Vice President Kamala Harris on gun control and abortion

WHITE HOUSE

Vice President Kamala Harris was interviewed at the White House AANHIPI Forum.

In a recent interview Vice President Kamala Harris outlined what she and President Biden's positions ARE on two key issues high on the list of concerns of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders: reproductive rights and gun control.

Pollsters and Republicans like to point out that AANHPI voters are "turning right" based on recent elections driven about concerns for equity in justice and education, which translates to crime and affirmative action.

A survey by APIA Vote found that the AANHPI communities are much more complicated than those generalizations suggesting that nationally, when push comes to shove, voters from those communities will align themselves with Democrats.

“Political parties need to cease their views that Asian Americans only care about crime, or only care about education-related issues, as this is clearly not the case,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)

Another survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found about three-quarters of Asian respondents said abortion should be legal, the most of any racial group.

After the mass shootings in Atlanta, Monterey Park and Allen, Texas, targeting AANHPI, gun violence concerns have moved up among the top concerns of AANHPI communities.

During the an indepth interview at the White House AANHPI Forum held earlier this month at George Washington University, Harris talked about her Indian heritage and also discussed gun violence and reproductive rights. 

Following is the part of the interview on gun violence and reproductive rights as conducted by Poorna Jagannathan from Never Have I Ever, and Jerry Won, the Founder & CEO of Just Like Media. It has been edited for length:


MS. JAGANNATHAN: And with the, you know, Roe vs. Wade being overturned, we’re seeing unprecedented attack on the reproductive healthcare system. I was delighted to know from your team that 74 percent of Asian Americans surveyed said abortion should be legal in all or most cases. And I would love to know what is the administration doing to address those needs.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, first of all, thank you for being so courageous to tell your story. This is an issue that I think is some — is something that demands and requires all leaders to speak up. And we all need to build on the movement that started before and led to Roe v. Wade being decided. And we must pick up to move forward and get a United States Congress who has the courage and the willingness to pass legislation that would put the protections of Roe v. Wade into law at a national level. (Applause.)

And, again, I come at this being raised by a mother who — who fought for women’s health rights and fought for the dignity that women should have and deserve to have in the healthcare system, and fought against the inequities that were present there.

And so, this issue of fighting for women’s reproductive care — for me, it’s just something that is very personal in terms of just a lifelong acknowledgement and understanding about the disparities and the unfairness and the indignities that women can face in the healthcare system.

And, you know, if you compound race, if you compound language barriers, profound impacts result. And so, on this issue, let’s look at where we are.

The United States Supreme Court, the highest court in our land, just took a constitutional right, that had been recognized, from the people of America, from the women of America.

And what we then saw is: In states around our country, extremist so-called leaders started proposing and passing laws that would criminalize healthcare providers — literally laws that provide for jail time for doctors and nurses and healthcare providers; passing laws that make no exception for rape or incest.

And many of you know: A majority of my career was as a prosecutor. And as a prosecutor, I specialized in crimes of violence against women and children.

The idea that you would say to an individual who has survived an act of violence and violation to their body — to say to that person that, after that, you will also be deprived and we will take away your ability to make the next decision about what happens to your body — that’s immoral. That’s immoral.

And that’s what’s happening in our country with these people who puff and huff, and they’re so big and bad, and they beat their chests. They’re supposed to be strong; we’re supposed to just be in awe of their intelligence. And what they’re doing is absolutely unconscionable.

And, on this point, let’s also recognize that for women of color, women with immigrant background, women who may have language barriers, the impact on them is even more severe in terms of where can they go, where will they have the ability to be in a safe place to address one of the most personal issues that a person can face?

And the concern I have — and we have so many leaders here that I would ask us to all be also thoughtful about on this issue — is: There is also underlying this a centuries-old issue of judging women based on their sexuality. And so, an environment that on this issue is also intended, and certainly has the effect, of making these individuals feel embarrassed, ashamed — as though they’ve done something wrong.

And what that means in terms of compounding their sense of isolation and, in that way, suggesting to them that they are alone and that they’re not seen and that we don’t care about supporting them and their voice and their autonomy and their independence.

So there’s a lot at play on this issue. And, ultimately, I think that the way that this is going to be resolved is we have to keep voting, and we have to vote people in office who have the courage to stand up and agree that this is about foundational principles that are about freedom and liberty.

And I want to say this point also. Let us also agree and speak loudly: One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body. (Applause.)

You know, but talk about going backwards. Right?

