Speaking to the press, Joe Biden said he hasn’t thought through what impact SCOTUS overturning Roe v. Wade will have on the midterms for the Democrats, contradicting a written statement of his from the White House only a few hours previously.
On Monday night, Politico published a leak of a draft opinion from Justice Samuel Alito in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that is currently being looked at by the Supreme Court. The opinion would repeal Roe vs Wade, the 1973 decision that legalised abortion across the country.
The Supreme Court later confirmed the authenticity of the document, but noted that it “does not represent a decision by the Court or the final position of any member on the issues in the case.”
In a statement posted before the confirmation from SCOTUS, Joe Biden argued strongly in favour of Roe v. Wade, arguing that “a woman’s right to choose is fundamental,” and that his administration have been prepared for any outcome regarding recent SCOTUS cases.
“If the Court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose,” Biden said. “And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November,” he added. He continued saying that the Senate and the House needed a pro-choice majority to codify Roe into legislation, which he will “work to pass and sign into law.”
NEW: The White House releases a statement on reports that the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade:
“If the Court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation’s elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman’s right to choose.” pic.twitter.com/HZVtDjXqTO
— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) May 3, 2022
However, only a few hours later, Biden contradicted his own written statement on Roe, when speaking to the press. One journalist asked him what the leak of the draft meant for Democrats in the midterms. “I haven’t thought that through yet,” he replied, seemingly forgetting that he had already publicly detailed his plans for the midterms.
During the same press conference, Biden argued that Roe “says what all basic mainstream religions have historically concluded,” in that “the existence of a human life and being is a question” that still needs to be answered.
“Is it at the moment of conception? Is it six months? Is it six weeks? Is it quickening, like Aquinas argued?” Biden said. “So the idea that we’re gonna make a judgement that is going to say that no-one can make the judgement to choose to abort a child based on a decision by the Supreme Court, goes way overboard,” he concluded.
Biden: "Roe says what all basic mainstream religions have historically concluded, that the existence of a human life and being is a question." pic.twitter.com/vLlJzGSJnk
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 3, 2022
