Kamala Harris to visit abortion providers in Minnesota
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It’s good, both politically and on the merits, that the Biden administration is recognizing the realities of the post-Dobbs world:
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to meet with abortion providers and staff members on Thursday in the Twin Cities, a visit that is believed to be the first stop by a president or vice president to an abortion clinic.
The appearance at a health center will be the latest leg in a nationwide tour by Ms. Harris, who has emerged as the most outspoken defender of abortion rights in the administration. While White House officials say they have largely reached the limits of their power to protect abortion rights, the issue has emerged as a linchpin of their re-election strategy.
Ms. Harris plans on Thursday to tour the center with an abortion provider and highlight what the administration has done to try to preserve access to the procedure as conservative states enact growing restrictions.
Minnesota has become a haven for abortion seekers since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ushering in restrictive laws and bans in neighboring states. The Society of Family Planning, a health research organization, found that the average number of abortions in the state increased by about 36 percent in the year after the Supreme Court decision.
Last year, Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation enshrining abortion rights into state law, an effort to ensure the procedure remains legal no matter who takes office in the state. Ms. Harris will be joined on Thursday by Minnesota Democrats including Mr. Walz and Representative Betty McCollum.
It’s very good that she’s doing this. But it’s also remarkable that this is the first time a Democratic president or vice president has done it. It reminds me that not too long ago it was Hard Pundit Law that it was outrageous for Democrats not allow the governor who literally brought the lawsuit intended to get Roe v. Wade overruled to speak at their national convention. It makes exactly as much sense as criticizing Republicans for not allowing Bernie Sanders to give a speech in favor of upper-class tax increases at a Republican convention, but this was the specious narrative and way too many Democratic politicians bought in to some degree or another. Hopefully this has been buried for good, but it’s also too late.