A full-court press to make abortion rights the most significant issue of the day is in play. Unless President Joe Biden and his congressional cohorts present something that can distract the American public from his performance in office, the voters may just allow a Republican wave to flood over the upper and lower chambers during the upcoming general election. And it appears that the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade is set to be that particular political squirrel.
The Gambit
President Biden said soon after the Supreme Court opinion on abortion was released:
“This fall, Roe is on the ballot … Personal freedoms are on the ballot. The right to privacy, liberty, equality – they’re all on the ballot. Until then, I will do all in my power to protect a woman’s right in states where they will face the consequences of today’s decision.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) followed suit, saying the ruling “makes crystal clear the contrast” between his party and the Republicans. He warned, “Elect more MAGA Republicans if you want nationwide abortion bans, the jailing of women and doctors, and no exemptions for rape or incest … Or elect more pro-choice Democrats to save Roe and protect a woman’s right to make their own decisions about their body, not politicians.”
(Photo by Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated that she would be doing all in her power to push the agenda, saying, “Democrats will keep fighting ferociously to enshrine Roe v. Wade into the law of the land.” She made it clear that the only way to do so was to elect more members of her party; abortion is “on the ballot in November,” she said.
An Offer You Can’t Refuse?
Should the words of the politicians not be enough to convince voters to come out for Democrats hoping – against the odds – to take sizable majorities in Congress and codify Roe into law, there is always the threat of fire, fury, and general “mostly peaceful” mayhem on the streets.
The Women’s March organization released a statement outlining its strategy to fight back against the Supreme Court decision:
“This is a nightmare come to life, one with deadly consequences for women … But we will not stop fighting until justice protects us from attacks on our bodies. And until every woman in every state has the right to an abortion. Our summer of rage has just begun. We’ll see you in the streets.”
While the organization may not be directly tied to the Democratic Party, the fact that these two entities share the same immediate goal makes them cozy bedfellows. And yet this may not be a winning ticket for electoral hopes. Consider that before the now-infamous “Summer of Love” that ravaged the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, support for Black Lives Matter was high and widespread. Weeks of rioting, property damage, and elected leaders turning a blind eye to violence soon destroyed the group’s base and made the cause political Kryptonite.
Full-Court Press
That the majority of multi-national corporations, the legacy media, and an untold number of activists will be behind this effort is almost inevitable. After all, even without the Roe v. Wade foil, these outfits have long been supporters of policy deemed “progressive.” Coupled with a non-stop narrative from those hoping to retain their seats in November and beyond, it would seem that abortion in America has become the uniting force needed by the Democrats to sweep away the anticipated red wave. The reality, however, may be somewhat different.
The Wall Street Journal ran a headline story this morning (Monday, June 27) in which the author’s conclusion neatly summarises why abortion has become the most immediate problem for the Dems:
“The fury of the left’s reaction isn’t merely about guns and abortion. It reflects their grief at having lost the Court as the vehicle for achieving policy goals they can’t get through legislatures. The cultural victories they achieved by judicial fiat will now have to be won by persuading voters.”
With the November midterms just a few months away and the possibility of a lame-duck Congress ahead of the 2024 general election, the left needs to focus potential voters on something – anything – other than its record to date. But political experience and history tell us that, at the end of the day, how people eventually vote is all about the economy. Or, as Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) put it so simply, “What’s going to be on the ballot is $5 gas.”
