Tim Kaine has moved sharply to the left on the issue of abortion over the last 10 years, but there remains some confusion over where the Democratic vice presidential nominee stands on the issue of federal funding of abortion.
On July 6, when asked about a change to the Democratic platform calling for a repeal of the Hyde amendment (a budget measure that bans federal funding of abortion except in extreme cases), Kaine told THE WEEKLY STANDARD: “I haven’t been informed of that change, but I’m going to check it out. I have traditionally been a supporter of the Hyde amendment, but I’ll check it out.”
After he was named Clinton’s running mate, Clinton’s campaign manager told CNN that Kaine “has said he will stand with Secretary Clinton to…repeal the Hyde amendment.” A Clinton spokesman further told CNN on July 26 that Kaine’s commitment to stand with Hillary Clinton on repealing the Hyde amendment “was made privately.”
Then on July 27, a Clinton-Kaine spokesman clarified to the Wall Street Journal that Kaine remained “personally” opposed to repealing the Hyde amendment: “The senator is not personally for repeal of the Hyde Amendment. But as he’s made clear, he is committed to carrying out Secretary Clinton’s agenda.”
Now today, July 29, Kaine told CNN: “I have been for the Hyde amendment, and I haven’t changed my position on that.”
Kaine didn’t try to make any distinctions between his personal and official position on the issue. But it seems the matter could be cleared up if Kaine answered a simple question: If, as vice president, he had to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate on the Hyde amendment, would he vote to repeal it or follow his conscience?
