By — Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-roe-v-wade-debate-answer-rankles-pro-life-conservatives Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Trump’s Roe v. Wade debate answer rankles some pro-life conservatives Politics Oct 19, 2016 11:42 PM EDT WASHINGTON — Some conservatives are irritated by Donald Trump’s failure to explicitly say during the presidential debate that he wants Roe v. Wade overturned. That’s the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortions, something that conservatives have fought for four decades. Trump promised to appoint justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade, saying that its end would occur “automatically.” But when pressed by the debate moderator, he did not give a straight answer about whether he personally wants it overturned. One of the first to notice that: independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin. He tweeted, “Why can’t @RealDonaldTrump actually say the words “I want Roe v Wade overturned?” I’m the only pro-life candidate in the race.” Why can't @RealDonaldTrump actually say the words "I want Roe v Wade overturned?" I'm the only pro-life candidate in the race #Debates2016 — Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 20, 2016 McMullin has no way to win Nov. 8 — but has been polling ahead of Trump in deep-red Utah. Trump’s personal feelings about abortion are murky. In past years he’s said he favors abortion rights. As a Republican presidential candidate, he has said he opposes them. Conservative writer Erick Erickson retweeted a GIF to express his frustration with Trump’s answer. The short video showed basketball great Michael Jordan slowly shaking his head in apparent disgust. Trump's abortion answer https://t.co/9Q4ZyfvUtb pic.twitter.com/1zb6y7zT4X — The Resurgent (@resurgent) October 20, 2016 Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, made it clear that she wants to preserve abortion rights and would appoint justices who share that view. By — Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press Julie Bykowicz, Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Some conservatives are irritated by Donald Trump’s failure to explicitly say during the presidential debate that he wants Roe v. Wade overturned. That’s the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortions, something that conservatives have fought for four decades. Trump promised to appoint justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade, saying that its end would occur “automatically.” But when pressed by the debate moderator, he did not give a straight answer about whether he personally wants it overturned. One of the first to notice that: independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin. He tweeted, “Why can’t @RealDonaldTrump actually say the words “I want Roe v Wade overturned?” I’m the only pro-life candidate in the race.” Why can't @RealDonaldTrump actually say the words "I want Roe v Wade overturned?" I'm the only pro-life candidate in the race #Debates2016 — Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) October 20, 2016 McMullin has no way to win Nov. 8 — but has been polling ahead of Trump in deep-red Utah. Trump’s personal feelings about abortion are murky. In past years he’s said he favors abortion rights. As a Republican presidential candidate, he has said he opposes them. Conservative writer Erick Erickson retweeted a GIF to express his frustration with Trump’s answer. The short video showed basketball great Michael Jordan slowly shaking his head in apparent disgust. Trump's abortion answer https://t.co/9Q4ZyfvUtb pic.twitter.com/1zb6y7zT4X — The Resurgent (@resurgent) October 20, 2016 Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, made it clear that she wants to preserve abortion rights and would appoint justices who share that view.