House Republicans continued to blaze a path for their party to lose the 2016 election by passing a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks.
Republicans tried to soften Rep. Trent Franks’ bill by quietly adding an exception in case of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother, but this bill was clearly designed as a play to their anti-choice base. The bill really is a self inflicted wound, and a thumb in the eye the millions of women who supported President Obama in 2012.
The final vote was 228-196 with 6 Republicans voting no, and 6 Democrats voting yes.
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Instead of reaching out to pro-choice women voters, House Republicans chose to antagonize them. So far, Republicans have ignored the advice of their own rebrand by voting to raise interest rates on student loans, threatening to kill immigration reform, and passing a federal abortion ban. In three simple steps, House Republicans have managed to alienate key parts of the constituency that has powered Barack Obama to two presidential election victories.
These votes are also paving the path for Hillary Clinton to win the White House in 2016. Republicans keep blaming the candidate at the top of the ticket, when the real problem is that the right wing zealots in the House are destroying the party’s brand. House Republicans have placed their party on a path to hand the 2016 election to Hillary Clinton.
By continuing to be anti-young person, anti-immigrant, and anti-women, the GOP is setting up a scenario where all Hillary Clinton, or any other Democrat will have to do is hold the Obama coalition together, and they will win. The great irony is that the glue that’s binding these people together is the actions of the Republican Party.
The House Republicans delivered the message to women that in their America, conservative men control their bodies. This message always plays well with the GOP rank and file, but it is absolute political suicide for future elections.
Today’s vote was an obvious political move to fire up the Republican base ahead of 2014, but that motivation could cut both ways. For men and women who truly care about liberty, and don’t want big government conservatism making our medical decisions for us, this vote should serve as motivation to get to the polls in 2014. House Republicans are setting the table for Hillary Clinton in 2016, but the message can be sent in 2014 that this sort of blatant contempt for women will not go unpunished.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
