Should be settled at the state level; I'm not the governor
[Democratic challenger Colin] Allred has made restoring abortion access a key part of his campaign, while [Republican incumbent Ted] Cruz has largely avoided the issue. Pressed on where he stands on the question of rape and incest exceptions, Cruz said
the matter should be settled at the state level and declined to stake out a position. "You know, Congressman Allred is running all sorts of ads saying that I made this decision," Cruz said. "I don't serve in the state Legislature. I'm not the governor."
Allred has leaned into the state abortion ban in the homestretch of the election, disputing Cruz's characterization of himself as "pro-life." "You're not pro-life," Allred said, turning to address
Cruz. "It's not pro-life to deny women care so long that they can't have children anymore. It's not pro-life to force a victim of rape to carry their rapist's baby. Understand that when Ted Cruz says he's pro-life, he doesn't mean yours."
Colin Allred (D): Legal. Calls Texas's abortion ban "cruel." Sponsored bills to enshrine federal rights to abortion and out-of-state services.
Ted Cruz (R): Ban. Supreme Court
reversing Roe v. Wade is "a massive victory for life." Opposed putting the right to abortion into federal law. In 2016 said there should be no exceptions for rape or incest. Sponsored a bill criminalizing performing abortions after 20 weeks.
Source: Guides.vote candidate survey on 2024 Texas Senate race
, Aug 8, 2024
Even more ghastly, just this year, Congress voted on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which provided that if, in the course of an abortion, a child is born alive--as in,
that child is outside the womb, breathing, crying, separate and apart from his mother--then the physician must provide medical care and cannot simply allow the child to die.
Once again, all but three Democrat Senators voted against protecting the lives of infants born alive.
Reviewing the horror of Kermit Gosnell, it is wholly appropriate for the American people to ask who would take such a vote.
Planned Parenthood sells body parts of unborn human beings
The Planned Parenthood videos are horrifying. I encourage every American to watch them. Seeing Planned Parenthood heartlessly bartering and selling the body parts of human beings, and then ask yourself, "are these my values?" Planned Parenthood
essentially confesses to multiple felonies. It is a felony with ten years' jail term to sell the body parts of unborn children for profit. That's what these videos. We shouldn't send $500 million of taxpayer money to fund an ongoing criminal enterprise.
Cruz continued his war with Republican leaders, whom he has dubbed "liars" for not allowing votes to end Planned Parenthood's funding. "The truth is not rhetoric," Cruz said. "Here's the truth. [Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell and [Minority Leader]
Harry Reid are working arm in arm."
Cruz capitalized on the conservative theory of why Obama had been elected president: Republicans only lost when they went easy on Democrats. Any Republican who forgot that was going to lose to Hillary Clinton.
Source: Australian Financial Review on 2015 GOP RedState Gathering
, Aug 9, 2015
Prosecute Planned Parenthood for criminal violations
If I'm elected president, let me tell you about my first day in office. The first thing I intend to do is to rescind every illegal and unconstitutional executive action taken by Barack Obama.
The next thing I intend to do is instruct the Department of Justice to open an investigation into these videos and to prosecute Planned Parenthood for any criminal violations.
The next thing I intend to do is instruct the Department of Justice and the IRS to stop persecuting religious liberty, and then intend to cancel the Iran deal, and finally move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
I will keep my word. My father fled Cuba, and I will fight to defend liberty because my family knows what it's like to lose it.
Ban taxpayer funding of abortion & partial birth abortion
On abortion, Cruz has called the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing the procedure a "dark anniversary" but has not said whether he would specifically work to overturn it.
Cruz has staunchly supported bans on any taxpayer funding of abortion and bans of so-called partial birth abortion.
He has fervently supported a Texas law that would require doctors at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, a requirement that could limit staffing at abortion facilities.
That Texas law was ruled unconstitutional by a lower court and is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals.
Protect innocent human life with partial-birth ban
Ted Cruz has fought to protect innocent human life. He played a leading role in several important cases, including defense of the partial-birth abortion ban, parental consent laws, and prohibiting state funds from going to abortion.
These cases have all been part of the ongoing effort to ensure that every child in America receives the protection and respect he or she deserves.
Ted successfully defended Texas's Rider 8, which prohibits state funds for groups that provide abortions.
Cruz opposes the CC Voters Guide question on abortion funding
Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues.
The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Public funding of abortions"
Source: Christian Coalition Voter Guide 12-CC-q1a on Oct 31, 2012
Cruz opposes the CC Voters Guide question on churches and contraception
Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues.
The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Requiring religious groups to cover birth control & abortion in insurance"
Source: Christian Coalition Voter Guide 12-CC-q1d on Oct 31, 2012
Voted YES to protect infant survivors of abortion.
S.311/H.R.962: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act: Congress finds the following:
If an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, the infant is a legal person for all purposes under the laws of the United States, and entitled to all the protections of such laws.
(2) Any infant born alive after an abortion or within a hospital, clinic, or other facility has the same claim to the protection of the law that would arise for any newborn, or for any person who comes to a hospital, clinic, or other facility for screening and treatment or otherwise becomes a patient within its care.
In the case of an attempted abortion that results in a child born alive, any health care practitioner present at the time the child is born alive shall exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born
alive at the same gestational age.
Opposing argument from Rewire.com, `Born Alive Propaganda,` by Calla Hales, 4/12/2019: From restrictive bans at various points of pregnancy to a proposed death penalty for seeking care, both federal and state legislators are taking aim at abortion rights. The goal? To make abortion illegal, criminalizing patients and providers in the process. One kind of bill making a recent resurgence is the `Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.` These bills aim to further the false narrative that abortions regularly occur immediately before or, according to the president, at the time of birth. Intentional action to end the life of an infant is already illegal. This is covered by federal and state infanticide laws. These bills do nothing but vilify physicians who provide reproductive health care.
Legislative outcome Referred to Committee in House; Senate motion to proceed rejected, 56-41-3 (60 required).
Source: Congressional vote 19-S0311 on Feb 5, 2019