Republicans denounced the remarks.
“In just a few years pro-abortion zealots went from ‘safe, legal, and rare’ to ‘keep the newborns comfortable while the doctor debates infanticide.' I don’t care what party you’re from—if you can’t say that it’s wrong to leave babies to die after birth, get the hell out of public office.”
“Heartbreaking: VA gov’s pro-abortion dogma is so extreme that he advocates taking the life of babies AFTER they are born. Watch the video. Every human life is precious—a gift from God—and the modern Democratic Party’s embrace of late-term (or post-birth) abortion is truly tragic,” added Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) called Northam’s comments “shocking.”
“This politician wants to allow infants to be killed once they have been born. In America. The Senate should vote to stop this today. Protect all unborn infants after 5 months,” he said on Twitter, adding that all Democratic presidential candidates should be asked immediately about their views on allowing abortions during birth.
“Do you remember when I said Hillary Clinton was willing to rip the baby out of the womb? That’s what it is, that’s what they’re doing, it’s terrible,” he said.
“This is going to lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe it’s never been lifted up before,” he added.
He later took to Twitter to address the Democrats attempt to push late-term abortion in addition to more taxes, opposition to the southern border wall, and support for sanctuary states and cities.
“Democrats are becoming the Party of late-term abortion, high taxes, Open Borders and Crime!” he said.
Neither pollster asked if people supported killing babies after they were born, as was suggested by Gov. Northam.
Democrats appeared to unilaterally decline comment on the issue, claiming they were unaware of the remarks.
Daily Caller Capitol Hill reporter Henry Rodgers said that he spoke with 10 U.S. Democratic Senators on Jan. 31 amid the uproar over the comments.
“Not one of them would acknowledge [Northam’s] comments,” Rodgers said on Twitter. “Everyone of them denied hearing them.”
Rodgers said he spoke with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.Y.), Sen. Chris Coons (D-Conn.), and Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.).
Only Jones would comment about late-term abortions in general, saying he supported the law as it stands now.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was also asked about Northam’s comments during her press conference on Thursday.
“You often talk about the diversity of viewpoints in the Democratic caucus. There are pro-life Democrats in your group. Considering the comments from Governor Northam yesterday, how does that make it harder for pro-life Democrats in the party and does that cause problems?” a reporter asked.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t know what he said yesterday,” Pelosi responded.
Pelosi then addressed other reporters who raised their hands trying to ask her questions, stating, “Are you going to ask a new question or is it the same old, same old?”
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