President tore into state crackdowns on abortion in the wake of the 's decision striking down Roe v. Wade, blasting the 'cruelty' of policies that can send physicians to jail or go after family members who help women travel out of state.
Speaking at the on the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and more than a year after the Dobbs decision, Biden blasted a state law and state supreme court decision in the case of Kate Cox, a Dallas mother of two who ultimately fled the state to have an abortion she was prevented from getting for a non-viable pregnancy.
It was one of many states that put in place new abortion restrictions after the Supreme court struck down the landmark abortion law.
'Instead of being able to receive care from her doctor, she was blocked by the state of Texas Attorney General and the state Supreme Court. Think about that: As she and her family were going through the frightening, heartbreaking ordeal, she had to fight extreme politicians in the court,' Biden said, with top cabinet officials gathered.
President Joe Biden blasted the 'cruelty' of state abortion restrictions, including a decision by a Texas court and state AG to prohibit a woman from getting an abortion for a non-viable pregnancy.
He appeared with Dr. Tani Malhotra, M.D., Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician and Assistant Professor of Reproductive Biology, speaks during a meeting with his reproductive rights task force
'They turned a deeply private and painful matter into a public matter. She ultimately had to leave the state to get the help she needed to protect herself and her ability to have more children,' Biden said, speaking at a meeting of his reproductive rights task force.
'The cruelty is astounding. An affront to a woman's dignity being told by extreme politicians to wait. To get sicker and sicker to the point where her life may be in danger before you can get the care you need.
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'That cruel reality is result of extreme Republicans who for years have made it their mission to end the Roe v Wade decision,' he continued, blasting new restrictions that have gone into effect, including those that do not allow exceptions for rape and incest.
He said some doctors are 'fleeing their home states because of the laws that would send them to prison for providing evidence based health care,' and called out states like Texas where ''doctors can get a life sentence – a life sentence – for providing the care that we're trying to provide.'
The president made his comments on a day Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on abortion rights in Wisconsin as part of a 'Fight For Reproductive Freedoms tour', and a day before he holds a campaign event in Virginia that also holds up the issue.
'Instead of being able to receive care from her doctor, she was blocked by the state of Texas Attorney General and the state Supreme Court,' Biden said of Texas woman Kate Cox
Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off a 'Fight For Reproductive Freedoms tour'
Biden mixed up two cabinet secretaries when acknowledging HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, who wasn't there
Biden highlighted the case of Dallas mother Kate Cox, who left the state to have an abortion amid a fight over a new law that imposes restrictions
Democrats have scored electoral wins in response to the Supreme Court decision and in state races when abortion issues were on the ballot. The issue could help motivate Biden supporters even as multiple polls show him slightly trailing Donald Trump.
The president also appeared to mix up two of his cabinet secretaries during his remarks, when he name-checked Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, instead mentioning Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
'I also like to thank the policy advisor, my gender policy adviser, Jen Klein. Secretary Becerra, sitting right next to her for the leadership and his task force,' Biden said, although Becerra wasn't in the room.
