Trump: Women who have abortions should be punished

by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer

(Wednesday, March 30, 2016) - Today, Donald Trump said there would “have to be some form of punishment” for women who have abortions if the procedure becomes banned in the U.S. This is a week before his primary in Wisconsin and it comes amidst a time of his defending himself on his stance on women’s rights issues to voters.

Host of MSNBC Chris Matthews pressed Trump on his position, asking whether punishment should be applied to women who have gone through with this life-changing, sometimes life-saving, procedure.

“Look, people in certain parts of the Republican Party, conservative Republicans, would say, ‘Yes, it should,’” Trump began. After some pushing, he formulated an answer. “…There has to be some form of punishment.”

“For the woman?” Matthews asked.

“Yeah,” said Trump. But the punishment would “have to be determined.”

For a little bit of background – in 1999, Trump is quoted as saying on NBC’s Meet the Press that he was, at the time, pro-choice.

“I hate the concept of abortion. I hate it, I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I hear people debating the subject….But you still – I just believe in choice,” he said. “I am strongly for choice, and yet I hate the concept of abortion.”

Proponents of the pro-choice movement span from about where Trump was in 1999 to the belief that when a woman has an abortion, it is her choice alone – spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically her own choice.

Perhaps Trump is feeling pressure from his rivals or his constituents, but his perspective has significantly changed.

The Gayly – 3/30/2016 @ 3:02 p.m. CDT