Holland I think you are dead on. In fact I think the word ‘choice’ itself is motivational to many who do not support abortion as a whole. Just the thought of denying one’s choice triggers such an emotional type response they are going to vote for it ignoring, for the moment, the real consequences of that position.
What I think is happening on abortion is that Republicans are doing what Democrats are doing. They're letting the activist base set the agenda. Pro-life activists have spent 50 years helping Republicans win and waiting for
Roe to be overturned, and now that it has been, they want Republicans to pass their agenda without compromise. The problem with this is that the activist base's views aren't in line with most voters in most states, and they're trying to do the legislating before the activists have done the advocacy.
I think they can still be pro-life, but they need to be more be aware of their electorate. In the reddest states, they can follow the activist base, but in purple or even pinkish states, they simply can't go as far. They can't act like Wisconsin or even Kansas are the same as Alabama or Wyoming. I think they can still pass restrictions, but they need to be willing to make compromises on things like rape or incest, and they need to be willing to rule out full-blown bans.
What's sad is that people aren't choosing moderates over hardcore pro-life candidates. They're choosing radical pro-abortion candidates. I don't think it's because the public wants that, but it's less threatening to them. If they have to accept the extreme position, they'd rather it be the one that leaves the issue in their hands. We need to recognize that and not force that binary choice.
And we need to be wake up soon, or we'll be in trouble in '24.
