Amy Klobuchar had the best response to this male candidate claiming to be the only one “advancing the ball” for reproductive health
Ready or not, the 2020 presidential race has officially kicked off. Last night, June 26th, 10 of more than 20 Democratic candidates had the chance to duke it out onstage during the first night of the first debate of the 2020 campaign. One moment that stood out was when Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota defended her fellow female candidates’ track records on reproductive rights.
According to The New York Times‘ transcript of the debate, Washington governor Jay Inslee claimed to be “the only candidate here who has passed a law protecting a woman’s right of reproductive health in health insurance.” (HuffPost notes that Inslee signed a law in 2018 requiring all insurance plans in Washington State that cover maternity care to also cover abortion.)
"I respect everybody’s goals and plans here, but we do have one candidate that’s actually advanced the ball," he added.
But Klobuchar did not let the governor’s claims go unchecked.
"I just want to say there’s three women up here that have fought pretty hard for a woman’s right to choose," she began, referring to herself, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard.
Klobuchar’s point was met with cheers and applause from the audience. She added that all of the candidates onstage shared “the goal of universal healthcare.”
Inslee: "I'm the only candidate here who has passed a law protecting a woman's right of reproductive health and health insurance."
Klobuchar: "I just want to say there's three women up here who have fought pretty hard for women's right to choose." #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/7bNJGAn5N3
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 27, 2019
Vox points out that all of the Democratic candidates are pro-choice. Many of them support codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law and repealing the Hyde Amendment—which prohibits federal funds from covering abortion. Klobuchar and Warren also support ending the domestic gag rule that denies federal funding to clinics that provide abortions or abortion referrals. According to Vox, Klobuchar also supports ending a global gag rule, which cuts off aid to international organizations that provide or discuss abortion. Inslee is also in favor of repealing both gag rules. Gabbard, who Vox notes was formerly anti-abortion, has since reversed course and recently condemned restrictive abortion laws like the one passed in Alabama.
Other candidates, like former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, have pledged to only appoint federal judges who would uphold Roe v. Wade in their court decisions. With all this in mind, it’s clear that Inslee is far from the only candidate dedicated to fighting for abortion access. It’s especially aggravating that he made this claim while onstage with women who have long histories of advocating for reproductive rights. We’re grateful to Klobuchar for calling him out.
