RNC Chair Says The Texas Abortion Law Is About ‘Compassion’

In this Jan. 24, 2014, photo, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus is seen at the RNC winter meeting in Washington. The dueling faces of a conflicted political party were on display for all to see at... In this Jan. 24, 2014, photo, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus is seen at the RNC winter meeting in Washington. The dueling faces of a conflicted political party were on display for all to see at the just-concluded RNC meeting. The reminder of the divisions comes a year after Priebus published a report aimed at modernizing the party and boosting its ranks, and as Republicans eye their best chance at taking control of both houses of Congress since 2002. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Chuck Todd on Sunday grilled Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus on a Texas abortion law that was upheld on Thursday, forcing more abortion clinics in the state to close their doors.

“One of the things about the Republican party is you don’t like a lot of regulation on businesses, except if the business is a abortion clinic,” Todd said to Priebus. “80 percent of these abortion clinics in Texas are going to be basically out of business because of this new law. Too much regulation, is that fair?”

“Well, you obviously have to talk to someone in Texas” Priebus responded. “But the fact of the matter is that we believe that any woman that’s faced with an unplanned pregnancy deserves compassion, respect, counseling, whatever it is that we can offer.”

Todd then asked Priebus how forcing women to “drive 200 or 300 miles” amounts to “compassion.”

Priebus then said the law was about taxpayers’ money.

“The issue for us is only one thing. And that’s whether you ought to use taxpayer money to fund abortion,” he said. “That’s the one issue that I think separates this conversation that we’re having.”

The Texas law that went into place on Friday enforces hospital operating standards on abortion clinics.

Latest Livewire
57
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for korvu korvu says:

    hominahominahomina

  2. Avatar for chammy chammy says:

    Chuck Todd grilled a republican on anything? Wow.

  3. Yeah, not bad Charles. He got Rinse to change his bullshit story mid-stream.

  4. Priebus went on to say:

    Black is white. Dogs are cats. Up is down. and Reince Priebus is a real name.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

51 more replies

Participants

Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for txvoodoo Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for marby Avatar for cholly8524 Avatar for sysprog Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for sundancer Avatar for chammy Avatar for theod Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for bluinmaine Avatar for taters Avatar for gr Avatar for magical_panda Avatar for pb Avatar for mrf Avatar for ewparris Avatar for darrtown Avatar for quicken66 Avatar for jinmichigan Avatar for sockbunny Avatar for pere_ubu

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: