Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam defended himself Wednesday against a barrage of criticism for saying outrage over a bill to roll back restrictions on third-trimester abortions in his state had “really blown out of proportion.”
“I have devoted my life to caring for children and any insinuation otherwise is shameful and disgusting,” Northam tweeted.
I have devoted my life to caring for children and any insinuation otherwise is shameful and disgusting.
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 31, 2019
Northam, who was a pediatric neurologist before entering politics, made the comments during a radio interview with WTOP earlier Wednesday. The legislation would have allowed a woman who is dilated and about to give birth to receive an abortion with the consent of the mother and one physician. The bill, however, was set aside by a subcommittee earlier this week.
President Trump on Wednesday predicted Northam’s comments would energize anti-abortion advocates.
“This is going to lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe it’s never been lifted up before,” Trump told the Daily Caller in an interview.
The president was joined in his criticism by Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, as well as by Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida.
“Heartbreaking: VA gov’s pro-abortion dogma is so extreme that he advocates taking the life of babies AFTER they are born. Watch the video. Every human life is precious — a gift from God — and the modern Democratic party’s embrace of late-term (or post-birth) abortion is truly tragic,” Cruz tweeted.
Heartbreaking: VA gov’s pro-abortion dogma is so extreme that he advocates taking the life of babies AFTER they are born. Watch the video. Every human life is precious—a gift from God—and the modern Democratic party’s embrace of late-term (or post-birth) abortion is truly tragic. https://t.co/vQJABAu19e
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 31, 2019
