Bernie Sanders and Chuck Todd Have Terrible Takes on Abortion

[SouthernProgressive]

When the Meet the Press host alleged women get abortions when they don’t like the gender of the fetus, the candidate did not push back

But just a few seconds later, things went off the rails when Todd inexplicably asked, “Are you in all concerned, though, about this idea that people may try to worry about the sex of a child, or essentially, are those types of restrictions on abortions something you’re open to?”

Bernie, obviously caught off guard but also obviously uneducated on the issue, capitulated. “That, I mean, that’s a concern,” Sanders said, adding, “Well, that’s not a, I wouldn’t use a restriction on, that’s an issue that society has got to deal with, and it is of concern.”

Todd followed up to the question asking, “How would you deal with that in the law?”

“I don’t know how, at this particular point,” Sanders said. “I would deal with it, but that is an issue that we really have got to deal with.”

Rolling Stone

Rights are being rolled back and he is highlighting this a a concern when asked about it. I don't think he is concerned like I am. I am concerned that they are limiting access to abortions in any and every way possible.

This is a current issue.

Supreme Court compromise on Indiana abortion law keeps issue off its docket

But the court said it would not revive another part of the law, which would have prohibited abortions if the woman chose the procedure because of a diagnosis or “potential diagnosis” of Down syndrome or “any other disability,” or because of the fetus’s gender or race.

Washington Post

[oldsoftie]

1. Chuck Todd isnt running for anything & Bernie Sanders is losing steam anyway.

[Hortensis]

14. Chuck Todd works every day to elect Republicans, tho.

That's important in looking at him and MSNBC, because he does this knowing that the Republican Party has become both servant to the ultrawealthy and the spearhead of fascism in this nation. Have to say, he did a good job for them in 2015-16.

I've also thought a number of times that Sanders may be losing steam. Imagine stumbling cluelessly over this! Whatever the reason, his rigid thinking certainly isn't up to dealing with any issues except those he's always used to support his hackneyed '60s meme of socialist revolution needed, Democrats and Republicans corrupt.

[George II]

2. After decades of public debate on all aspects of the abortion issue it's amazing that a candidate...

...was unable to offer an answer to Todd's question, whether it's a "gotcha" question or not.

[Mr.Bill]

3. This issue implies

that women are required to give their reason for having an abortion. They are not.

[CTyankee]

5. And two men discussing this is disgusting.

I've lived a long time and I have never heard of a woman seeking an abortion because the baby is of the "wrong" sex.

[PatSeg]

7. Me either

Sounds like some right-wing BS and Chuck Todd should know better, but then again he IS Chuck Todd, so one can't really expect anything coherent or reasonable.

[PatSeg]

6. Good point

It was a really stupid question and ill prepared answer.

[Skittles]

4. pathetic

[Cha]

8. KR

[comradebillyboy]

9. Bernie really doesn't care about the issue, it's a disraction from

his calls for class warfare. You know, the dreaded 'identity politics' he dislikes so much.

[LisaM]

11. No, he doesn't, remember on Rachel Maddow in 2016?

I know anyone who reads my posts knows that I harp on this all the time, but on a day Rachel Maddow had scheduled interviews with both Hillary and Bernie, Donald Trump made some stupid comment about how women who had abortions had to be "punished" (someone had asked him if he thought the women should be, and of course he said yes). Rachel Maddow tracked down Hillary, whom she'd already interviewed, and asked her to comment (off the cuff, I might add), and she spoke well and reasonably on the issue. Then later, in an interview scheduled with Bernie (presumably happening after Trump's comments), Maddow asked him the same question she'd asked Hillary. I'm probably paraphrasing Sanders' answer to some extent, but it went something along the lines of, "of course women shouldn't be punished for having abortions. But, can we get back to the issue that really matters in this country, income inequality?"

[comradebillyboy]

13. 'can we get back to the issue that really matters' is a perfect example

of his singular focus on class.

[LisaM]

15. I still cannot believe he got away with it.

However, I don't think abortion is a top issue with some of his base.

[Maru Kitteh]

18. I don't think women in general are a priority of any sort with some of them.

What else could possibly explain the utter dismissiveness?

[Maru Kitteh]

17. And a perfect example of his inscience and inability when attempting to address any

other issues, at all. Totally unacceptable.

[peggysue2]

10. This so-called concern over . . .

boutique abortions (worried about the sex of the child, for instance) is a Republican talking point. To hear the GOPers' spin, women are seeking abortions because the pregnancy is inconvenient or might ruin their shape or hamper their careers or whatever excuse they've imagined in their anti-woman screeds. This isn't new, the Republicans have been using these arguments for years painting women as either sluts or selfish bitches.

The Senator from Vermont fell right into the trap Chuckles set for him. Why his response sounded so 'caught off guard' is beyond me. But allowing pundits to use a Republican frame on any of these issues be it abortion, climate change, immigration, etc. is an unforced error. Bernie Sanders has been around long enough to know better.

[left-of-center2012]

12. Bernie needs time to come up with a policy

He's busy leading a 'revolution'.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. He's so ill-prepared on some vitally important issues, it's just insulting.