So you look at this moment we’re in where, you know, a lot of the work that we’ve been doing as an administration — I think today demonstrated that — has been to address what we must do in terms of empowerment of communities, but also to fight against injustice. Right?

And when we think about where are we’ve been in the last few years in terms of everything from anti-Asian hate crime, to what we are looking at in terms of attacks on fundamental freedoms like those that — of a woman to make decisions and a person to make decisions about their body, to the attacks we’re seeing on voting rights, to the attacks we’re seeing on — on LGBTQ and trans folks, the attacks we’re seeing where there are literally — can you imagine, in this year of our Lord 2023, book bans? I mean, really, likes — like, what? Book bans.

And what we’re seeing in terms of — in places like Florida, where, literally, teachers who have a — who are in a same-sex relationship and have a spouse and a family are afraid to have photographs of their family in their classroom for fear that it will then evoke a conversation with a student that is basically — this — these so-called leaders are saying “should not be happening in that classroom.”

Talk about these — there are attempts that are happening right before our eyes to roll back all of the hard-won freedoms that we have collectively fought for.

And this is a time for everyone to stand and to speak out and be very active. You know, there’s an old poem about, “They’ll go for, they’ll go for, they’ll go for, and then they’ll come for you. And who will be left?” That’s the moment we’re at right now, and that’s why it’s so important that we renew, always, our commitment to the coalition and to standing together and saying no one should be made to fight alone. (Applause.)

MR. WON: Thank you so much. You know, speaking of coalition’s and allyship, our community have felt that very strongly over the last three or four years as attacks, racist attacks, hate crimes, and even murder against people who look like us in this room have risen. And gun violence is something that we continue to deal with. Can you address what you and President Biden and the rest of the administration are doing to address the continued attacks on our community, particularly with gun violence?


THE VICE PRESIDENT: So we are seeing a rise in hate crimes, period. Right? I mean, my husband — the first Second Gentleman of the United States of America — (applause) — has been doing a lot of work fighting against antisemitism. And so we are seeing, you know, a rise of that. A horrendous rise in in Asian hate crime, where grandmothers are afraid to go to the store, and — and their families are afraid for them to go to the store, which is part of their routine and their social — right? — traditions.

We’re seeing the marginalization. We’re seeing the bullying. We’re seeing a tenor where — where one should be praised for their so-called strength, but they evidence their strength and it’s measured based on who they beat down when, in fact, I think we all agree you measure strength based on who you lift up. Right?

And so there’s a lot of work that we have to do against this moment of this tone and this approach to what does strength look like, what does leadership look like?

And in that regard, on the issue of gun violence then, there are a number of specific things that have to happen.

In terms of to your question — what our administration has done under President Joe Biden — we have passed smart gun safety legislation for the first time in 30 years that moves the ball forward. (Applause.)

But we’ve got more to do. We have more to do. We should have a national ban on assault weapons. These are designed — (applause) — these are weapons of war. There are weapons of war that have no place in the streets of a civil society.

We should have red-flag laws. We should have background checks.

Why should we have background checks? Well, because you might want to know if someone has been found to be a danger to themselves or others before you let them buy a gun. (Applause.) It’s just reasonable.

And we have — and we cannot be seduced into — into perpetuating this false choice that suggests that you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want reasonable gun safety laws. It’s a false choice.

I support the Second Amendment. I also want to see an assault weapons ban. I also want to see universal background checks. I want to see red-flag laws. I want to see that our babies are not sitting in a classroom where they should be able to learn how to read and write and explore their ideas about what the future of the country can hold, but instead they’re sitting there also being taught how to hide in the closet and be quiet if there’s an active shooter in their classroom. That’s what’s happening.

I grew up in California where — you know, I’m going to date myself, but when I grew up, you know, the only thing we had to learn was, you know, ducking under a table if there’s an earthquake. Right?

Now our children are literally afraid.

I have talked to kids who say, “I like this class and I like this, but I don’t like going to fifth period.” “Why don’t you like when a fifth period?” “Because in that classroom there’s no closet.”

So there is so much about this issue that is about saving lives in — on every level. And we need people to have the courage to act, and that is the one thing that is lacking in this United States Congress and in legislatures around the country. And again, we have to step up and we have to demand action. Lives are at stake. (Applause.)

FYI: For the entire interview at the White House AANHPI Forum, click here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.

Texas abortion ban puts health and safety of Asian American and Pacific Islander women at risk

In the dead of night Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a petition to block enforcement of the most restrictive and punitive abortion ban in the nation.

