Biden calls Roe v. Wade draft opinion 'radical,' says other rights threatened

Biden calls Roe v. Wade draft opinion 'radical,' says other rights threatened if it holds

Yeah. Mhm. Think of the ruling of the draft first of all, I just got *** call saying that it's been announced that it is *** real draft, but it doesn't represent who's going to vote for it yet. I hope there are not enough votes for that's the main reason why I worked so hard to keep robert bork off the court. It just reflects his view almost almost close. Anyway. Look, the idea that sure, it would be *** great deal That we're going to after 50 years decide *** woman does not have *** right to choose within the limits of the of the Supreme Court decision in cases number one, but even more equally as profound as the rationale used. And it would mean that every other decision related to the notion of privacy. I was thrown into question. I realize this goes back *** long way, but one of the debates I have with robert bork was whether, whether Griswold versus Connecticut should stand as law. The state of Connecticut said that the privacy of your bedroom, your husband and wife for *** couple could not choose to use contraception to use the contraception was *** violation of the law. If the rationality decision has released, were to be sustained. The whole range of rights on questions, *** whole range of right and the idea we're letting the stakes make those decisions, localities make the decision, it would be *** fundamental shift in what we've done. So it goes far beyond in my view if it becomes the law and if what is written is what remains goes far beyond the concern of whether or not there is the right to choose. It goes to other basic rights and the right to marry the right to determine the whole range of things. Because one of the issues that this court, many of the members of the court, *** number of the members of course have not acknowledged is that there is *** right to privacy in our constitution. I strongly believe there is. I think the decision in Israel it was correct overruling and I think the decision and grow was correct because there is *** right to privacy can be limitations on it, but it cannot be denied. Okay, do you think the president has irreverently changed the court? Do you think that this week has irreparably changed the course? We've never seen this happen before. You know, if this decision holds, it's really quite *** radical decision. Um and again, the underlying premise and again, I've not had *** chance to thoroughly join to the report the decision, but it basically says all the decisions related to your private life who you marry, Whether or not you decide to conceive *** child or not whether or not you can have an abortion? *** range of other decisions, whether or not how you raise your child. What does this do? And does this mean that in florida they can decide they're going to pass *** law saying that same sex marriage is not permissible. It's against the law in florida. So there's *** whole it's *** fundamental shift in american jurisprudence. The filibuster to codify roe. I'm not I'm not prepared to make those judgments now about but you know, I think the codification of roe makes *** lot of sense. Look, I think what Rose says, Rowe says what all basic mainstream religions have historically concluded exactly right that the existence of *** human life and being is the question is it at the moment of conception, is it six months? Is it six weeks? Is it is it quickening? Like Aquinas argued? I mean, so the idea that we're going to make *** judgment that is going to say that No one can make the judgment to choose to abort *** child based on *** decision by the Supreme Court goes way overboard for the democrats argument, I beg your pardon? Changes need to be made to the court in light of this, we just have to choose it. I mean, look, one of the reasons why I voted against the number of the members of the court choose to acknowledge that there is the 9th amendment that acknowledges the right to privacy. There's so many fundamental rights that are affected by that and I'm not allowed. I'm not prepared to leave that to the winds and the and the the public at the moment in local areas. Thank you so much. Thank you. Yeah

Biden calls Roe v. Wade draft opinion 'radical,' says other rights threatened if it holds

