Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg told a pro-life woman in Iowa she had no place in the Democratic Party. The comment came during a town hall with Fox News' Chris Wallace in Des Moines, Iowa when a voter asked Buttigieg if he supported a change in the party's language.
"I am a proud pro-life Democrat, so do you want the support of pro-life Democrats, Democratic voters? There's about 21 million of us," voter Kristen Day asked Buttigieg. "And, if so, would you support more moderate platform language in the Democratic Party to ensure that the party of diversity and inclusion really does include everybody?"
"Well, I respect where you're coming from and I hope to earn your vote, but I'm not going to try to earn your vote by tricking you," he replied with a smile. "I am pro-choice and I believe that a woman ought to be able to make that decision."
The crowd applauded and Buttigieg attempted to spin his answers.
"Here's what I can tell you – I know that the difference in opinion that you and I have is one that we have come by honestly and the best that I can offer – and it may win your vote, if not I understand – the best that I can offer is that if we can't agree on where to draw the line, the next best thing we can do is agree on who should draw the line," he explained. "And, in my view, it's the woman who's faced with that decision in her own life."
The crowd applauded again and Wallace reminded Buttigieg of one important tidbit: President Donald Trump made history on Friday when he became the first president to address the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.
"I'm curious, Kristen, were you satisfied with the mayor's answer?" Wallace asked.
The voter replied, saying she was unsatisfied with Buttigieg's response. He failed to answer the second part of her question, which is whether or not he would support a change in the party's language and platform.
"And the second part of the Democratic platform contains language that basically says we don't belong, we have no part in the party because it says abortion should be legal up to nine months, that the government should pay for it and there's nothing that says people have a diversity of views on this issue should be included in the party," the voter explained.
Kristen reminded Buttigieg that back in 1999 the Democratic Party platform had language that recognized that people have various views on abortion "but we're a big tent party that includes everbody."
She reiterated the second part of her question. He didn't come out and directly say "no" but his response could be summed up that way.
"Well, I support the position of my party, that this kind of medical care needs to be available to everyone and I support the Roe v. Wade framework that holds that early in pregnancy there are few restrictions and late in pregnancy there are very few exceptions," he responded with a smile. "And again, the best I can offer is we may disagree on that very important issue and, hopefully, we'll be able to partner on other issues."
Called out by Pro-Life Democrat, Buttigieg backs position of Democrat Party to exclude pro-life votershttps://t.co/AwCrai0vF4 pic.twitter.com/TkLrs2DXzx
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 27, 2020