The Texas law, or SB8, took effect on September 1, after the Justice voted 5-4 to not act on the challenge.  Chief Justice John Roberts joined the three liberals in dissent.  

The new law bans all abortions after six weeks when most women don’t even know they are pregnant. The law gives private citizens the right to sue anyone who helps someone get access to an abortion in Texas, not just health care providers, but neighbors, family members, and even strangers.

“This law disproportionately impacts communities of color, especially black communities in Texas. It also impacts Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs)," said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director at the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF).

Choimorrow was not alone in her assessement. President Biden called the law that bans any abortion after six weeks an "unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional rights."

"Complete strangers will now be empowered to inject themselves in the most private and personal health decisions faced by women," said Biden in a statement. "This law is so extreme it does not even allow for exceptions in the case of rape or incest. And it not only empowers complete strangers to inject themselves into the most private of decisions made by a woman—it actually incentivizes them to do so with the prospect of $10,000 if they win their case."

Biden said in his statement he was directing the office of the White House counsel and his Gender Policy Council to review how the government could "ensure that women in Texas have access to safe and legal abortions... and what legal tools we have to insulate women and providers from the impact of Texas’ bizarre scheme of outsourced enforcement to private parties.

"During a time of increasing anti-Asian American hate and harassment, particularly against Asian American and Pacific Islander women, the Texas law creates fear and confusion by intimidating people out of getting the abortion care they need,” said  Choimorrow, 

“It further stigmatizes abortion in our community and puts abortion care out of reach for those who are unable or don’t have the wherewithal to travel out of state. This is especially dreadful for undocumented community members who may not have health insurance or depend on in-language support.”

There are approximately 1.5 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders living in Texas. Of this, 12% lack health insurance and 11% live in poverty. According to research from AAPI Data, as of 2017, 17% or nearly 150,000 AAPIs living in Texas are undocumented. The most common countries of origin for AAPI undocumented individuals in Texas are India, China, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam.

“Asian American and Pacific Islander women are angry and tired of the long-standing efforts to restrict reproductive and abortion access,” said Choimorrow. “NAPAWF will continue fighting until all AAPI women have complete access to the health care they need.”

In her scathing dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor minced no words  saying the court's failure to stop the bill is "stunning" and that it "rewards tactics designed to avoid judicial review."

"Presented with an application to enjoin a flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights and evade judicial scrutiny," Sotomayor continued, "a majority of Justices have opted to bury their heads in the sand."

Under the Texas law, private citizens will be able to file civil lawsuits against abortion providers or anyone who helps or advises women get an abortion, including those who escort a woman to a clinic or help her pay for the procedure. If a plaintiff is successful in such a suit, they are entitled to at least $10,000, according to the bill.

In effect, Sotomayor wrote, "The Texas State Legislature has deputized the state's citizens as bounty hunters, offering them cash prizes for civilly prosecuting their neighbors' medical procedures,"

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more commentary and references, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed.

Planned Parenthood clinic in Missouri wins a temporary repreive

SCREEN CAPTURE / MSNBC

Dr. Leana Wen is CEO and President of Planned Parenthood.

Missouri’s lone Planned Parenthood clinic will remain open for now after a judge on Monday (June 10) blocked state officials from closing it because of an alleged licensing violations.

Monday's "decision is a clear victory for our patients - and for people across Missouri - but the threat to safe, legal abortion in the state of Missouri and beyond is far from over," said Dr. Leana Wen, the president of Planned Parenthood, in a written statement. "We've seen just how closely anti-health politicians came to ending abortion care for an entire state. We are in a state of emergency for women's health in America."Judge Michael Stelzer's ruling kept Missouri from becoming the first state without a healthcare facility able to perform abortions since the Supreme Court legalized the procedure nationwide in 1973. e to perform the procedure was set to lapse.

Stelzer wrote that Planned Parenthood's license would remain in effect for now, and directed Missouri health officials to make a decision about renewing the organization's license by June 21.

This is the third time Stelzer has ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood in this case. Last Tuesday, the judge sided with the clinic in one of the central issues of the dispute and agreed that medical staff at the clinic who were not employed by Planned Parenthood should not be forced to submit to questioning from the state. On May 31, the judge granted the clinic its first temporary injunction, allowing the clinic to keep its license the day it was set to expire. 

