Tiffany Smiley Said She Agreed With Texas’ Abortion Law And Claimed To Be “Pro-Woman” First And Then Pro-Life. According to the Hill, “In Washington state, Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley, who describes herself as a ‘pro-life’ Republican, has been forced to address the issue in her campaign to challenge incumbent Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in the deep-blue state. ‘While I'm pro-life, I often say I am pro-woman first,’ Smiley, a former OB-GYN triage nurse, told reporters on Tuesday. Smiley recalled working with pregnant women and parents of pregnant women who were unsure of whether to continue with a pregnancy. ‘I know what that feels like,’ she said. ‘And I think if we're really going to be pro-life, we have to be pro-woman first. It means ensuring that keeping that child isn't a ticket to poverty or a ticket to a lack of education.’ Smiley said that while she agrees with the Texas law, she said "there's a lot of parts of it that make it very hard for me in Washington state.’ ‘But at the end of the day, I'm pro-woman first and then always pro-life,’ she added. [Hill, 9/23/21]
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]
Tiffany Smiley Refused To Comment On The Leaked Draft Opinion For Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. According to the Columbian, “Murray, who is seeking a sixth term this fall, has a Republican challenger who likely holds anti-abortion beliefs: Tiffany Smiley. According to the candidate's campaign, she will not comment on a draft opinion that has not been finalized. Once the Supreme Court provides its final majority decision, Smiley will comment on the matter. In the meantime: ‘The leaked draft opinion is clearly an attempt to further politicize and influence the Supreme Court,’ said Elisa Carlson, Smiley's press secretary. Although the draft hasn't been finalized, its contents shed light on a likely reality for reproductive care. The Supreme Court has sessions scheduled over the next two months to provide rulings in unresolved cases, including Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.” [Columbian, 5/8/22]
Tiffany Smiley Said Abortion Rights Were Not Relevant To The Senate Race. According to Seattle Times, “Smiley said she is personally against abortion but suggested the topic was not relevant to the Senate race because Washington voters had long ago backed legal protections for abortion rights.” [Seattle Times, 2/28/22]
Senator Murray Launched An Attack Ad Against Tiffany Smiley About Her Stance On Abortion. According to Northwestern Progressive Institute Advocate, “Dr. Judy Kimelman, MD: 'Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade and states across the nation are banning abortion. You think women's reproductive health care is safe here in Washington? Not with Mitch McConnell's handpicked candidate Tiffany Smiley in the Senate.' Audio of Tiffany Smiley plays where Smiley states: 'I'm 100% pro-life.' 'Tiffany Smiley's first vote will be to make Mitch McConnell majority leader and they will work together to ban abortions nationwide. Don't take my word. Believe Tiffany Smiley.' Audio of Tiffany Smiley plays where Smiley states: 'I'm 100% pro-life.' [Northwestern Progressive Institute Advocate, 6/25/22]
Tiffany Smiley Said She Would Not Vote To Legalize Or Ban Abortion Nationally. According to the Seattle Times, “Smiley says that she would not vote to legalize abortion nationally, as it was under Roe v. Wade, but also would not vote for a nationwide abortion ban.” [Seattle Times, 7/12/22]
Tiffany Smiley Said Abortion Should Be Left Up To States. According to the Seattle Times, “The Supreme Court's decision put the issue ‘back in the hands of the people where it belongs,’ Smiley said. ‘It should be in the state and that's where it's at.’” [Seattle Times, 7/12/22]
Tiffany Smiley Claimed That The Supreme Court Decision Places Abortion Back In The Hands of The People. According to a press release from Tiffany Smiley, “Tiffany Smiley said: “Today’s Supreme Court decision means the people’s representatives, not unelected judges, will make the decision on regulating abortion. Even then-Senator Joe Biden voted five times for common sense restrictions on late term abortions, while Patty Murray stood in opposition to those same mainstream proposals. There is one extremist on the issue of abortion in this race, and her name is Patty Murray.’” [Press Release, 6/24/22]
[VIDEO] Smiley Said She Was “100 Percent Pro-Life” And That “The Abortion Issue Belong Closes To The People Of The States.” “I said I was 100 percent pro-life and I'm 100 percent pro woman. That's who I am. And I have long believed that the abortion issue belongs closest to the people of the states. And that's exactly what the Supreme Court decision did. It give it it gave it to the people in Washington state, long decided.” [Undivided With Brandi Kruse 08/12/22]; 220812_GMN_473_B
[VIDEO] Tiffany Smiley Claimed That Abortion Was A Distraction And Only Top Of Mind For 10 Percent Of Voters. “‘You know, I honestly, I think it's just a distraction from her 30 years of failed policy. It's clear the number one issue in Washington state is the economy, the cost of living, and inflation that you know, last week we all woke up to nine point one percent inflation, 10 percent rise in energy costs. We're the third highest gas prices in the country here in Washington state. All she does is talk about abortion. Abortion’s only top of mind for about 10 percent of voters in Washington because, and I said this, I wish she would just be honest.’” [Live from Seattle with Tim Gaydos, 7/27/22]; 220727_CPM_412_A