(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) on Sunday called for Republicans to find a “middle ground” with Democrats over the issue of abortion.
The congresswoman complained about pro-life group Susan B. Anthony’s criticism of her stance on birth control and exceptions on abortion.
“I find it ironic that Susan B Anthony would attack me. I’m a victim of rape. I advocate for women who have been raped, and that organization will no longer talk to my office about pro-life legislation, because I'm talking about birth control. Some of these groups have gotten so over-the-top and extreme that we need to find a middle ground on this issue,” Mace told “Fox News Sunday.”
“I have a great pro-life voting record, but some of the other stances we take especially when it comes to rape and incest protecting the life of a mother, it's so extreme. The middle independent voters they cannot support us, and again I represent a purple district. I talked to a voter the other day, and she left the Republican Party over this issue. She's an independent voter. She's pro-choice. Her gestational limits for example are at 14 weeks,” she said.
“I'm pro-life legislator. I’m at 15- 20 weeks. There's a lot of middle ground. I think it's important how we talk about the issues and offer solutions. We got 14 counties in South Carolina who don't have a single OB/GYBN doctor. So if we’re going to ban abortion, what are we doing to make sure that women have access to birth control?” the congresswoman said.
“How do we improve about adoption services? What about the kids at that are not wanted? What about our foster care system? What about nurses that can treat women who need OB/GYN care in those rural areas? What are we doing about birth control over the counter at pharmacies? There are a lot of things we can do to protect life and not alienate the independent voter,” she added.
Mace agreed with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) that Republicans need to clearly articulate their positions and the Democrats’ positions on abortion.
I would agree with that. I think that’s fair, but also what I saw last year in the midterm elections, I saw us lose seats that we should have won. I actually made this issue a cornerstone of my campaign. I actually had an ad about rape, talking about exceptions, because I wanted voters to know where I stood at issue. I've written op-eds. I’ve done a number of interviews.
I’ve made it very clear what my position is and rather than winning by one point, which is what I won by two years ago when I came to Congress, I ended up winning by 14 points, because I clearly articulated where I was on the issue of even though I'm pro-life, I represent a pro-choice district and I saw the tide change after Roe was overturned.
We went mildly pro-choice to being vast majority of voters being pro-choice after pro Roe v. Wade. It changed the entire electoral environment in ‘22 and I will tell you based on Senator Graham’s comments and some of the positions I’ve taken, we have not learned our lesson from the midterm election.
Mace said that Republican lawmakers should be say where they stand and articulating what being pro-life means.
They should not stay away from it. They should be vocal and articulate where exactly they stand to try to find that middle ground, because when you’re talking about rape and incest, the vast majority of people absolutely agree. When you’re talking about a 15-week ban, most people agree with that as well, and so, birth control, these are all things that women support women are watching, but instead it seems like and feels like we’re burying our heads in the stand.
And every time I stick my head out, and I take a position, I take it very publicly, Republicans will call me privately, and then I say what bill can we do, do you want to do with me, what press conference, and then there’s silence, it’s crickets, and it’s tone deaf.
We’re afraid of the issue because we’re afraid of the base? That’s not where the base is. I mean I won by primary last year, I was I would argue the only that who beat President Trump in a primary. I won it by nine point, and this has been my position all along. I have not changed who I am. I’ve stood my ground on my principles and my beliefs, and we won resoundingly.