Putting the substance of this radical ruling aside, the practical effect of Roe has been to radicalize our politics. Had the legislative process not been prematurely aborted by the Supreme Court in 1973, it’s possible that we might have arrived at some sort of consensus regarding abortion rights by now. But Roe short-circuited that process. It also nationalized and heightened the stakes of presidential elections (not to mention Supreme Court hearings). As a result, American politics has become more nasty and apocalyptic. Every election is the most important in history.
This is not just pablum politicians spout around election time. The stakes are high, and this is a reality that covers a multitude of sins. For example, it’s entirely possible—maybe even likely—that Donald Trump would not have been elected president without the stakes raised by Roe. This is because Mitch McConnell held the seat open, guaranteeing that the winner of the 2016 presidential election would get at least one SCOTUS pick. In so doing, McConnell made it dramatically easier for social conservatives (who, for decades, had been told Supreme Court nominations were the alpha and omega) to hold their nose and rationalize pulling the lever for Trump.
A Supreme Court reversal of Roe this coming summer would only reinforce the sagaciousness of this devil’s bargain (and, in so doing, potentially help lay the runway for a potential Trump 2024 takeoff). But don’t let that stop you from supporting it. Remember, Roe arguably gave us Trump to begin with.
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