The leaked U.S. Supreme Court majority draft opinion indicating that the overturn of Roe v. Wade is imminent has sparked fierce reaction across the political spectrum.
While lamenting the fact that the draft was leaked, Republican members of Alabama’s congressional delegation celebrated the court’s apparent ruling striking down the landmark 1973 abortion decision.
Reacting to the report on social media, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) stated his Christian-based belief that life begins at conception.
— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) May 3, 2022
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) warned that the nation’s high court should be free from political interference.
“The Supreme Court must remain independent of politics. Any breach is an attack on the institution and an effort to undermine its constitutional authority,” stated Shelby. “I have long-believed that the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade was unconstitutional. Throughout my time in Congress, I have supported pro-life values and ideals and will continue to do so for the remainder of my career.”
According to U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), the issue of abortion is a matter of legislative debate between “life and death.”
“For nearly 50 years, Martha and I have looked forward to the end of Roe v Wade,” said Brooks. “Roe undermined our Republic by taking a public policy debate from America’s elected office-holders and unconstitutionally placing that life or death debate into the hands of dictatorial, appointed for life federal judges.”
The congressman added, “Abortion has been a stain on America since the Supreme Court incorrectly decided Roe in 1973. If reports are accurate, justice will soon be served. For the first time in almost five decades, a Supreme Court ruling on abortion will reflect medical and scientific fact: life is sacred and it begins at conception.”
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) asserted that the leaking of the draft opinion “has further eroded confidence” in the high court.
“On many occasions, I have made the statement that the greatest crisis now facing our nation is the loss of confidence in the institutions essential to the future well-being of our nation,” said Palmer. “Practically every institution from education, to health care, to government has lost the trust of Americans. Now this unprecedented leak of a potential decision made by the Supreme Court regarding the Dobbs case has further eroded confidence in the Court.”
“In regard to the leaked draft, I believe Roe was wrongly decided and agree with the draft opinion of the court to overturn Roe v. Wade,” he continued. “Even liberal Supreme Court justices like Ruth Bader Ginsburg believed Roe was too broad. To avoid chaos and further division about the law, the Court should immediately release the final decision.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) called Roe v. Wade “a horrendous, politically-charged decision by an activist court.”
“[This] outrageous and unprecedented leak is astonishingly dangerous and further proof that nothing obstructing the Left’s radical agenda is safe, despite the consequences,” stated Moore. “I am terribly concerned for the repercussions of this leak and the broader dangers of an ideology in which the ends always justify the means.”
“Much remains unknown about this draft opinion, and even if it is authentic, justices can change positions on cases up until the last minute,” added Moore. “But nothing can change the fact that Roe was a horrendous, politically-charged decision by an activist court with, at best, weak Constitutional footing. It is my sincere hope that Roe is overturned and this country’s tragic and shameful era of the widespread and indiscriminate legal termination of the lives of millions of unborn children can start to be brought to a close.”
He concluded, “We don’t know how the next days and weeks will unfold, but with great conviction I believe that our country needs our fervent prayer now more than ever.”
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) indicated that the link was done in an effort “by the radical pro-abortion left” to influence justices.
“[The] leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion to potentially overturn Roe v. Wade is a shameful attempt by the radical pro-abortion Left to sway our Supreme Court justices,” said Carl. “I’m proud to live in Alabama where we believe all life is made in the image of God, and I will never stop fighting to protect life at all stages.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) expressed relief that Alabama would become a state where abortion will be illegal, should the court’s decision be final.
“I have read the leaked draft opinion indicating that the high court is set to overturn Roe V. Wade,” said Aderholt. “We, of course, will have to wait and see if this report is true when the court actually releases its official opinion in the coming weeks; however, if the opinion stands, then it is a great decision for the protection of innocent life in America. The original arguments of Roe V. Wade in 1973 were deeply flawed and attempted to create a constitutional right to privacy where one did not exist.
“Let’s be clear, though. The overturning of Roe will not make abortion illegal,” he noted. “It will simply leave the legality up to each individual state. While this will certainly reduce abortions by a great number, there will sadly still be thousands of abortions in states where it will remain legal. I’m glad to say Alabama will not be one of them.”
“However, we cannot take this decision for granted. I will always remain committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us, and there are none more vulnerable than the unborn. Regardless of the decision, we must continue to fight to protect the lives of our unborn children. And as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I will continue to support meaningful alternatives to abortion,” concluded Aderholt.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) advised that the majority draft opinion presents “a sound argument.”
The left leaked an unpublished opinion by the Supreme Court in an attempt to subvert the court by attempting to intimidate Justices.
While wrongly leaked, the draft opinion is a sound argument that supports the right to life and overturns the wrongly decided Roe v. Wade.
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) May 3, 2022
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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