In a USA Today column earlier this week, law professor Jonathan Turley observed that Democratic politicians are far outside the norm in their desire for unlimited abortion on demand — even as they call their pro-life opponents “extremists.” He cited in particular the recent example of New York City mayor Eric Adams:
Notably, after calling advocates for restricting abortions “extremists,” Adams was asked at an abortion rights rally whether he believed that there should be any limitations on abortion. He answered: “No, I do not.” And he added: “I think women should have the right to choose their bodies. Men should not have that right to choose how a woman should treat their body.”
Turley went on to point out that this position, adopted by nearly all Democratic politicians, especially at the national level, is out of step with the abortion views of most Americans:
Yet, a majority of Americans support limits on abortion after 15 weeks, according to a Wall Street Journal survey. (The United States is one of only 12 among the world’s 198 countries that allow abortions for any reason after 20 weeks.)
Polls show that most Americans reject extreme or absolute positions on either side of the abortion issue. A survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also shows that 65% of Americans would make most abortions usually illegal in the second trimester, and that 80% would make most abortions illegal in the third trimester.
Democratic politicians support none of these limits. In fact, nearly every Democratic senator has voted twice so far this year for legislation that would create a supposed fundamental right to abortion, for any reason, throughout pregnancy, and that would nullify nearly all state pro-life laws.
As Turley observes, if Democrats intend to remain firm in this absolutism — which seems likely — they should be prepared to make the case for unlimited abortion to a public highly inclined to disagree with them. Thus far, they’ve given little indication that they’re either willing or able to do so.