Why doesn't the GOP ever push their anti-choice policies when they control everything in DC?

[NNN0LHI]

They have had the WH and majorities in both houses of Congress recently and not a peep from them about abortion. Not even a word from their base about it then.

Why is this?

Were they worried about getting what they might wish for?

Don

[still_one]

1. Because there were still some pro choice repugs then. Not so much anymore, and

Yes they really do want to ban abortion even with rape incest and the life of the mother

[enough]

2. The current Congress has introduced 67 abortion bills.

From Daily Kos, by Kaili Joy Gray.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/23/1123296/-New-GOP-scare-tactic-OMG-Obama-is-pro-choice-But-like-for-reals

snip>

The current Congress has introduced 67 abortion bills. Fifty-four of them were introduced by Republicans. A sampling:

H.R. 212: Sanctity of Human Life Act: "To provide that human life shall be deemed to begin with fertilization."
H.R. 1096: Sanctity of Life Act of 2011: "To provide that human life shall be deemed to exist from conception, and for other purposes."
S. 91: Life at Conception Act: "A bill to implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and unborn human person."
H.R. 374: Life at Conception Act: "To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person."
S. 314: Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2011: "A bill to ensure that women seeking an abortion are fully informed regarding the pain experienced by their unborn child."
S. 2103: District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act: "A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect pain-capable unborn children in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes."
H.R. 3805: Ultrasound Informed Consent Act: "To ensure that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and the opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion."
H.R. 3130: Heartbeat Informed Consent Act: "To ensure that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and an opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion."
H.R. 3802: National Pro-Life Waiting Period Act of 2012: "To require an abortion provider, before performing an abortion, to wait for a period of at least 24 hours."
S. 3290: Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA) of 2012: "A bill to prohibit discrimination against the unborn on the basis of sex or gender, and for other purposes."
H.R. 5646: Homeland Security Respect for Life Act: "To prohibit funds appropriated for the Department of Homeland Security from being used to pay for an abortion, and for other purposes."
H.R. 6173: PRO-LIFE Act: "To amend the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit Federal education funding for elementary schools and secondary schools that provide on-campus access to abortion providers."

snip>

[sharp_stick]

3. Honestly

I don't think the GOP in power really wants to ban abortion. They use all the right words but using abortion as a wedge issue is a money maker.

Banning it would shut down the Party's major funding source and shut off the spigot of get out the vote one issue wack-jobs that continually vote for them because they're too fucking stupid to look beyond a single issue.

[NNN0LHI]

4. I knew we had a few deep thinkers still posting at DU

Thank you for taking the time to answer my OP.

Don

[cali]

8. you're wrong. in state after state, repubs in power have introduced and sometimes

passed legislation that curtails or completely demolishes abortion rights. In the House they've been working assiduously to block all funding for Planned Parenthood.

[tanyev]

11. 'Zackly.

Now why nobody in the rank and file of the religious right seems to be able to figure this out, I don't know. Same reason they believe that women won't get pregnant from legitimate rapes, I guess.

[NNN0LHI]

13. The religious right has this figured out perfectly

You never hear them pushing a GOP President with a GOP controlled Congress to enact any anti-Choice laws when they are in power either. All they would need to do is declare they would withhold their vote the next election if the GOP President and Congress didn't comply with their demands but they never do.

Why do you think that is?

[tanyev]

14. The leaders of the RR have it figured out, sure, but I think the rank and file are so easily led

that they believe it is always the Democrats' fault some way, some how.

[savalez]

5. They need wedge issues.

[Posteritatis]

6. They lacked the crazy density at the time; it's been different in this congress. (nt)

[cali]

7. they do.

and look at who bush 2 put on the SC.

[TeamPooka]

9. The GOP has been using the religious right since 1980 to wim elections...

but the business establishment of the party never saw the teabaggers coming.
They thought it was just another dog to lead on a leash.
By the time the baggers took over it was too late for most of them.
And here we are where these guys are going after everything the GOP promised them long ago (repeal Roe, stop gay marriage, end welfare) but never intended to deliver (because it would be political suicide) to them in the first place.
Now, because the baggers have leveraged the fact that the current President is black, the fringe element is now the mainstream and in control of the GOP party agenda.
If the old GOP of my youth were in charge you would have seen stimulus legislation from the House in 2010, like in 2002 under Bush or back under Reagan, instead of anti-abortion laws in HR3.

[Hugabear]

10. They ARE pushing anti-choice policies nationwide

They keep passing and proposing laws in states all across the country that would severely restrict a woman's right to choose.

They don't have to necessarily do it at the national level, if they can do it at the state level. Then all they have to do is get enough conservative members on the SCOTUS who would uphold these laws and restrictions. Eventually, their goal would be to overturn Roe v Wade on the SCOTUS, or to pass the "anti-choice" Constitutional amendment.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. It would be the case of "the dog catching the car" IMHO

It would remove a particularly potent wedge issue from their arsenal and probably lead to a massive backlash in states.

[dsc]

15. actually you are wrong

In 2002 the Congress passed and Bush signed a partial birth abortion ban.

[Motown_Johnny]

16. If they were ever to win this fight they would lose a wedge issue.

Now that the ideologues are taking over they just might be stupid enough to try. Most of them just want to exploit women's issues to win elections, they really don't care one way or the other.