While the right to abortion has been codified in Connecticut law since 1990, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy warned Wednesday night how women in the state could still be at risk if Republicans impose a national ban.
鈥淚 know that doesn鈥檛 seem possible in Connecticut. But if the Republican Party platform is put into law, then no one in Connecticut is safe,鈥� the two-term Democrat said during a televised debate.
Even though he is favored to win reelection, Murphy echoed a key talking point Democratic congressional incumbents and challengers in much tighter races across the country have been using to over abortion rights. That prompted Murphy's Republican challenger, small business owner Matt Corey, to accuse Murphy of trying to scare voters.
鈥淭he state of Connecticut's law is what it is,鈥� he said, calling it 鈥渟ettled law鈥� and that he stands by the state's laws.
鈥淪o Senator Murphy wants to fear-monger in this election because that's what they do in Washington. They send fear through you," said Corey, adding how GOP leaders have said any bill that would enact a national ban on abortion would be vetoed.
But Murphy insisted that Connecticut law would be at risk if a fetus was considered a person in federal law.
鈥淚f that is indeed the law, that means that every abortion in this country would be illegal, regardless of whether you live in Connecticut, a blue state, or you live in Texas, a red state,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 fearmongering on this topic. I just think I鈥檓 reflecting what the actual Republican Party platform is.鈥�
鈥淚 want to make sure that Connecticut families and Connecticut women get to make their own health care decisions,鈥� he said.
Corey, who challenged Murphy six years ago and lost, then questioned Murphy's true support for women, criticizing him for not opposing efforts to allow transgender athletes to participate in girls' sports.
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference currently has a policy of allowing transgender girls to compete in girls high school sports.
鈥淲hen are men in this country going to start standing up for women鈥檚 rights? Why should women suffer?鈥� Corey asked. 鈥淵ou see around the country, women are trying to stand up for what they believe in. Why should we wipe out the achievements, the scholarships, records?"
Murphy said he believes the issue of transgender student athletes should be left up to individual communities and local school boards and not the federal government. He also warned of a 鈥渃ampaign of fear underway in this country鈥� to make people believe they should be scared of others with a different sexual orientation.
鈥淭here鈥檚 an epidemic of suicide and self-harm in this country amongst our gay students and transgender students," Murphy said. 鈥淎nd it often happens because they are made to feel ostracized by the communities in which they live.鈥�
Susan Haigh, The Associated Press
