RULING ONLY ADDS TO THAT
CONCERN.
THANK YOU.
JOINING ME NOW TO DIVE FURTHER
INTO THE POLITICS OF THE ABORTION ISSUE IS EUGENE SCOTT,
ABORTION ISSUE IS EUGENE SCOTT,
AMY WALTER, BRENDA BUCK, A
FORMER ADVISER TO SPEAKERS
WEINER AND RYAN.
AMY, WE MADE A BIG DEAL OUT OF
THIS BECAUSE IT FEELS AS IF,
NOT ONLY, IS THIS A HUGE ISSUE
FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BUT
THE COUNTRY SEEMS TO BE MOVING
EVEN MORE SO IN AN ABORTION
RIGHTS DIRECTION SINCE DOBBS.
WE ARE SEEING THIS EVIDENCE
HERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY IS PULLING ITSELF FURTHER
AWAY.
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
>> RIGHTS.
WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF A
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR PRESIDENT
, WHERE THESE ISSUES ARE GOING
TO BE FRONT AND CENTER.
THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT HOW
THIS ISSUE PLAYED IN THE LAST
ELECTION, ABORTION OR THE
ECONOMY?
THE ANSWER WAS, REALLY, BOTH.
IN STATES, SURPRISINGLY, IN
STATES WHERE ABORTION
RESTRICTIONS WERE PUT ON THE
BOOKS, PASSED INTO LAW,
GEORGIA, TEXAS, FLORIDA -- IN
STATES WHERE THE THREAT OF MORE
ABORTION RESTRICTIONS WERE ON
THE BALLOT, LITERALLY, MICHIGA
, TO ME, THE ISSUE WAS THE
CANDIDATES THEMSELVES AND HOW
THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
IN PENNSYLVANIA AND IN ARIZONA,
THEY WERE OVER THE TOP VERSUS
LET'S SAY, ANOTHER REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATE TALKING ABOUT BEING
REASONABLE.
THE DEBATE REALLY HASN'T HAPPENED IN A NATIONAL WAY.
HAPPENED IN A NATIONAL WAY.
>> TO ME, I'M STARTING TO
QUESTION WHETHER WE SPENT TOO
MUCH TIME EITHER CREDITING OR
BLAMING TRUMP FOR THE RESULTS,
AND NOT ENOUGH ON ABORTION,
BECAUSE THE ONLY PLACE WHERE
DEMOCRAT LOST WAS IN A STATE
WHERE ABORTION RIGHTS WERE
ALREADY ENSHRINED IN THE
CONSTITUTION.
WHERE IT WAS OFF THE TABLE.
WHERE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION, AND YET, THE
ECONOMY GOT TO BE FRONT AND
CENTER.
THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE, AND I SEE
NO EVIDENCE THE GOP KNOWS HOW
TO GET OUT OF THIS BOX.
LAST WEEKEND, WE KNOW KEVIN
McCARTHY WAS TALKING TO GOP
DONORS, SAYING THAT HE IS
ADOPTING THE TALKING POINT THAT
MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN
EMPHASIZING, WHICH IS CANDIDATE
QUALITY.
HE SAID THAT STATES THAT PEOPLE
WHO RAN FOR THE GOVERNOR'S RACE
IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO
LOST, LOST IN PART, BECAUSE NOT
JUST THE QUALITY OF THE HOUSE
CANDIDATES, BUT ALSO THE
GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.
WHAT I THINK WE ARE GOING TO
SEE REPUBLICANS DOING MOVING
FORWARD IS SAYING, HOW TO BEGET
PEOPLE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET
WHO ARE NOT AS EXTREME AS WE
HAVE SEEN IN SOME OF THESE
STATES, LIKE ARIZONA, AND EVEN
GEORGIA.
WE REMEMBER HERSCHEL WALKER AND
HIS ABORTION STORIES.
THAT DIDN'T HELP THE PARTY.
>>> THE RNC JUST DID A
RESOLUTION AT THEIR WINTER
MEETING, THAT SHOWED THEY ARE
NOT LOOKING AT THE POLLING ON
ABORTION.
THEY SAID THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE URGES
NATIONAL COMMITTEE URGES
REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS TO PASS
THE STRONGEST PRO-LIFE
LEGISLATION POSSIBLE, SUCH AS
LAWS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THE
BEATING HEART AND PAIN OF THE
UNBORN.
THIS IS NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC
WANTS.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING
STATEMENTS LIKE THAT FOR
DECADES, REALLY.
IT JUST HASN'T HAD ANY
CONSEQUENCES UNTIL NOW.
