Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who labels abortion a means of eugenics, has said Roe was decided incorrectly. But Chief Justice Roberts remains a wildcard. As law professor Steve Vladeck notes, Roberts’ dissent is “a pretty powerful sign that he, at least, is not ready to overrule Roe. But the million-dollar question that [Wednesday’s] 5-4 vote raises is whether, when the time comes, any of the other conservatives will join him.”
Biden Criticizes the Texas Abortion Law, Promises Federal Fight
President Biden, who supports abortion rights despite being a Catholic, pledges to lead a “whole of government” effort against the Texas ban, calling it a “bizarre scheme” with the potential to unleash “unconstitutional chaos.” Regarding its enforcement provisions, Biden says, “Complete strangers will now be empowered to inject themselves in the most private and personal health decisions faced by women.”
In a statement about the Texas abortion law, Biden says, “My administration is deeply committed to the constitutional right established in Roe v. Wade nearly five decades ago and will protect and defend that right.” Communities of color and people with low incomes will be particularly affected, the president says, because they don’t often lack resources to travel out of state to obtain an abortion.
Challenging those assertions, Mohler argues that willfully terminating an unborn life isn’t a necessary healthcare service. And raising concerns about race and income is essentially “political signaling,” he adds.
Abortion Access Now Drastically Limited in Texas
As a direct result of the new ban, most abortion providers in Texas have stopped scheduling the procedure for patients who are more than six weeks pregnant. Whole Woman’s Health, which unsuccessfully sued to prevent the law from taking effect, says its four Texas clinics will now provide abortions “only if no embryonic or fetal cardiac activity is detected in the sonogram.”
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, which also has stopped scheduling abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy, tweets: “The conversations happening in health centers in Texas today are devastating.” According to some estimates, 85% of abortions previously performed in the state now won’t occur.
As news broke of the Supreme Court’s ruling, the hashtag #TexasTaliban started trending, as did comparisons to the oppressive society depicted in the TV show “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Beto O’Rourke, a former Democratic presidential candidate, tweeted: “The Texas abortion law is an attempt to legalize harassment. It is as cowardly as it is unconstitutional.”
