I must have missed this last night, but apparently Chris Christie said that in the case of rape, if a woman believes aborting the child she’s impregnated with is an “act of self defense,” then it should be allowed.
Watch below:
There were a lot of people who were shocked at his words:
Guys, a candidate claiming to be pro-life described it as an "act of self defense" in some cases.
— Jessica Heddings (@JessicaHeddings) February 7, 2016
Abortion should NEVER be referred to as an act of self defense. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/QyOolBpJTj
— Sydney (@SMBoucher_) February 7, 2016
I've never heard a pro-life candidate refer to abortion as an "act of self-defense."
— Jessica Heddings (@JessicaHeddings) February 7, 2016
The birth of a baby resulting from rape or incest "is an act of self-defense"…did Governor Christie just say that??? #GOPDebate
— Asma (@LibyanBentBladi) February 7, 2016
NOT an act of self defense to terminate a pregnancy that is a result of rape. The baby didn't rape you! #GOPDebate
— Elizabeth Shirley (@EAPShirley) February 7, 2016
Aborting a baby is an act of self defense for women who have been raped @ChrisChristie? Wow. #GOPDebate
— Shane Vander Hart (@shanevanderhart) February 7, 2016
The problem with this formulation is that if that is the principle by which we say abortion is ok, then what keeps any woman from calling ANY pregnancy an “act of self defense”? And what does that even mean? What makes the issue so difficult is that the child is innocent – how is killing it an “act of self defense”? I think Christie is way off on this point, on how he justifies his position, whether you agree or disagree with that position on its own.