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE ARE
BEING DEFINED BY EIGHT HOUSE
LEGISLATURES.
INSTEAD OF HAVING A NATIONAL
MESSAGE, TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU
WILL TAKE CARE OF MOTHER'S OR
NEWBORN CHILDREN.
THERE'S A WAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS
THAT IS LESS POLITICALLY
DAMAGING, BUT NO ONE IS TAKING
THAT OVER.
INSTEAD, WE ARE BEING DEFINED
BY STATES THAT ARE GOING TO THE
FAR RIGHT.
WE WANT REASONABLE,
MIDDLEGROUND RESTRICTIONS, AND
INSTEAD WE ARE GOING ALL THE
WAY.
>> IT IS HAPPENING TO LIKE YOU
GO BACK TO THAT?
>> I THINK YOU COULD DO IT.
NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE THE
COURAGE TO DO IT.
THE FIRST SLATE OF BILLS THE
HOUSE TOOK UP THIS YEAR WAS
ANTIABORTION MEASURES, WHICH
TELLS ME THE PEOPLE THEY ARE
LISTENING TO, THE PEOPLE WHO
MAKE THE MOST NOISE, DON'T SEE
ANY REASON TO CHANGE COURSE.
>> THAT'S WHY YOU HEAR MITCH
McCONNELL TALKING ABOUT
CANDIDATE QUALITY.
CANDIDATE QUALITY IS TRUE, BUT
NOT FOR A PRIMARY.
THE PRIMARY IS THE MOST
RADICALIZED PART OF A PARTY
THAT WILL COME OUT.
IT'S THE ONES THAT ARE MODERATE
AND INDEPENDENT THAT STAY HOME.
THAT IS THE CHALLENGE.
THEY HAVE GONE SO FAR TO THE
RIGHT THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE
THESE CONVERSATIONS, DON'T
FORGET THAT I WAS THE ONE THAT
INTRODUCED [ INAUDIBLE ].
>> REPUBLICAN VOTERS --
>> THEY ARE!
>> WE SAW IT. ALSO, THE SURVEY
INDICATED, CLEARLY, THERE ARE
PLENTY OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO
ARE VERY PRO-LIFE WHO ARE
WILLING TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES
WHO ARE NOT, IF THEY AGREE WITH
THEM ON THE OTHER ISSUES.
>> THE CHALLENGES, AGAIN, WHO
COMES OUT TO VOTE IN PRIMARIES.
ON BOTH SIDES, RIGHT NOW, THEIR
BASE IS HIGHLY RADICALIZED.
INDEPENDENT MODERATE VOTERS ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE, AM I
GOING TO GO FOR THE ONE THAT
MIGHT BE MODERATE, STAY HOME,
OR GO FOR THE MODERATE
DEMOCRAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAW
IN THE MIDTERMS.
>> THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE CAN
TALK THEIR WAY OUT OF SOME
STUFF.
YOU CAN DO THAT SOMETIMES.
DONALD TRUMP, CERTAINLY, IS
TRYING ON THIS ISSUE, IN A
WEIRD WAY.
TO ME, THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY
TRAPPED ARSENIC CANDIDATES.
I LOOKED AT THIS THIS MORNING.
THIS IS HOW DEMOCRATS HOLD THE
SENATE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE A POSSIBLE MAP
FOR THEM TO NAVIGATE.
LOOK AT THE ABORTION ISSUE IN
MONTANA AND OHIO AND WEST
VIRGINIA, AND ONE ISSUE IN A SENATE RACE CAN DO THAT.
SENATE RACE CAN DO THAT.
>> THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC GROUP
THAT DID POLLING AFTER THE
ELECTION, NAVIGATOR RESEARCH.
THEY LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO
SAID THEY DIDN'T APPROVE OF THE
JOB BIDEN WAS DOING ON THE
ECONOMY, INCLUDING 13% WHO SAID
SOMEWHAT UNFAVORABLE.
THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR THAT
13%, ABORTION, NOT THE ECONOMY.
THIS IS WHERE WE GOT REALLY --
>> I DON'T THINK THAT REPORTING
-- LET'S JUST SAY I DON'T THINK
WE FULLY KNOW EVERYTHING YET.
>> THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THOSE FOLKS WHO SAY THE ECONOMY
IS BAD, BUT WHEN YOU REALLY
PUSH THEM TO SAY, WHAT'S A MORE
IMPORTANT ISSUE TO YOU,
INFLATION OR ABORTION ACCESS,
THEY PICK ABORTION.
