AMAC Exclusive – By Shane Harris
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade and returned decisions about abortion restrictions to the states, an alarming new trend has emerged on the political left: government officials declaring their refusal to enforce, and in many cases actively working to undermine, pro-life laws passed and enacted by duly elected representatives of the people. Many of these same Democrats have tirelessly insisted for years that Republicans are an “existential threat to democracy,” and yet are now openly denying the legal authority of the Supreme Court and calling for the destruction of the rule of law itself.
As the pro-life movement gained momentum in recent years, Republican legislatures in many states passed what would come to be known as “trigger laws.” These laws laid out restrictions on abortion which were not permitted under the legal framework established by Roe, but which would go into effect almost immediately in the event Roe were overturned, thus eliminating the need to wait for a new legislative session to introduce and pass pro-life legislation. Missouri became the first of those states to enact such a law just hours after the Dobbs decision last Friday, touching off a fresh wave of outrage from the left.
Soon thereafter, the left’s “Plan B” for executing an end-run around the Supreme Court and state legislatures came into full view as dozens of local elected officials began announcing that they would not be enforcing pro-life state laws. Just hours after the decision was released, more than 80 elected prosecutors signed a joint statement saying that they would “decline to use our offices’ resources to criminalize reproductive health decisions and commit to exercise our well- settled discretion and refrain from prosecuting those who seek, provide, or support abortions.” While many of these officials preside in states like California that are at no risk of passing pro-life laws, many like Bexar County, Texas, District Attorney Joe Gonzales and Nashville, Tennessee District Attorney Glenn Funk do not, raising the prospect that state laws outlawing abortion could in effect be neutralized by liberal prosecutors flouting the state legislature and creating “abortion safe zones.” In total, the officials who signed on to the letter represent more than 87 million Americans. Notably, Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland failed to condemn the rebellion against the rule of law, saying only that the Justice Department would “work tirelessly to protect and advance reproductive freedom.”
Liberal mayors and other local elected officials have also indicated that they intend to help, rather than hinder these prosecutors’ efforts to defy state laws. In Wisconsin, Madison mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced that police would not arrest any abortion providers within city limits, despite a state trigger law criminalizing abortion. Austin, Texas mayor Steve Adler and Cincinnati, Ohio mayor Aftab Pureval have issued similar declarations, while Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrel and New York City Mayor Eric Adams promised to make their cities “abortion rights sanctuaries,” inviting women from other states to travel there to have abortion procedures.
At the same time, activist judges have attempted to block the implementation of abortion bans and trigger laws, often without any apparent legal reason for doing so. In Kentucky, Utah, and Louisiana, a single judge placed an injunction on abortion restrictions for the entire state, forcing the state government to sue for re-instatement of pro-life laws. Pro-abortion groups have also asked courts to issue similar injunctions in states like Florida and Idaho. As justification for blocking pro-life laws, judges in these states have often claimed that their state constitutions protect a “right to privacy” and therefore a right to abortion despite there being no mention of abortion in the state constitution – the very same sort of reasoning that the Supreme Court rejected in Dobbs.
Elected Democrats at every level have encouraged or taken part in this blatant assault on the authority of the Supreme Court, in many cases condoning violence against pro-life groups and encouraging Americans to defy the ruling en masse. Progressive darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) joined protestors outside the Supreme Court last Friday and described the Court as “illegitimate,” calling for people to get “into the streets.” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) echoed Ocasio-Cortez’s sentiment, saying “the hell with the Supreme Court—we will defy them.”
Other Democrats even called for the restructuring of the Court itself, with Massachusetts Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren telling ABC that the Court had “burned whatever legitimacy they may still have had,” and calling on Congress to increase the number of justices. Warren and other Democrats have also called for a legislative end-run around the Dobbs decision by proposing abortion clinics in National Parks and other federal lands – an unprecedented move that would funnel federal tax dollars to fund abortion procedures. In addition, they’ve urged President Biden to declare an “abortion national health emergency” to open up funds for states that will continue to permit unrestricted abortion.
In light of these rebellions by elected Democrats, some Republicans have promised to fight back by empowering state officials to prosecute local officials for refusing to enforce the law, or allowing district attorneys who would enforce pro-life laws to prosecute violations outside of their jurisdictions. Yet even with more powerful enforcement mechanisms, Democrats have shown that they are unlikely to give up so easily – and that they are willing to take the country down with them.
