Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and Republican challenger J.D. Vance squared off in Ohio’s first general election debate, which was conducted earlier this week.
Vance, who is essentially pro-life, responded that he would support “some minimal national standard” to restrict elective mid- to late-term abortions when questioned about his thoughts on the topic.
“We’re talking about fully developed, pain-aware 5-month-old (gestational age) infants. At that point in pregnancy, no civilized nation in the world permits elective abortion. The United States shouldn’t be an exception, in my opinion” he said.
The well-known case of the 10-year-old rape victim who had to leave Ohio to seek an abortion was used by Vance to clarify that he did believe in “reasonable exceptions” to abortion legislation. Then he turned the tables on Ryan by pointing out that the alleged child rapist was an illegal alien.
“I believe the girl should be able to seek an abortion if that’s what she and her family chose to, I have said repeatedly on the record,” Vance added. “But let’s talk about that incident because it raises the question of why a 10-year-old child was raped in our state and community in the first place. Congressman Ryan and the media frequently discuss this. The fact that that young girl got raped by an illegal alien—someone that shouldn’t have been in this state in the first place—is something they never discuss. You have cast so many votes in favor of amnesty and against financing for the border wall. She would not have been raped in the first place if you, Tim, had carried out your responsibility. Do your part to secure the borders. Don’t tell me what opinions I have or don’t have,” he said.
Ryan stood there in chastened quiet, but the expression on his face said so much.
