Nancy Mace says Republican Party is ‘tone-deaf’ on abortion

Cami Mondeaux

January 11, 11:50 AM January 11, 11:50 AM

Video Embed

As House Republicans are set to consider a number of bills seeking to restrict access to abortion, one GOP lawmaker is criticizing her party for being “tone-deaf” on the issue.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) hit out against her party’s strategy regarding abortion while speaking to reporters on Tuesday, lamenting Republicans’ focus on prohibiting the procedure during the midterm elections. Some Republicans have since considered modifying their messaging on abortion rights after Democrats used the issue to motivate voter turnout and limit GOP gains.

RNC CHAIR SAYS GOP MUST ‘FIGHT BACK’ ON ABORTION

“We have been tone-deaf on this issue since the time that Roe was overturned,” Mace told reporters. “We buried our heads in the sand. … We didn’t have any policy alternatives.”

House lawmakers are set to vote on a number of abortion bills this week, including a piece of legislation that seeks to implement a permanent ban on the federal funding of abortion.

Members are also scheduled to vote on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act on Wednesday, a bill that seeks to increase protections for infants who survive an attempted abortion. The legislation would require healthcare personnel performing the abortion to provide life-saving medical care.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The slew of bills underscores the GOP’s opposition to abortion, prompting concerns among some Republicans, such as Mace, who say legislation is merely “paying lip service” without making any changes. Although the proposals are likely to pass the Republican-controlled House, the legislation is unlikely to make its way through the Senate, in which Democrats hold a 51-49 majority.

“It’s never going to pass the Senate. It’s never going to get to the president’s desk to be signed into law,” she said. “If you want to make a difference and reduce the number of abortions with a Democrat-controlled Senate, the No. 1 issue we should be working on is access to birth control.”