Rubio backs federal abortion ban, despite earlier emphasis on states

[In It to Win It]

MSNBC

One of the more glaring problems with Sen. Lindsey Graham introducing a national abortion ban yesterday was the degree to which it was at odds with his stated principles. After all, it was just five weeks ago when the South Carolina Republican boasted on CNN about how “consistent” he’s been in arguing that “states should decide the issue of abortion.”

sked specifically about a possible federal ban on abortion, Rubio added, “Well, I think that right now this issue is appropriately before the states. That’s where it should’ve always been; that’s where it is now; and I think that’s where it’ll be for the foreseeable future. ... Frankly, I think this issue is better decided at the state level.”

This isn’t ancient history. I didn’t dig up an obscure quote Rubio uttered as a college student. This was 20 days ago, and the on-air comments generated some national attention.

And yet, The Miami Herald published this report a couple of hours ago:

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio is co-sponsoring a bill that would ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks, an aide confirmed Wednesday, throwing support behind a measure that both aligns with his longstanding desire to restrict access to abortion and risks complicating his reelection bid less than two months before Election Day.