President Joe Biden on Tuesday blasted what he called a "radical" leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide, warning that a "whole range of rights" are in jeopardy if it holds.Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Biden said he hoped the draft wouldn't be finalized by justices, contending it reflects a "fundamental shift in American jurisprudence" that threatens “other basic rights” like privacy and marriage.He added: "If this decision holds, it’s really quite a radical decision."Earlier on Tuesday, Biden said a woman's right to have an abortion is "fundamental" in his first statement following a published draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would strike down Roe v. Wade."I believe that a woman's right to choose is fundamental," Biden said in a statement. "Roe has been the law of the land for almost fifty years, and basic fairness and the stability of our law demand that it not be overturned."Politico on Monday published what it calls a draft of a majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito that would strike down Roe v. Wade, which Chief Justice John Roberts verified as authentic. The draft was circulated in early February, according to Politico. The final opinion has not been released and votes and language can change before opinions are formally released. The opinion in this case is not expected to be published until late June. The Biden administration had urged the Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade and to invalidate the Mississippi law that bars most abortions after 15 weeks. Biden has said he would seek to codify Roe v. Wade, and that his administration was "deeply committed" to protecting access to reproductive health care.Biden said that while "we do not know whether this draft is genuine, or whether it reflects the final decision of the Court," he wanted to make clear his administration's stance on the cases before the Supreme Court."My administration argued strongly before the Court in defense of Roe v. Wade. We said that Roe is based on "a long line of precedent recognizing 'the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty ... against government interference with intensely personal decisions,'" Biden wrote in his statement.Biden, a lifelong devout Catholic, has said he is personally opposed to abortion because of his faith but does not believe he should impose his views on the rest of society.Biden wrote in his 2007 book, "Promises to Keep": "I personally am opposed to abortion, but I don't think I have the right to impose my view -- on something I accept as a matter of faith -- on the rest of society. I've thought a lot about it, and my position probably doesn't please anyone. I think the government should stay out completely.""I've stuck to my middle-of-the-road position on abortion for more than thirty years. I still vote against partial birth abortion and federal funding, and I'd like to find ways to make it easier for scared young mothers to choose not to have an abortion, but I will also vote against a constitutional amendment that strips a woman of her right to make her own choice. That position has earned me the distrust of some women's groups and the outright enmity of the Right to Life groups," Biden wrote in his book.Biden previously was a longtime supporter of the Hyde Amendment -- which bars federal funding from being used to pay for abortions, except in the cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in jeopardy -- but reversed his position while he was running for President in 2020. Biden said he changed his mind because of laws that Republican state lawmakers had enacted making access to abortions more difficult for women who cannot afford the procedure or must travel to obtain it. He said these laws were extreme and in violation of Roe v. Wade.In his statement on Tuesday, Biden wrote that if the court does overturn Roe, "it will fall on our nation's elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman's right to choose. And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November. At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law."The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON —

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Biden said he hoped the draft wouldn't be finalized by justices, contending it reflects a "fundamental shift in American jurisprudence" that threatens “other basic rights” like privacy and marriage.

He added: "If this decision holds, it’s really quite a radical decision."

Earlier on Tuesday, Biden said a woman's right to have an abortion is "fundamental" in his first statement following a published draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would strike down Roe v. Wade.

"I believe that a woman's right to choose is fundamental," Biden said in a statement. "Roe has been the law of the land for almost fifty years, and basic fairness and the stability of our law demand that it not be overturned."

Evan Vucci / AP Photo

President Joe Biden speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One for a trip to Alabama to visit a Lockheed Martin plant, Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

Politico on Monday published what it calls a draft of a majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito that would strike down Roe v. Wade, which Chief Justice John Roberts verified as authentic. The draft was circulated in early February, according to Politico. The final opinion has not been released and votes and language can change before opinions are formally released. The opinion in this case is not expected to be published until late June.

The Biden administration had urged the Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade and to invalidate the Mississippi law that bars most abortions after 15 weeks. Biden has said he would seek to codify Roe v. Wade, and that his administration was "deeply committed" to protecting access to reproductive health care.

Biden said that while "we do not know whether this draft is genuine, or whether it reflects the final decision of the Court," he wanted to make clear his administration's stance on the cases before the Supreme Court.

"My administration argued strongly before the Court in defense of Roe v. Wade. We said that Roe is based on "a long line of precedent recognizing 'the Fourteenth Amendment's concept of personal liberty ... against government interference with intensely personal decisions,'" Biden wrote in his statement.

Biden, a lifelong devout Catholic, has said he is personally opposed to abortion because of his faith but does not believe he should impose his views on the rest of society.

Biden wrote in his 2007 book, "Promises to Keep": "I personally am opposed to abortion, but I don't think I have the right to impose my view -- on something I accept as a matter of faith -- on the rest of society. I've thought a lot about it, and my position probably doesn't please anyone. I think the government should stay out completely."

"I've stuck to my middle-of-the-road position on abortion for more than thirty years. I still vote against partial birth abortion and federal funding, and I'd like to find ways to make it easier for scared young mothers to choose not to have an abortion, but I will also vote against a constitutional amendment that strips a woman of her right to make her own choice. That position has earned me the distrust of some women's groups and the outright enmity of the Right to Life groups," Biden wrote in his book.

Biden previously was a longtime supporter of the Hyde Amendment -- which bars federal funding from being used to pay for abortions, except in the cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in jeopardy -- but reversed his position while he was running for President in 2020. Biden said he changed his mind because of laws that Republican state lawmakers had enacted making access to abortions more difficult for women who cannot afford the procedure or must travel to obtain it. He said these laws were extreme and in violation of Roe v. Wade.

In his statement on Tuesday, Biden wrote that if the court does overturn Roe, "it will fall on our nation's elected officials at all levels of government to protect a woman's right to choose. And it will fall on voters to elect pro-choice officials this November. At the federal level, we will need more pro-choice Senators and a pro-choice majority in the House to adopt legislation that codifies Roe, which I will work to pass and sign into law."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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