During an MSNBC town hall on Wednesday, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Elizabeth Warren made it clear that former Vice-President (and current presidential hopeful) Joe Biden, is completely wrong in his refusal to call for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment—a misogynist, classist, racist law enacted in 1976, which prohibits federal funds from being allocated for abortion services.
Biden, the “pro-life” architect of the 1994 Crime Bill — a legislative measure that expanded mass incarceration and laid the groundwork for the U.S. to become the largest jailer in the world — broke from the Democratic Party platform earlier this week when he announced that he continues to support the Hyde Amendment, as he has done throughout his entire career.
Warren did not hesitate when MSNBC host Chris Hayes asked her if Biden is wrong.
“I’ve lived in an America where abortions were illegal,” Warren said. “And understand this, women still got abortions. Now, some got lucky on what happened, and some got really unlucky on what happened. And under the Hyde Amendment, under every one of these efforts to try to chip away, or to push back, or to get rid of Roe vs. Wade, understand this, women of means will still have access to abortions.
“Who won’t, will be poor women,” Warren continued. “It will be working women, women who can’t afford to take off three days from work. It will be very young women. It will be women who have been raped and women who have been molested by someone in their own family. We do not pass laws that take away that freedom from the women who are most vulnerable.”
God damn Elizabeth Warren is on point here.pic.twitter.com/enkh8oAjkQ
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) June 6, 2019
Without his “bromance” with former President Barack Obama providing cover, Biden has faced more intense pushback from women’s and reproductive rights organizations.
“At a time when reproductive rights are under consistent attack, it’s unacceptable that a major Democratic nominee supports the Hyde Amendment,” Emily’s List President Stephanie Schriock said in a statement. “We hope that Vice President Joe Biden will reconsider this position and what it means to millions of women.”
Elizabeth Renda, DNC Women’s Media Director, made it clear that the DNC’s position remains firm, despite Biden playing political roulette.
“We are committed to our official Democratic Party platform, which is very clear on this issue,” Renda said. “We support every woman’s fundamental right to make decisions about her own body with her doctor and the repeal of the Hyde Amendment.”