Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele issued a statement on Thursday in an effort to clarify his recent comment that abortion is an "individual choice," the New York Times reports. According to the Times, Steele made the comment during an interview with GQ magazine that was published online Thursday. In addition, Steele said that abortion-related policy decisions should be made by the states. He said, "That's what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide."
The interview "rippled through Republican circles as soon as it was posted," prompting Steele to issue a statement attempting to clarify that he is an opponent of abortion rights, the Times reports (Nagourney, New York Times, 3/12). In the statement, Steele -- who was adopted as an infant -- said he "tried to present why I am pro-life while recognizing that my mother had a 'choice' before deciding to put me up for adoption." He added that he "thank[s] her every day for supporting life" (Cillizza/Bacon, Washington Post, 3/13). The Republican Party "is and will continue to be the party of life," Steele said in the statement, adding that it is "important that we stand up for the defenseless and that we continue to work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow countrymen so that we can welcome all children and protect them under the law."
However, Steele's "clarification did little to satisfy some angry conservatives," the Boston Globe reports (Williams, Boston Globe, 3/13). Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, criticized Steele's comments as "flippant" and "cavalier." He said the remarks "reinforce the belief by many social conservatives that one major party is unfriendly while the other gives only lip service to core moral issues" (Washington Post, 3/13). Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said, "For Chairman Steele to even infer that taking a life is totally left up to the individual is ... a reversal of Republican policy and principle," adding that the GOP "stands to lose many of its members and a great deal of its support in the trenches of grassroots politics" (Davis, Wall Street Journal, 3/12).
After meeting with Steele later in the day, Huckabee said, "I am grateful that Chairman Steele was willing to set the record straight without hesitation." Other abortion-rights opponents also said that they are satisfied with Steele's statement. James Bopp, a lawyer and abortion-rights opponent, said that he has "never had any doubt that Steele is personally pro-life," adding that Steele's "clarification was needed and should put this to rest" (Washington Post, 3/13). According to the Times, it "appears highly unlikely that there would be any serious move to recall" Steele (New York Times, 3/12).
NPR's "All Things Considered" on Thursday examined the effect that Steele's comments could have on his career as chair of the RNC, as well as the impact they could have on the Republican Party as a whole (Halloran, "All Things Considered," NPR, 3/12).
Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
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