emailed to Insider. ‘And Griswold was wrongly decided. Both are true.’ In a Twitter thread criticizing reporting that pointed out his conflicting campaign positions, Masters stated that his problem with the Griswold case was that the Supreme Court justices ‘wholesale made up a constitutional right to achieve a political outcome.’” [Business Insider, 5/7/22]
¶ Masters Said He Was Committed To Appointing Judges Who Opposed Griswold v. Connecticut
Masters Tweeted: “In Griswold, The Justices Wholesale *Made Up A Constitutional Right* To Achieve A Political Outcome. I Am Opposed To Judges Making Law.” Blake Masters tweeted, “In Griswold, the justices wholesale *made up a constitutional right* to achieve a political outcome. I am opposed to judges making law.” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 5/7/22]
Masters Had Pledged On His Campaign Website That He Would Only Support Judges That Would Opposed The Supreme Court Ruling Of Griswold V. Connecticut But Removed The Pledge Following The Arizona Mirror Article Publication. According to Business Insider Africa, “Blake Masters, an Arizona GOP candidate for Senate, threatened to sue a reporter for defamation after an Arizona Mirror article suggested Masters praised a Nazi leader in a 2006 essay and would be open to banning birth control should he be elected. The article, published May 6, reported that Masters' campaign website contained a pledge that the candidate will only vote for judges who oppose the Supreme Court rulings of Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and Griswold v. Connecticut, and suggested Masters would ban contraceptive use based on this position. The reference to Griswold has since been removed from Masters' campaign site.” [Business Insider Africa, 5/10/22]
Business Insider: “A Republican Senate Candidate Endorsed By Peter Thiel Is Campaigning On A Pledge To Vote Only For Judges Who Oppose The Scotus Ruling Establishing The Right To Birth Control” [Business Insider, 5/7/22]
¶ Masters Supported The Texas Heartbeat Act
¶ Masters Supported The Texas Heartbeat Act Which Banned Abortions After Six Weeks
[AUDIO] Masters Supported The Texas’ Abortion Bill Which Banned Abortions After Six Weeks. But you know I'm in favor basically of Texas's law and states that want to protect life. I think that's super important. Gastly, you see how the abortion thing has turned into this religious totem for the left right. In the 90s, they promised they just wanted abortion to be safe legal and rare. And now it's like you have activists wearing their shirts, you know with tally marks on how many abortions they've had. And this is the cultural thrust of it. It's a religious sacrifice to these people. I think it's demonic. And I think we've got to put a stop to it.” [Relatable, 9/23/21] 210923_ASP_164_A
In Response To An NPR Article That Argued The Texas Abortion Ban Was Not Based On Science, Masters Tweeted: “This Is Straight Propaganda That NPR Thinks We’ll Swallow Without Thinking Just Because It Starts With ‘Doctors Say’” Blake Masters tweeted, “Every parent who has ever been asked ‘do you want to hear the baby's heartbeat’ by a doctor or nurse reads this and rolls their eyes. This is straight propaganda that NPR thinks we'll swallow without thinking just because it starts with ‘doctors say’” [Twitter, @bgmasters, 9/5/21]
¶ Texas Abortion Law Did Not Include Exceptions And Deputized Private Citizens To Sue Abortion Providers
Texas Abortion Law Banned Most Abortions After About Six Weeks Of Pregnancy. According to the New York Times, “A Texas law banning most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy went into effect on Wednesday, despite the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a constitutional right to the procedure, making the state the most restrictive in the nation in terms of access to abortion services. Other states have passed similar laws, but those measures face legal challenges. The Texas law is the first to be implemented. On a vote of 5 to 4, the court refused just before midnight on Wednesday to block the law.” [New York Times, 9/1/21]
Texas Abortion Law Did Not Include Exceptions For Pregnancies Resulting From Rape Or Incest. According to the New York Times, “Does the law make exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, or to protect the life of the mother? The law does not make exceptions for rape or incest. It does permit abortions for health reasons, but the exceptions are narrowly drawn, allowing a termination only if the pregnancy could endanger the mother’s life or lead to ‘substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function,’ Ms. Nash noted.” [New York Times, 9/1/21]
Texas Abortion Law Deputized Private Citizens To Sue Anyone Who Performs An Abortion Or “Aids And Abets” A Procedure. According to the New York Times, “Doesn’t Roe v. Wade guarantee a woman’s right to abortion? Can the Texas law be challenged on constitutional grounds? The Texas law bars state officials from actually enforcing it, a design intended to make it difficult to challenge in the courts. Usually a lawsuit aiming to block such a law as unconstitutional names state officials as defendants. Instead, the Texas law deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who performs an abortion or ‘aids and abets’ a procedure. Plaintiffs who have no connection to the patient or the clinic may sue and recover legal fees, as well as $10,000 if they win.” [New York Times, 9/1/21]
¶ Masters Supported Arizona’s 15 Week Abortion Ban
Masters Supported Arizona’s 15 Week Abortion Ban. According to the Arizona Republic, “Masters, a Stanford-trained lawyer who said his top pick for Senate committees would be the Judiciary Committee, said he thinks a federal ‘personhood law’ would help ban all third-trimester abortions. He said he views Arizona’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks — with exceptions for the life of the mother — is appropriate for his state. ‘The federal government should prohibit late-term abortion, third-trimester abortion and partial-birth abortion,’ he said. ‘Below that, states are going to make different decisions that are going to reflect the will of the people in those states, and I think most reasonable. I think that’s what most people certainly in this state and nationwide are looking for.’ ‘I would look to Arizona’s (15-week) law and say I’m OK with it. I think it’s a reasonable solution, which reflects where the electorate is.”’ [Arizona Republic, 8/8/22]