While some Republicans are urging the party to reevaluate its stance on abortion for the sake of winning elections in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization U.S. Supreme Court decision, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) thinks the high court's ruling that leaves it up to the individual states is the proper approach.
During an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," Carl, who is running against second congressional district incumbent U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) for the first congressional district's 2024 GOP nod, dismissed the calls for a federal law on abortion.
The Mobile Republican warned against federal government involvement.
"I am very pro-life, period — without a doubt," Carl said. "I understand the push that you're talking about and the handful of people that are pushing it. You know, all that Dobbs said, all the Supreme Court said is it is not a federal issue. It's a state issue. And we, as elected officials, fuss every day about getting things out of the federal [government's] hands and giving states the right to choose. The state of Alabama does not appreciate the way that the way the interpretation of laws California does, right? That goes without saying. We don't want to be California. We want to be Alabama. We're much, much more conservative. All this law did was give the states the right to choose on the abortion issue — 15 weeks, no abortion at all, whatever law the state wants to set up. So, because the state of Alabama has chosen zero, hey, I've hit a trifecta here. It works perfect for me because that's my view."
"But people that get all bent out of shape, and they want the federal government to mandate this, but they don't want the federal government to mandate other stuff," he continued. "The more you give the federal government room to get inside your life, the more it is going to grow and the more it is going to take over. So, anything we can push away from the federal government and get them out of our business in the state of Alabama, I'm for. And this is one of them. So, I know the Democrats want to draw us into this conversation, and they want it to sound like we are anti-women's health issues. That is far from the truth. That is a bald-faced lie."
"We also recognize that child is a living organism that has rights, also," Carl added. "So before we start saying we want the federal government to change the law — no, I don't want the federal government to change the law. That's not the federal government's job. It is the state's job. The Supreme Court has already told us that. Let's focus on what the state wants. I think the state of Alabama has spoken because I've talked to many state lawmakers about what do you think if we make some exceptions here. I get 'nos' every time I bring it up. I bring it up not to change them. I bring it up because I want their input. I want to know what they know and how they feel. It's important to me."
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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