Scott Brown Says He Supports Abortion, Limits, and Opposes Health Care Bill
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 31, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Scott Brown was hailed as aiding the pro-life cause by becoming the 41st vote for the filibuster against the pro-abortion Senate health care bill. While Brown’s surprising victory in Massachusetts helped stall or possibly defeat the bill Brown confirmed today that, unlike most Republicans, he backs abortion.
Brown’s comments are not surprising since his support for Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case that allowed more than 52 million abortions, was already part of the discussion during the special election.
But, pro-life advocates noted he faced an even more aggressive supporter of abortion in Martha Coakley who would have supported the bill and its funding for perhaps hundreds of thousands of abortions.
In a new interview with ABC’s "This Week" program, Brown says he supports abortion but opposes forcing taxpayers to fund it.
"Yes, I feel this issue is best handled between a woman and her doctor and her family," he said when asked if he is "pro-choice."
While he backs abortion he said he would side with pro-life advocates on limits such as parental involvement and a partial-birth abortion ban, which was already signed into law under President George W. Bush.
"And, you know, Roe v. Wade is the law of the land, but I think we need to do more to reduce the amount of abortions. And the difference between me and maybe others is that I’m very — I’m against partial-birth abortions. I’m against federal funding of abortions. And I believe in a strong parental consent notification law," Brown added. "And we should do more for adoptions."
During a debate with Coakley, Brown noticed the differences in their positions.
"We both believe Roe v. Wade is the law of the land, but there are clear distinctions. She will go down there as a social crusader," he said.
In the ABC interview, Brown talked about how his election impacted the debate on the pro-abortion health care bill.
"What it means is that now there will be full and fair debate," Brown said. "And there will be no more behind-closed-doors actions."
"I think it was on its last legs before I even got elected, because the Democrats even were upset at the backroom deals, for example, in Nebraska," he said.
Brown also talked about the premature talk of his becoming a 2012 presidential candidate and he politely dismissed it.
"I don’t even have a business card," Brown answered. "I haven’t even been sworn in. I don’t have any exploratory committees started. I don’t have anything … it’s overwhelming, and it’s extremely humbling."
When asked, he agreed that the pro-life 2008 vice-presidential candidate would be a good candidate to take on Obama in 2012.
"Well — well, sure. I mean, she’s been a mayor, and a governor. And — and has a lot of — a national following. But I think the more people in a presidential race, the better," he said.
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