A self-described pro-life Democratic voter confronted former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg during a Fox News town hall on Sunday night. Kristen Day, a 50-year-old Virginia woman affiliated with Democrats for Life, asked Buttigieg if he would support moderating the Democratic Party’s platform language to better reflect the spirit of “diversity and inclusion.”
“I am a proud pro-life Democrat,” Day said. “So do you want the support of pro-life Democrats? There are about 21 million of us. And, if so, would you support more moderate platform language in the Democratic Party to ensure that the party of diversity an inclusion really does include everybody?”
Don’t be foolish. Pete Buttigieg loves him some abortion. This is like saying the slave owner has the “right” over his slaves in 1860. That’s what he just told you. Face it, Democrats like you don’t have a place any more. #PeteOnFox pic.twitter.com/qX2ttEutdK
— Ashor DeKelaita (@AshorDeKelaita) January 27, 2020
The answer, in short, was no. Buttigieg did at least say he hoped to earn Day’s vote, but skirted her inquiry about the platform language, resorting instead to the basic Democrat talking point that women should have the choice to abort their children.
“Well, I respect where you’re coming from and I hope to earn your vote,” said Buttigieg, “but I’m not going to earn your vote by tricking you. I am pro-choice, and I believe that a woman ought to be able to make that decision.”
He continued: “I know that the difference of opinion that you and I have is one that we have come by honestly. And the best that I can offer—and it may win your vote and, if not, I understand—the best I can offer is that if we can’t agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line. And in my view, it’s the woman whose faced with that decision in her own life.”
With the Iowa caucus one week away, Buttigieg sits at third in the Real Clear Politics polling average, having slipped from first place over the course of January. He’s at third place in New Hampshire as well.