>> IT WAS DADS THAT HAD SWAYED
MORE TO ACTUALLY VOTE AGAINST
ABORTION.
IT WASN'T THE TRADITIONAL MOMS
AND WOMEN.
IT WAS PEOPLE -- YOU HAD
FATHERS WITH DAUGHTERS THAT
WERE PART OF THAT.
>> I WANT TO PICK UP SOMETHING
EUGENE BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS,
HOW REPUBLICANS COULD START TO
TALK ABOUT THIS DIFFERENTLY.
WHEN MISSISSIPPI PASSED THEIR
LOT TO GET THIS TO THE SUPREME
COURT, THAT WAS ALL THE
GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT.
SUPPORTING WOMEN WHEN THEY HAVE
KIDS.
AFTER THE CHILD IS BORN, AND
WHILE THEY ARE PREGNANT.
WE NEED TO GIVE THEM MORE
RESOURCES, AND YOU HAVE HEARD,
AT TIMES, MARCO RUBIO TALK
ABOUT THAT.
I WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE IF THE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE REALLY
TRIES TO GRAB AT THAT, BECAUSE
IT WOULD BE, ALSO, SOMETHING TO
HAND OUT, LIKE MONEY.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
WE'VE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT
COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THAT WAS
THE MAIN LINE, WHICH IS WHAT
BRENDA WAS MAKING NOTE OF.
SOME SAY NIKKI HALEY WOULD BE
PERFECTLY POSITIONED TO TAKE
THIS LANE FOR A HOST OF
REASONS.
THE QUESTION BECOMES, WILL SHE
BE ABLE TO, IN A PARTY THAT HAS
SO MANY INDIVIDUALS IN ITS BASE
THAT ARE MORE VOCAL THAN HALEY,
WHO VIEW THIS ISSUE QUITE
DIFFERENTLY.
>> ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS HOW
CAUCUSES WORK, AND THE FACT IS,
RICK SANTORUM HAD AN ABORTION
POSITION THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF
THE REPUBLICAN MAINSTREAM IN
2012, BUT IT WAS REALLY FIRING
UP VOTERS IN THE CAUCASUS.
>> IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN HELD CAPTIVE
BY A SMALL SLIVER OF OUR PARTY.
I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS DIFFERENTLY
ABOUT THESE THINGS DIFFERENTLY IS GOING TO WIN THE ARGUMENT
>>> I GUESS THE QUESTION NOW
IS, AT WHAT POINT, IT LOOKS
LIKE THIS HAS TO GET CODIFIED
IN CONGRESS.
SO, THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO BE
CAMPAIGNING ON A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION?
WE ARE GOING TO CODIFY THIS.
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY NEED
A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH THEY ARE
GOING TO PUT FORWARD, SO YOU
CAN GET A LOT OF THE MODERATE,
INDEPENDENT REPUBLICANS.
THAT IS HOW YOU GET TO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THE MIDTERMS
TAUGHT US.
IT WAS INDEPENDENT MODERATE
REPUBLICANS WHO EITHER SAT HOME
-- WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS AROUND DEMOCRACY
THEY RUN INTO THE SAME PROBLEM
WE DO.
YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE EXTREME.
>> 20 WEEKS, ARGUABLY, IF YOU
SAY, WHAT IS THE COMPROMISE?
WHAT IS THE COMPROMISE BETWEEN
24 AND 50, YOU MIGHT SAY 20.
>> HERE'S A BIGGER QUESTION.
CAN RON DeSANTIS RUN ON A 15
WEEK BAN, OR DOES HE NEED TO
COME UP WITH ANOTHER RULE?
I THOUGHT 15 WAS EASIER TO
DEFEND.
THIS IS VERY REASONABLE.
>> 90% OF ABORTIONS ARE DONE
BEFORE THAT.
THE 15 WEEK THING POLLS WELL,
IF YOU SAY FIVE OR SIX
DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, IT'S THE BEST OF THE
BAD OPTIONS.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM THE PARTY
HAS, AND NOBODY WANTS TO OWN 15
WEEKS.
THIS IS THE RIGHT POLICY.
EVERYBODY LOOKS AT IT LIKE A
COMPROMISE.
>> BECAUSE IN AN EFFORT TO WIN
PEOPLE, YOU LOST THE PEOPLE
THAT GOT YOU THAT FAR. >> OR, LET THE SCIENCE TAKE
>> OR, LET THE SCIENCE TAKE
PLACE, BUT THAT'S HARDER.
>> YOU ARE ASKING FOR METRICS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT?
OH MY GOD, YOUR DEMANDS ARE SO