“After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People,” the draft language states. “We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments).”
The heading for that section of the proposed platform says that Republicans will “Protect and Defend a Vote of the People, from within the States, on the Issue of Life.”
Trump didn’t just edit the platform language, but wrote some parts of the 15-page draft himself, according to a person with knowledge of his involvement. The new proposed platform is significantly shorter than the party’s current one. …
Some anti-abortion groups praised the removal of the 20-week limit, which they saw as a pre-Roe stopgap policy aimed at preventing some abortions. With Roe gone, they argue such a limit is no longer necessary, even though Democratic-controlled states allow abortions past that point.
“What’s most important here is an acknowledgment of 14th Amendment protections for all Americans, born and preborn,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life. “So, if true, this is a step in the right direction.” …
If the draft language sticks, the change would represent a shift for the GOP, which for decades has advocated for a federal law to limit abortion access.
The draft proposal was issued to members of the Republican National Committee’s platform committee Monday morning as the RNC is taking unusually aggressive steps to keep this week’s meetings on the party platform under wraps, barring delegates from using their phones, strictly controlling the release of draft language and prohibiting the media and most outside observers from attending, according to 10 people with knowledge of the proceedings.
The new rules were criticized by some top party activists. Two delegates to the platform committee called the restrictions “unprecedented,” with one fearing the protocols are aimed at limiting public dissent and ramming through a platform that otherwise might not have broad approval. …
The delegate blamed the restrictions on the RNC specifically and not Trump’s campaign. But the two entities have effectively functioned as one since Trump pushed out former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel earlier this year, replacing her and other top committee leaders with his own selections, among them his senior campaign adviser and his daughter-in-law. …
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(Excerpt from POLITICO. Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America – Donald Trump, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52646497)