It may thus be that the downfall of Roe was only the beginning of a greater and far more consequential battle, with millions of yet-unborn lives and democracy itself hanging in the balance. If the past 50 years are any indication, though, the pro-life movement is well-prepared for such a fight, and equally determined to prevail.
Shane Harris is a writer and political consultant from Southwest Ohio. You can follow him on Twitter @Shane_Harris_
Of course, DIMMs are threat to democracy and to our Constitutional Republic. SCOTUS passed the decision back to the states in which the PEOPLE have more say! That is small-D democratic, Capital-D “democrats” want ALL the power installed on the national level and have it enforced by “brilliant” bureaucrats and judges!
BJ Clinton, at a DIMM fundraiser, told HIS supporters : “We were going to have a tax cut, but we didn’t think you would know how to spend it.” That sums up today’s DIMMs perfectly!
Good article. AMAC needs to start a campaign to demand that the President stay true to his campaign pledge to be a moderate and not a divider. His vitriol regarding recent well grounded Supreme Court decisions is not only disturbing and disgraceful but it has encouraged others in his Administration to be even more callous with loose and possibly illegal rhetoric.
The democrats contorl all three parts of government yet they are loosing on every front. For you that are a little slow that should teach you that democrats can not lead, manage or maintain any form of governemnt.
If you are still even thinking about voting democrat you are stupid.
they’ve been stuck in the ’70s for 52 years.
I have been saying that since Johnson took over after JFK was assassinated.
They killed JFK 1 hour and 40 minutes after I just saw him and Jackie. That was the moment I NEVER TRUSTED Demoncrats cause very shortly afterwards Johnson put us in VIET NAM WAR.
The Demoncrats have been attacking the UNITED STATES of AMERICA since 1860.
Been watching them DESTROY our U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS every year since 1860.
Just look at results of today and it speaks volumes.
Solution Arrested these officials and put them on trial , prosecute them and they will come around quick with some jail time and their careers ruined for violation of the law. Republican’s need to grow a pair and be mean just like the democrats. Look at the way Trump supporters have been treated. Remember the Russia hokes with the morning raids by the FBI into Trump supporters homes early in the morning etc. The same ballgame needs to be taken by the right when they are in power.
Abort the Democrat Socialist Communist Party. Abort! Abort! Abort!
This is really scary. I’ve never seen such lawlessness in my life. For Biden to declare a National Emergency would be a major overreach on his part. This is the USA, a government of, by and for the people, not a government according to Biden! He’s acting more like a dictator than a president. The three branches of government were created by the founding fathers to prevent power from being abused. However, abuse of power is exactly what’s happening. And right now the January 6th Committee “Hearings,” which are nothing more than an attempt to slander former President Trump so He doesn’t run again, are another major focus for the left. They insist that Trump incited that riot on the Capitol. What about AOC’s comment to take it “into the street.” That’s not inciting violence? We are in desperate need of leaders who understand and obey the rule of law. We need a red sunami, and RINOs need not apply.
libs=CANCER AND ARE THE ENEMY OF OUR NATION. BEEN SAYING THAT SINCE THE CANCEROUS, ANTI-AMERICAN, LYING, CHEATING, libs STOLE THE LAST ELECTION
Warren and her fellow anti-American co-conspirators should all be in prison!!
Of course, given their demonstrated history, the Republicans will yet again do nothing as the Progressive-Socialists openly violate the law.
Keep voting for either of those two parties and you will get an unbroken chain of more of the same.
THERE IS ONLY ONE SURE AND PERMANENT WAY TO STOP THE CANCEROUS, ANTI-AMERICAN, LYING, CHEATING, libs AND IT’S NOT THRU ELECTIONS…………..
Can we trade two liberal freaks who hate the US for every one illegal that wants to enter the US ? This would be a great and fair deal. The problem is that those who hate the US won’t leave. Why is that ? Answer : They know this is the only nation on earth where they can be daily traitor – bitches .
The abortionists should go to Europe to get their abortions and stay there . These people know they can abort by taking a pill but thats not their point. Their real point which they stupidly try to hide is that the US is wicked , there is no right to life , and that states have no rights. The states run this country The fed exists only to hand our money to crooks
Our current version of “conservatism” is inadequate. We need a monster Ultra-Conservative
movement which demands and receives or takes this nation back.
Still voting for Democrats or Rinos you are a ——- IDIOT.
ALL libs = CANCER AND ARE THE ENEMY OF OUR NATION