Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confused voters over the weekend with conflicting statements about abortion, but ultimately confirmed he supports abortions up to birth with no limits.
Kennedy, who hopes to challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic Party nomination, has not spoken much about abortion. His campaign portrays him as a political moderate who hopes to reunite Americans and end the growing political division.
But the Democrat and presidential hopeful initially gave an interview with NBC News in which he said he supported killing babies in abortions but opposes abortions after viability, when an unborn baby can live on his or her own outside the womb.
“I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life,” Kennedy said an in interview at an event in Iowa.
Asked whether he would sign a ban on abortions at 15 or 21 weeks, Kennedy said yes.
“Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child,” he continued, adding “I’m for medical freedom. Individuals are able to make their own choices.”
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That initial answer earned him praise from the pro-life group SBA List for at least being less radically pro-abortion than Joe Biden, who supports abortions up to birth without limits, calling it “a stark contrast to the Democratic Party’s radical stance of abortion on demand. … Kennedy is one of the few prominent Democrats aligned with the consensus of the people today. Every candidate should be asked, ‘Where do you draw the line?’”
But the Kennedy campaign very quickly corrected the record and confirmed Kennedy support abortions up o birth without limits.
“Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by an NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair,” a campaign representative said in an email to LifeNews.
“Mr. Kennedy’s position on abortion is that it is always the woman’s right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion,” the email added.
That statement is consistent with the position Kennedy has said previously during the campaign. In June, Kennedy Jr. confirmed he supports killing unborn babies in abortions.
Responding to a voter’s question, Kennedy said he is “pro-choice” and supports “bodily autonomy,” WMUR 9 News reports.
“The only thing I can say to you on that issue is that I’m pro-choice,” Kennedy said when asked for a reason why pro-life voters should support him. “I don’t think there’s anybody in this country who’s worked harder for medical freedom, for bodily autonomy than me.”
His campaign made a similar comment to Newsweek in May.
Kennedy “believes strongly in the principle of bodily autonomy, whether the issue is abortion or medical mandates,” the spokesperson said. “He will keep government away from women’s childbearing choices. The moral issues are best left to the woman, her family and her religious community.”
Typically, this means a candidate supports laws that allow unborn babies to be aborted for any reason up to birth, without limits.
SBA Pro-Life’s Marjorie Dannenfelser says abortions up to birth is out of step with Americans.
“Seven in 10 Americans, including millions of rank-and-file Democrats, support limiting abortion to the first three months of pregnancy at most. A solid majority agrees Congress should act to protect babies when science shows they feel pain at 15 weeks. While pro-life advocates ultimately want every child protected under our laws, Kennedy is one of the few prominent Democrats aligned with the consensus of the people today. Every candidate should be asked, ‘Where do you draw the line?’
“Pro-life Americans are looking for a national defender of life who will boldly champion unborn children and women and work to gather support in Congress. Voters deserve clarity about where every candidate stands on the human rights issue of our time.”
Kennedy’s campaign website does not mention specific abortion policy, but it does attempt to take a more moderate approach to the issue. The website suggests “dead fetuses” are a tragedy and acknowledges that pro-lifers have a “legitimate moral position.” It also promises Kennedy will listen to pro-lifers’ concerns.
“Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has clear positions on most of today’s divisive trigger issues like abortion, guns, and immigration, but he knows that both sides have legitimate concerns and legitimate moral positions,” it states. “No one is deplorable.”
It continues: “Few relish the thought of dead fetuses, nor do they want to force women to have unwanted babies. … [Kennedy] will model careful listening, and create conditions where each group can hear the stories of the other. He will lead the way toward national reconciliation, respectful dialog, and willingness to change, to grow and to forgive.”
Kennedy is a lawyer and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy.