Planned Parenthood officials in their lawsuit against the threatened closure said the state was unlawfully conditioning a routine license decision on a vague investigation, and accused state officials of orchestrating a politically motivated probe to stamp out abortion. Missouri lawmakers in May banned most abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy, joining a group of conservative-led of states enacting early abortion bans.

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Missouri judge issues temporary restraining order to keep Planned Parenthood clinic open

SCREEN CAPTURE / CBS

Dr. Leana Wen, CEO of Planned Parenthood, was interviewed on CBS.

A judge delivered a ruling Friday (May 31) ensuring Missouri's only Planned Parenthood clinic can continue providing abortions, acting just hours before the St Louis clinic's licence was supposed to expire.

"Today is a victory for women across Missouri, but this fight is far from over," Planned Parenthood Federation of America CEO Dr. Leana Wen said in a statement. "We have seen just how vulnerable access to abortion care is here - and in the rest of the country."

On Friday afternoon St. Louis circuit judge Michael Stelzer said "a temporary restraining order is necessary to preserve the status quo and prevent irreparable injury" to Planned Parenthood, which had "demonstrated that Immediate and irreparable injury will result" if the clinic's license expired.

The reprieve is just temporary, though. Planned Parenthood must return to court June 4 when the court will hear arguments for a temporary injunction based on a suit filed by Planned Parenthood against the state.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services had said it would not renew the clinic's licence, citing concerns with "failed abortions", compromised patient safety and legal violations at the clinic. Agency officials also insisted upon interviewing additional physicians at the clinic as part of an investigation.

"Following today's ruling, the State will soon have the opportunity for a prompt legal review of our state health regulators' serious health and safety concerns regarding Planned Parenthood's abortion facility in St. Louis," said Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement Friday afternoon. "We are committed to and take seriously our duty to ensure that all health facilities in Missouri follow the law, abide by regulations, and protect the safety of patients."

The fight over the clinic's licence comes as politicians in conservative states across the nation are passing new restrictions that take aim at Roe v Wade.

Abortion rights opponents, emboldened by new conservative justices on the Supreme Court, are hoping federal courts will uphold laws that prohibit abortions before a fetus is viable outside the womb, the dividing line the high court established in Roe v Wade.

Louisiana, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Ohio have enacted bills barring abortion once there's a detectable fetal heartbeat, as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. Missouri politicians recently approved an eight-week ban on abortion. Alabama's gone even further, outlawing virtually all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest. None of the bans has taken effect, and all are expected to face legal challenges.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research and policy organisation, 27 abortion bans have been enacted across 12 states so far in 2019.

Additionally, the organisation reported that between January 1 and May 31, 479 abortion restrictions were enacted in 33 states, accounting for more than a third of the 1,271 abortion restrictions enacted since the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that legalised abortion.

"We hope that the court will see exactly what's happening, which is that over the last 10 years the state of Missouri has imposed regulation upon regulation that has no basis in medicine," Wen said. "We've complied with all of them because we want to keep our health center open. These are things like making our hallways extra wide, forcing women to wait 72 hours — even having unnecessary, invasive pelvic exams.

Wen called some of the measures requested by the state "traumatizing for women," especially those who have suffered sexual abuse. She said that staff at the St. Louis clinic have "seen this coming for years."

"Because they've been on the front lines of having all these requirements imposed upon them that they've had to meet. And now this is coming. This is a warning to everyone in the country that this is not a drill," she said on CBS' Morning Show.

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AAPI women speak out for women's right to healthcare choices

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) last week signed a bill banning abortion at eight weeks. In addition, the state's only abortion clinic could be closed by the end of the week because the state is threatening to not renew its license. Laws introduced by Missouri, Indiana and Georgia drew strong reaction from AAPI women.

“What they are doing is to weaponize the inspection process and to politicize it,” said Dr. Leana  Wen, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood, noting requirements that have been placed on abortion clinics such as wider hallways and required pelvic exams.

“All of these regulations have only one purpose, which is to shut down the ability of health centers to provide safe, legal abortions, which is not going to stop abortion, but it will stop safe, legal abortions,” Wen added while appearing Wednesday on "CBS This Morning."

Planned Parenthood is suing to keep providing abortions at that clinic, A judge is expected to announce his ruling today (May 30).

"We hope that the court will see exactly what's happening, which is that over the last 10 years the state of Missouri has imposed regulation upon regulation that has no basis in medicine," Wen said. "We've complied with all of them because we want to keep our health center open. These are things like making our hallways extra wide, forcing women to wait 72 hours — even having unnecessary, invasive pelvic exams."

