Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has criticized her fellow Democrats for failing to protect abortion rights in the years leading up to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. In an interview with The New York Times, Clinton argued that Democrats underestimated the strength of the pro-life movement and failed to take the threat to abortion rights seriously.
Hillary Clinton has launched a scathing attack on her fellow Democrats, accusing them of complacency and underestimating the threat to abortion rights that ultimately led to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.
In an interview with The New York Times, Clinton discussed her forthcoming book, "The Fall of Roe: The Rise of a New America," in which she argues that Democrats failed to pass legislation codifying abortion rights into federal law, even when they controlled the Senate.
"We didn’t take it seriously, and we didn’t understand the threat," Clinton said. "Most Democrats, most Americans, did not realize we are in an existential struggle for the future of this country."
Clinton pointed to the right's relentless efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade as an example of their organizational prowess and funding advantages.
"[The right is] relentless. You know, they take a loss, they get back up, they regroup, they raise more money," Clinton said. "It’s tremendously impressive the way that they operate. And we have nothing like it on our side."
Clinton said she was dismissed as an alarmist when she predicted in 2016 that a Trump presidency would lead to abortion rights being overturned. She predicted that many would dismiss her again this election cycle, which she described as "existential."
"I mean, if we don’t make the right decision in this election in our country, we may never have another actual election," Clinton said. "I will put that out there because I believe it. And if we no longer have another actual election, we will be governed by a small minority of right-wing forces that are well organized and well-funded and are getting exactly what they want in terms of turning the clock back on women."
Clinton's comments come as Democrats face an uphill battle in the upcoming midterms, with abortion rights emerging as a major issue. A recent Fox News poll found that abortion is the biggest single issue among self-described Democrats (24%), suburban women (24%), self-described very liberals (23%), Black voters (17%), those with a college degree (17%), and voters under age 30 (16%).
Clinton's criticism of Democrats is likely to resonate with many in her party, who are frustrated by the lack of progress on codifying abortion rights into law. However, her comments may also alienate some Democratic voters who feel that she is not taking into account the complexities of the issue or the challenges of governing in a divided political landscape.
The upcoming midterms will be a crucial test for Democrats, who need to hold onto their majorities in the House and Senate to block any Republican attempts to pass restrictive abortion laws. Clinton's comments serve as a reminder of the stakes for abortion rights and the importance of electing Democrats who are committed to protecting them.
