Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stirred controversy within his own campaign by asserting that women should have the right to choose abortion at any stage of pregnancy. His remarks, made during a recent podcast interview, contradict the stance of his running mate Nicole Shanahan, highlighting a possible internal miscommunication over the sensitive issue.
In an interview with former ESPN anchor Sage Steele on her podcast, Kennedy expressed his belief that the government should not dictate decisions regarding women’s bodies. “Every abortion is a tragedy. Many of them leave permanent trauma on a woman. But I think, ultimately, I don’t trust government to have a jurisdiction over people’s bodies,” Kennedy stated, emphasizing his support for women’s autonomy in reproductive choices.
“We should leave [the decision] to the woman. We shouldn’t have government involved,” Kennedy said in the podcast.
“Even if it’s full term?” Steele prodded.
“Even if it’s full term,” the candidate responded.
On a previous episode of the same podcast, Shanahan provided her interpretation of Kennedy’s stance on abortion rights.
“I spoke to Bobby about this, and at the end of the day, he says ‘Yes, this is a woman’s choice, period.’ And I said, ‘Even up until birth?’ And ‘yes’ was his answer,” Steele informed Shanahan during the May 1 airing of the episode.
“Oh!” Shanahan exclaimed before stating, “this is why women should be having this conversation.”
Kennedy’s assertion took his running mate, Shanahan, by surprise, prompting her to challenge the statement stating, “That is not Bobby’s position, at least as far as I understand it.”
This apparent contradiction led Shanahan to suggest there may have been a “miscommunication” between Kennedy and Steele, seeking to reconcile the discrepancy in their positions.
Kennedy’s stance on abortion has evolved throughout his campaign, causing his team to backtrack on previous statements. Earlier remarks suggesting support for a federal abortion ban after three months were disavowed by his campaign, which asserted that “it is always the woman’s right to choose.”
Despite the internal discord, Kennedy’s campaign website describes his policy on abortion as promoting “more choices, more life,” emphasizing economic opportunities for women to afford childcare and advocating for reducing the abortion rate through support for mothers and families.
In response to the controversy, campaign press secretary Stefanie Spear reiterated Kennedy’s commitment to women’s autonomy in abortion decisions while also acknowledging his recognition of abortion as a tragedy, particularly late-term procedures.
This is not the first controversial sweeping position the presidential candidate has taken. Weeks ago, it was reported that he plans to put the entire US federal budget onto a blockchain, which would, in theory, allow any American to scrutinize budget items around the clock.
Information for this briefing was found via New York Post and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
One Response
RFJK JR is a bag of contradiction and therefore should NOT be allowed to be or run for president – period!!