Washington D.C., Sep 10, 2019 / 09:05 am
Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) has publicly opposed third trimester abortions, in a break with the rest of the Democratic field who all appear to support abortion access until birth.
In the Sept. 8 interview, Gabbard acknowledged that she used to be pro-life but now supports "a more libertarian position on this issue that government really shouldn't be in that place of dictating to a woman the choice that she should make."
When asked by interviewer Dave Rubin what the "cutoff" point for her was in protecting a woman's "right to choose" abortion, Gabbard answered, "I think the third trimester, unless the woman's life or severe health consequences is at risk."
Gabbard's statement appears to signal a break with her own legislative record. In the House of Representatives, she voted against a 20-week abortion ban in 2017. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, H.R. 36, would have criminalized abortions when the "probable post-fertilization age" of the baby is 20 weeks or older, except in cases of rape and incest, or when the life of the mother is at stake.