At a press conference Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said Planned Parenthood’s license would be renewed if the clinic resolved “deficiencies” uncovered by state investigators by Friday, adding that the organization was aware of the renewal deadline months in advance.

“This is not…a pro-life issue at all. This is about a standard of care,

Planned Parenthood's legal action comes as a series of states have passed laws to restrict abortion rights.

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow issued the following statement:

“On the heels of Georgia and Alabama, Missouri politicians have chosen yet again to attack our agency to make decisions about our lives by introducing legislation that would ban abortion after 8 weeks and so-called “sex-selective abortions.” 

Sex-selective abortion bans target Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women in particular by promoting dangerous, false racial stereotypes: proponents of the bill misleadingly claim, using overt racism, that these bans on abortions are necessary to prevent AAPI pregnant people from propagating “backwards” cultural preferences for male babies. A study completed in 2014 found that Asian Americans in the United States are actually giving birth to more girls on average than white Americans are.

“Make no mistake: these bans do not promote gender equity, and instead do the extreme opposite, limiting the ability of AAPIs to make crucial decisions with regard to our own health and well-being. Anti-abortion legislators cannot be allowed to hide behind the mantle of “saving” women of color to advance racist, sexist legislation that impedes the rights of all women.

“Abortion will remain legal in Missouri until this ban goes into effect, unless the courts do the right thing and act to stop this racist, sexist policy in its tracks. We refuse to allow our communities to be scapegoated so that politicians can continue to trample our agency and dignity, and AAPI women will continue to resist and powerfully oppose bans like these with even more intensity, persistence, and resolve.”

Missouri's actions is just the latest attempt of some states to severely limit access to clinics like Planned Parenthoodd that offers abortion as one of its healthcare services.

In various states whose state legislatures are controlled by Republicans, conservative lawmakers are trying to eliminate funding for family planning or block Planned Parenthood's participation in public health programs. While state attacks on Planned Parenthood patients vary, the outcome would be the same: women's ability to receive basic health care -— including cancer screenings, well-woman exams, and birth control — from their trusted health care provider would be severely undermined.

In a decision Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied petition for review of an Indiana law banning abortion on the basis of sex, race, or disability of the fetus. 

The federal appeals court for the Seventh Circuit found the law to be unconstitutional, and Indiana appealed  that decision to the Supreme Court. Because the Supreme Court has denied Indiana’s petition, the appeals court’s decision stands, and the law remains unconstitutional. In its opinion, the Supreme Court explained that it was not ruling on the constitutionality of these types of abortion bans and was denying the petition because no other federal appeals court other than the Seventh Circuit has considered this issue. 

The normally reticent Justice Clarence Thomas issued a 20-page opinion on the case indicating how he would vote if ever a challenge to Roe v. Wade were to reach the High Court. Part of his statement, which was riddled with half-truths and many of his assertions were without evidence, raised the spectre of a stereotiype about some Asian countries and he made no distinction between those countries and Asian Americans.

"Thomas points to data on “widespread sex-selective abortions” in Asia and asserts that “recent evidence suggests that sex-selective abortions of girls are common among certain populations in the United States as well,” said Choimorrow in a statement. The racist myth being perpetuated by the states limited access to abortion is that families from these ethnic groups prefer sons over daughters.

“Thomas’ statements promote dangerous, false stereotypes about AAPI women, perpetuating ludicrous claims that these bans are necessary to prevent AAPI pregnant people, particularly Asian immigrants, who they claim have 'backwards' cultural values preferring male babies, from having sex-selective abortions," continued Choimorrow. "In truth, a study completed in 2014 found that Asian Americans are actually giving birth to more girls on average than their white American counterparts.

“Using overt racism and xenophobia, these bans send the dangerous message that AAPIs cannot be trusted to make our own reproductive decisions .... Indiana’s ban was deeply concerning to our communities because the only two women who have ever been criminally prosecuted by the state for their pregnancy outcomes have been AAPI."

In fact, analysis from the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum has shown that foreign-born Chinese American, Korean American, and Indian American women are having more daughters than white American women, on average.

PADMA LAKSHIMI

Support for women's right to make their own healthcare decisions is strong among Asian-American women, even as it has recently waned in the American population at large. The National Asian Women’s Health Organization found that nearly 70 percent of Asian-American women back the decision to abort; 90 percent support it in cases of rape or incest.

As support for abortion has risen, so has the rate at which Asian-American women undergo the procedure. In 2000, about 35 percent of Asian-American pregnancies ended in abortion, the second highest rate for all racial and ethnic groups behind blacks, and almost double the 18 percent rate for whites. 

