WASHINGTON, D.C. — GOP Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump’s comments on abortion Wednesday caused some concern for National Right to Life Committee Political Director Karen Cross.
Cross, a West Virginia native, said she was “stunned” when she heard Trump, who claims to be pro-life, say there needs to be “some form of punishment” for women who get abortions if the procedure was illegal in an interview with MSNBC.
“For years, for our history, we in the Right to Life movement have been opposed to imposing penalties on women who have abortions,” Cross said on Thursdays MetroNews “Talkline”. “We see them, we see both the unborn child and the mother as victims in an abortion.”
Trump later retracted his statement and said that the doctors who perform abortions, not women, should be held responsible. Cross said that was much more in-line with what pro-life groups believe.
“What we believe is penalties need to be imposed against the abortionist who would take the life of the unborn child, who’s defying statutes that are enacted into law.”
Cross said those in the pro-life movement who have had abortions are already facing their comeuppance on a daily basis in the guilt and regret that they feel.
“We’re punished already by the fact that we’ve done this,” Cross said. “It’s a horrible thing to experience.”
Even after Trump retracted what he said, Cross remained concerned that Trump wasn’t taking the issue seriously enough.
“I have to say I’m concerned he had two contradictory statements in less than three hours,” Cross said. “This is a very important issue, and anyone who’s concerned even office in the House of Delegates or state Senate needs to consider what their position is on this issue and think it through.”
Cross said the National Right to Life Committee has not yet endorsed a candidate in the race for the White House, but ruled out supporting either Hillary Clinton or Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), both of whom are vehemently pro-choice.