Stacey Abrams has tried to tie the shaky economy to the Republican-backed anti-abortion law that took effect after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling. But she’s never made that argument the way she did on MSNBC on Tuesday.
Abrams was asked about former President Barack Obama’s interview on Pod Save America urging Democrats to focus on “basic interests” of voters like high rent. He also said the high court’s ruling will remind voters that “democracy is fragile” that’s worth fighting for.
In her MSNBC appearance, Abrams agreed with Obama and said that abortion shouldn’t be reduced to “this idea of a culture war.” When she was pressed on what she would do to curb inflation, she gave an extended answer:
>@StaceyAbrams was asked what she can do as governor to alleviate high prices and "livability" issues w/ polls showing the economy is a greater factor for many voters than the Supreme Court's abortion ruling. Here’s what she said: #gapol pic.twitter.com/IjOIB2gES6
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 19, 2022
“Let's be clear. Having children is why you're worried about your price for gas. It's why you're concerned about how much food costs. For women, this is not a reductive issue. You can't divorce being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy from the economic realities of having a child. It's important for us to having both and conversations. We don't have the luxury of reducing it or separating them out. But we also have to talk about what a governor can do: A governor can address housing prices. A governor can address the cost of education. A governor can put money in the pockets of everyday hardworking Georgians instead of giving tax cuts to the wealthy."
Her remarks led to accusations from Gov. Brian Kemp and his allies that she was casting abortion as a solution to economic woes.
While my opponent wants abortion without limits to fix Joe Biden’s 40-year high inflation, my plan is:
— Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) October 19, 2022
✅ Suspend the gas tax
✅ Send another $1B back to taxpayers
✅ Pass a property tax rebate for homeowners
✅ Implement largest tax cut in state history https://t.co/mj4N3z8fA9
Abrams stood by her comments after casting an early ballot at a Stone Mountain YMCA.
“We need a governor who understands the whole life that women live,” she said.
“I can tell you that reproductive choices are indeed economic choices,” Abrams added. “They are moral choices. They are medical choices, and they are not choices that should be relegated to the confines of men and politics, telling us who we are and what we can do with our bodies.”
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