Across the country, the horrific news of the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade has resulted in distress, protests, and shock. However, while most Americans are mourning the loss of reproductive health rights, some are celebrating the end of the federal constitutional right to an abortion.
Of course, at the front lines of the celebration is Fox News, which published a piece by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley’s wife, Erin Hawley, headlined: “Why Supreme Court abortion decision empowers women.”
“This case finally reverses Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision in which seven male justices put forth a dim view of motherhood, saying it ‘forced’ on women ‘a distressful life and future.’ All mothers know that’s a demeaning and untrue picture,” Erin wrote.
She continued, using religion as a reason as well. “We know that life begins at conception. And at just fifteen weeks, when Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act applies, a baby can move and stretch, hiccup, and quite likely feel pain … the Lord gives different callings to women – each of them glorifying to him. In my case, a calling first and foremost to my family.”
Erin’s presence in the political field goes beyond being married to Josh Hawley. Not only are both of them strongly against abortion, but Erin helped shape the arguments in the Mississippi case. According to Axios, Erin Hawley serves as senior counsel to the appellate team at the Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom. She is also a legal fellow with the Independent Women's Law Center and clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts in 2007.
In addition to her op-ed published in Fox News, Erin Hawley joined Fox News anchor Trace Gallagher Friday to not only hate on former President Barack Obama, but continue her false claims that abortion actually empowers women.
“As the court’s decision lays out so eloquently, there was never a right to an abortion in the Constitution. And moreover, this decision doesn’t take rights away from women. It allows states to protect the unborn—and also to empower women,” Erin said.
But despite successfully overturning Roe v. Wade, Republicans are not stopping the battle on abortion. In conversation with MSNBC host Katy Tur during a segment, former chairman of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele confirmed fears that the Republican Party would move to ban abortion if they retook Congress.
“Senator Chris Murphy said that if Republicans are able to retake the House and Senate, they will pass a federal ban on abortion. Do believe that would happen?” Tur asked.
“Yes. Without hesitation. They will set the marker.”
“Will they overturn the filibuster to do it?” Tur asked.
“Absolutely,” Steele replied without hesitation. “Because it’s in their base’s interest to do so. That’s the difference politically between the two parties. Republicans will go, ‘Oh, yeah, the Constitution and the filibuster, all the tradition, the sanctity of the Senate.’ They don’t give a rat’s patootie about that when it’s the bottom line in politics and power.”
He continued: “So absolutely, a national ban on abortion will be one of the first pieces of legislation probably next to impeaching Joe Biden.” Steele was the chairman of the RNC between 2009 and 2011.
The news isn’t surprising. Immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republicans across the country, including former Vice President Mike Pence, called for a national abortion ban.
“Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land,” Pence said in a statement.
Several states have passed abortion bans that have either gone immediately into effect or will do so within the month following Friday's ruling. If Republicans take back control of Congress in the 2022 midterms, passing a ban by lifting the filibuster is possible as Steele predicts, but it would likely face a White House veto.
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