As the debate over the right for women to make decisions about their healthcare, several AAPI celebrities have come forth to speak out.

Spurred by Trump's appointment of conservative activist judges, including his two appointments to the Supreme Court, states with conservative legislatures and governors have passed laws that will likely be challenged in the courts. Their hope is that if enough of these cases are appealed to the Supreme Court that Roe v. Wade would be overturned. 

Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia to ban abortion once a heartbeat is detected, which can occur in the sixth week of pregnancy.

Padma Lakshimi, in addition to hosting the Top Chef television show, has been an outspoken social activist.

Georgia imposed the most extreme version of the law, meaning women who get the procedure could face the death penalty.

Jameela Jamil, costar in The Good Place, tweetd about her own abortion following the introduction of Georgia's ban on Monday.

She revealed: "I had an abortion when I was young, and it was the best decision I have ever made.

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Kaine, Pence, Quijano and Purvi Patel, the woman arrested under Indiana's 'feticide' law

Sen. Tim Kaine, left, and Gov. Mike Pence

I WONDER if Purvi Patel was watching the debate between the vice presidential candidates Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

It's too bad that Patel wasn't brought up by moderator Elaine Quijano, the first Asian/American to moderate a major debate at the presidential ticket level.

Even if she did, the candidates might not even hear her because of their tendency not to listen to her. The way she was treated by the two white men demonstrated a lack of respect for the Asian/American woman. Both men interrupted Quijano 26 times and often speaking over and ignoring her attempts to rein them in.

Women know what Quijano was going through. Oftentimes, in business meetings usually dominated by men, women are ignored or not heard or not given a chance to speak.

Unlike the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, women became a topic of discussion - even if it was inadvertent. But it took a woman to lead the two men to start talking about women and issues affecting women.

Elaine Quijano moderate the vice presidential debate.

Although Kaine has been criticized by some for being too aggressive and talking over Pence's response, Kaine's comments had more substance. If you can read the debate without the visuals of an animated Kaine attacking Pence, you can see he gave some really meaty responses. Towards the end of the debate, when the subject turned towards abortion, Kaine asked his Republican opponent, "Governor, why can’t you trust women to make this choice for themselves?

“Why don’t you trust women? Why doesn’t Donald Trump trust women to make this choice for themselves?” asked Kaine.

Finally, Kaine, a practicing Catholic, gave one of the best responses on how he can reconcile his religious beliefs with a woman's right to choose.

"That’s what we ought to be doing in public life: Living our lives of faith, our motivation, with enthusiasm and excitement, convincing each other, dialoguing with each other on important moral issues of the day," said Kaine. "But on fundamental issues of morality, we should let women make their own decisions."

“Donald Trump and I would never support legislation against women who make the heartbreaking choice to end a pregnancy,” said Pence in the closing moments of the debate. 

Yet, that's exactly what he did as Indiana's governor. Under his watch, Indiana became the first state in the nation to convict of woman of feticide for self-inducing an abortion.

Purvi Patel

In July 2013, Purvi Patel sought help at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana for heavy vaginal bleeding. At first, Patel did not tell medical staff that she had been pregnant, but she later informed doctors that she had had a miscarriage at home. There is no dispute that Patel ordered drugs online to induce an abortion, but it was disputed whether Patel actually delivered a live baby. Also disputed was whether Patel knew the gestational age of the fetus. Evidence at trial showed that Patel believed she was only around 12 weeks pregnant. In 2015, a jury convicted her of feticide and neglect of a dependent.

But the Court of Appeals disagreed, ruling that the intention of the feticide law was to prosecute third party actors who attack pregnant women, not women who self-induce abortion, and thus did not apply to Patel’s case. This ruling provided a legal precedent against the use of feticide laws to punish women who have abortions, women who are suspected of having abortions, and women who miscarry. The state declined to appeal the case to the Indiana Supreme Court.

Patel is the first woman in the country to have been convicted of feticide for self-inducing an abortion.

Just last month on Sept. 1, the charges against Patel were dropped after spending a year behind bars, and she was spared a 20-year prison sentence. The case demonstrates the dangers that women face under Gov. Pence’s rule.

Although Pence did not sign the law under which Patel was convicted, neither has he used his power to change it. In fact, pro-abortion rights activists have pleaded with Pence to clarify the law so it can’t be used in the future to punish other women. So far, Pence has refused.

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