Abortion

Scott Walker: Abortion Decision Not Between a Woman and Her Doctor

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said this week that he does not believe abortion is a personal decision, once again shifting away from his previous, more nuanced stance on abortion.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said this week that he does not believe abortion is a personal decision, once again shifting away from what was once a more nuanced stance on abortion. Scott Walker/ YouTube

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who this week officially announced his candidacy for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, said that he does not believe abortion is a personal decision, once again shifting away from his previous, more nuanced stance on abortion.

During an interview with Laura Ingraham, the conservative radio host of an eponymous show, Walker was taken to task over comments he made in a TV advertisement during his 2014 gubernatorial reelection campaign.

In that ad, Walker says he supports abortion-related legislation that “leaves the final decision to a woman and her doctor.”

Ingraham, referencing the clip, asked Walker to clarify his position on abortion.

“You don’t believe—I just want to clarify this, governor,” Ingraham started. “You don’t believe the final decision should be between a woman and her doctor—”

“No,” Walker interrupted. “I believe it’s an unborn child.”

The Republican governor’s stance on abortion has changed significantly in the lead-up to his presidential bid. As recently as this March, Walker told Fox News host Chris Wallace that he recognizes the decision to get an abortion is one protected by the Supreme Court.

Only a week later, Walker for the first time announced his support for legislation banning abortion after 20 weeks—legislation that is unconstitutional and based on discredited evidence that a fetus can feel pain at that point.

The GOP-majority Wisconsin state legislature passed such a bill last week. During a debate on the ban, state Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-West Allis) told his pro-choice colleagues that they misunderstood the intent of the abortion ban.

“This bill isn’t about abortion, this bill is about protecting children who are capable of feeling pain from going through an extremely excruciating and painful experience,” he said.