Senate Republicans are strategizing how to appear united on abortion rights after the leak of a Supreme Court opinion signaling the high court is on the verge of overturning Roe v. Wade.
A three-page memo circulated by the National Republican Senatorial Committee on Tuesday offers talking points, stressing members should express compassion and calmness in order to contrast with Democrats, who they expect to be “angry, strident, rigid, science deniers on the issue of abortion,” in the months leading up to the midterm elections. The document also lays out talking points for Senate Republicans to elevate anti-abortion talking points, with sample statements candidates can use in their advertisements and on the campaign trail.
"Be the compassionate, consensus-builder on abortion policy,” the memo states. “While people have many different views on abortion policy, Americans are compassionate people who want to welcome every new baby into the world.”
SUPREME COURT LEAKER COULD BE DISBARRED BUT LIKELY WON’T FACE CHARGES
The memo comes less than a day after Politico reported a draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 case in which the ruling legalized abortions nationwide. The leak prompted Chief Justice John Roberts to order an investigation by the Marshal of the Court. A final decision is expected in the coming weeks or months.
While Democrats, including President Joe Biden, are sounding the alarm about a "radical" Supreme Court and what it will do next, the GOP campaign strategy encourages Republicans to denounce Democratic challengers for “extreme views” that are “outside the mainstream of most Americans,” including late-term abortions. Those views, among others, are not representative of most voters in the country.
A majority of voters (54%) support upholding Roe v. Wade, while only about 28% believe it should be overturned, according to a Washington Post/ABC poll conducted in the last week of April.
Another talking point Republican leaders are pushing is to keep abortion restrictions up to individual states in order to reflect what constituents want.
“If Roe v. Wade is overturned, state and local officials closest to the people will make laws that reflect the will of their states,” the memo states. “Some states like California will allow abortion on demand at any time for any reason; other states will place reasonable restrictions on abortion.”
Thirty-three percent of voters say access to abortion should be easier in their state, with 36% saying it should be left as-is, according to the April survey. Another 25% argue their state should make it harder to receive the procedure.
Overall, Republicans should focus on arguing that Roe v. Wade is being used to distract from Democrats’ policy failures in other areas, such as surging inflation, increased gas prices, rising crime, and immigration at the southern border, according to the memo.
The strategy, formulated through research over the last few months, includes sample language for candidates to use in ads and on the campaign trail, offering talking points that frame Democrats’ views of abortion rights as being in the minority.
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It also places the blame of the leaked majority opinion on left-wing efforts to establish a “radical agenda.”
“The leak of this document is troubling and is indicative of the Radical Left’s mission to undermine the institution of the Supreme Court and ultimately pack the Court with liberal judges who will rubber stamp the Democrats’ radical agenda,” the memo offers as a sample statement in response to the report. “It’s wrong and the leaker should be found, fired and potentially prosecuted.”