Staff Reports
Taking a leaf from former President Donald Trump’s playbook, the Republican National Committee is on the brink of adopting a party platform that’s more realistic on federal abortion regulations. On Monday, the RNC’s platform committee accepted a vision heavily influenced by Trump, stepping back from earlier calls for a human life amendment and a 20-week federal abortion ban.
Typical for the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Trump’s influence is unmistakable in the new platform. The 16-page manifesto speaks to the “forgotten men and women of America” and advocates for a return to common sense. Among its promises are the unleashing of oil and gas production, massive cuts to wasteful spending, and the slashing of federal regulations. The bold ambition to complete the US-Mexico border wall and activate the largest deportation operation in history is explicitly stated.
Furthermore, the platform pledges to make Trump’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, finalize reciprocal trade deals, and reignite America’s space ambitions, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon and even Mars. Enhancing affordability in housing, education, and healthcare is another key priority, alongside protecting Social Security, bolstering Medicare, and introducing universal school choice. Law and order, counteracting the woke and weaponized government, and defending religious liberty are also front and center.
RNC adopts Trump-inspired platform that rolls back anti-abortion positions – https://t.co/Xi0zsiUoI3 – @washtimes by @SethMcLaughlin1 & @KerryPicket
— Kerry Picket (@KerryPicket) July 8, 2024
Scheduled for approval at next week’s Republican National Convention, the platform is anticipated to pass. Senior advisors to Trump paint this platform as embodying his 2024 vision to Make America Great Again. As Democrats squabble over their candidacies and champion policies that have spiked prices, swarmed borders with migrant crime, and stifled energy with bureaucratic red tape, Trump aims to restore American greatness via America First principles.
It’s noteworthy that this is the first platform update since 2016, which previously delved extensively into cultural issues. Given the Supreme Court’s landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, speculation ran high about whether Trump would dilute the abortion language. There were also questions about a potential softening on traditional marriage and gay rights stances.
The new platform steadfastly stands for families and life, adamantly opposing late-term abortion while supporting prenatal care, access to birth control, and fertility treatments. This marks a significant departure from the prior endorsement of a federal abortion ban at 20 weeks.
Trump’s pivotal role in nominating the Supreme Court justices who ended Roe isn’t ignored. Still, he has cautioned against overemphasizing the abortion issue, believing it to be better resolved at the state level. This pragmatic shift might irk some social and religious conservative faithful, but it underscores a strategic pivot aiming to unite the broader American electorate.
The updated marriage stance promotes the sanctity of marriage, the blessings of childhood, and the foundational role of families, with support for working parents. While the 2016 platform was firm on the notion of traditional marriage and opposed same-sex marriage rulings, this newer stance aims for a more inclusive tone while still valuing traditional family structures.
So, brace for fireworks as the RNC rallies around Trump’s refined yet resolutely conservative platform, steering the party towards a future that’s deeply rooted in common sense American values.
