The leaders of five Democrat committees and governing associations on Tuesday pledged to turn the midterms into a referendum on Roe v ...
The leaders of five Democrat committees and governing associations on Tuesday pledged to turn the midterms into a referendum on Roe v Wade, arguing that the leaked Supreme Court draft had 'dramatically escalated the stakes of the 2022 election'.
The draft decision to overturn Roe v Wade, and return the decision about whether to allow or prohibit abortion to the individual states, was leaked to Politico on Monday night and triggered a political earthquake.
Joe Biden, asked on Tuesday what would happen if the draft decision were finalized, replied: 'It will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November.'
The leaders of five groups agreed, with a declaration of support from the heads of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Democratic Governors Association, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and Democratic Attorneys General Association.
'The Republican attacks on abortion access, birth control and women's health care have dramatically escalated the stakes of the 2022 election,' they wrote.
'At this moment of crisis, Democrats are standing shoulder to shoulder with millions of Americans in this fight. And in November, we must elect Democrats who will serve as the last lines of defense against the GOP's assault on our established and fundamental freedoms.'
Pro-choice activists gather in protest outside the US Courthouse to defend abortion rights in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday
Demonstrators in Madison, Wisconsin, are seen on Tuesday demanding Roe v Wade be upheld
Activists in LA demand that Roe v Wade be upheld on Tuesday - the day after the draft decision leaked
The five leaders said that the midterms 'will now determine whether cruel new restrictions on abortion will be put in place,' noting that some states may well criminalize abortion and ban it even in cases of rape or incest.
'We want to make this very clear: Abortion is legal. It is your right,' they said.
'And the Democratic Party will fight to ensure this fundamental freedom remains intact.
'For voters, the consequences of the election for the future of our country have never been higher.'
The Democratic-controlled Congress and White House both vowed to try to blunt the impact of such a ruling, but their prospects looked dim.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Biden said he hoped the draft would not be finalized by justices, and warned it reflects a 'fundamental shift in American jurisprudence' that threatens 'other basic rights' like access to birth control and marriage.
'If this decision holds, it's really quite a radical decision,' he added.
'If the court does overturn Roe, it will fall on our nation's elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman's right to choose,' Biden said.
'And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November.
'At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law.'
President Joe Biden vowed the White House would be 'ready' whenever the Supreme Court did deliver an opinion on Roe v. Wade
Biden is seen on Tuesday in Alabama, visiting a weapons facility to tout U.S. support for the Ukrainian war effort. Before his arrival, he was asked about Roe v Wade
Though past efforts have failed, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he intended to hold a vote.
'This is as urgent and real as it gets,' Schumer said on the Senate floor on Tuesday.
'Every American is going to see on which side every senator stands.'
On Monday night, the Democratic leaders of Congress released a joint statement calling the leaked opinion as an 'abomination' and accusing the high court's conservatives of 'ripping up the Constitution.'
Speaking at the EMILY's List political action committee conference on Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris said the draft opinion showed 'women's rights in America are under attack.'
In a passionate speech, her voice rising to a crescendo, she repeatedly asked: 'How dare they?'
She added: 'Women's issues are America's issues and democracies cannot be strong if the rights of women are under attack.
'Let us fight with everything we've got.'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other conservative lawmakers cheered the potential ruling, meanwhile - while calling for investigations and even criminal charges for the source of the historic leak.
Schumer condemned former President Donald Trump and the Republican lawmakers who aided him in getting three conservative justices onto the Supreme Court, to form its decisive right-wing majority.
'This is a dark and disturbing morning for America,' Schumer said.
'Under this decision, our children will have less rights than their parents.'
He continued: 'These conservative justices who are in no way accountable to the American people have lied to the US Senate, ripped up the Constitution, and defiled both precedent and the Supreme Court's reputation.
'The party of Lincoln and Eisenhower has completely devolved into the party of Trump.'
McConnell returned fire, criticizing Biden, Pelosi and Schumer's statements as 'disgraceful.'
'The disgraceful statements by President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader Schumer refuse to defend judicial independence and the rule of law and instead play into this toxic spectacle.
'Real leaders should defend the Court's independence unconditionally,' McConnell said.
Leaders in New York and California rolled out the welcome mat to their states for women seeking abortions, and other Democratic states moved to protect access to abortion in their laws.
The court's ruling would be most acutely felt by women who don't have the means or ability to travel from states that have or stand poised to pass stiff abortion restrictions or outright bans
Kamala Harris is seen on Tuesday speaking at the Emily's List conference in Washington DC
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