On first day of Florida’s six-week abortion ban, Democrats plan to fly banner over Mar-a-Lago blaming Trump
The message from Democrats is short and direct: “Trump’s Plan: Ban Abortion, Punish Women.”
The Democratic National Committee is having that message on a banner flown over Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump’s private club and residence in Palm Beach, for four hours Wednesday afternoon and early evening.
The message is one small part of a strong push by President Joe Biden and Democrats to show voters across the country what voters should expect if Trump and Republicans win in November.
“Donald Trump is the reason for Florida’s extreme abortion ban, and for every abortion ban across the country. As women suffer, Trump claims overturning Roe and his extreme bans are working the way they’re ‘supposed to.’ Trump supports letting states punish women and their doctors. If given the chance, he’ll go even further with an extreme nationwide ban,” Democratic National Committee spokesperson Jackie Bush said in a statement.
“The stakes of this election are clear: The only way to restore and safeguard our freedoms is to reelect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris,” Bush said.
Starting at midnight, Florida banned abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, with extremely limited exceptions. Later abortions would be allowed to save a pregnant woman’s life and up to 15 weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape, incest or human trafficking, if the person seeking the abortion provides documentation such as a police report.
Abortion rights advocates have said most women don’t know they’re pregnant at six weeks.
The law was passed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republicans in the Florida Legislature. Democrats are using it to show voters nationwide the effect of the three Supreme Court justices nominated by Trump, who provided votes for the majority to overturn the Roe v. Wade protection for abortion rights that allowed states to implement restrictions such as Florida’s.
The Biden administration is highlighting the issue with a visit by Vice President Kamala Harris in Jacksonville on Wednesday. And Biden was in Tampa last week highlighting his support and Trump’s opposition to abortion rights.
In a news conference on Tuesday, DeSantis defended the law, and cited a ruling from the Florida Supreme Court, most of whose justices he appointed. “The court ruled correctly that being able to provide protections for a baby that has a detectable heartbeat is lawful and constitutional. And I think that that’s a noble effort. And I think that that’s something that will be very meaningful to folks who get a chance to enjoy this great race of life that we have.”
DeSantis on Tuesday and Florida Republican Party Chair Evan Power on Wednesday sought to change the subject.
“In Florida, especially in Jacksonville, families are suffering under the train-wreck Biden-Harris Bidenomics,” Power said in a statement.
Chris Marino, chair of the Broward Republican Party, said this week via text the political impact of the issue might not be what some Democrats hope.
Florida has a proposal on the ballot in November that would enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution. Abortion-related ballot measures haven’t increased Democratic turnout in other states, Marino said, citing an analysis of five states by Politico.
Also on Wednesday, the eight Democratic members of Congress from Florida jointly condemned the new restrictions.
“Today and every day, the truth remains clear: People, not politicians, should be in control of their own reproductive health decisions. Florida’s draconian six-week abortion ban is outrageous — a gut-wrenching blow to Floridians’ reproductive freedom. Rather than progressing as a society, Florida’s suffocating law sets us back as a state. The decision to seek an abortion is a personal decision that should remain private, not be put in the hands of politicians,” they wrote.
Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Post.news.