Republicans and anti-abortion groups across the country have flocked to Herschel Walker’s defense despite accusations that the Republican Georgia Senate candidate paid for a woman’s abortion in 2009.
After the accusation of an alleged ex-girlfriend was the first reported in the Daily Beast, some of the nation’s most influential Republicans either echoed Walker’s abortion denial or remained deafeningly silent, in turn exposing blatant hypocrisy on the issue of law to abortion.
Walker, ostensibly a staunch anti-abortion candidate, is currently in a close race against Democratic state Sen. Raphael Warnock in hopes of winning a Senate seat in less than five weeks and regaining control of the chamber. As part of his campaign, Walker said he wanted a total ban on abortion, saying “There are no exceptions in my mind… As I say, I believe in life. I believe in life.
On Monday, a bombshell report emerged that a woman who asked not to be identified had an abortion that Walker paid for after the former couple discovered they had conceived a child.
In response, Walker denied paying for the abortion, narrative Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, “If it had happened, I would have said so, because there’s nothing to be ashamed of there. You know, people have done that, but I don’t know. And if I did, I’d be honest and talk about it, but I don’t know.
He has since doubled down on his denial, accusing Democrats of sabotaging his campaign. “I know why you are here,” he Told reporters this week after his first campaign speech since the reports appeared. “You are here because the Democrats are desperate to keep this seat here, and they are desperate to run this race around my family.”
Republicans have echoed Walker’s defense, with many saying the story is a fraudulent attack launched by Democrats. Others have gone so far as to express no interest in the veracity of the allegation as they reaffirm the priority of regaining control.
“What I am about to say is in no way a contradiction or a compromise of a principle. And please keep in mind that I’m concerned about one thing, and one thing only at this point. I don’t care that Herschel Walker paid to abort endangered baby eagles. I want control of the Senate,” said Dana Loesch, Conservative radio host and former spokesperson for the National Rifle Association.
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott has accused Democrats of launching a smear campaign. Scott, who previously said that “abortion ends a life. It is heinous and has no place in our society,” Walker defended earlier this week in a public address. statement.
As chairman of the Republican National Senate Committee, Scott wrote, “When the Democrats lose, as they are doing right now, they lie, cheat and smear their opponents… They know Herschel Walker is winning, so they have increased the machine smear.”
Former President Donald Trump, who once called himself “strongly pro-life” and said women who have abortions should Face “some form of punishment,” also came to Walker’s defense.
“Walker is being maligned and maligned by ‘fake media’ and obviously, Democrats,” Trump said on his Truth Social social media platform.
“It’s very important to our county and the great state of Georgia that Herschel walker wins this election,” he added.
Ronna McDaniel, Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), tweeted: “Georgia could decide the majority in the Senate, so desperate Democrats and liberal media have turned to anonymous sources and libel.”
McDaniel, who replied with “Life Wins!” earlier this year, when the Supreme Court struck down federal abortion protections, added, “Herschel Walker will deliver a safer and more prosperous Georgia, and the RNC will continue to invest in the Senate race.”
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham defended Walker on Twitter, saying, “[Walker] categorically denied these allegations and he will be the next senator from Georgia because people will vote for what is best for their families.
Graham last month offers a 15-week nationwide abortion ban.
The National Committee for the Right to Life, the nation’s oldest and largest national anti-abortion organization, also released a statement in support of Walker, call the report a “series of Democratic assassination attempts”.
“National Right to Life stands behind its endorsement of Herschel Walker… Herschel Walker wants to protect unborn children while Raphael Warnock wants them to die by indefinite abortion. The Democratic Party knows it can’t win on the issues, so we are once again witnessing an attempt at personality assassination, a tactic that is sadly too often encouraged by a complacent and willing media.
Susan B Anthony Pro-Life America, another anti-abortion organization, also backed Walker amid reports of saying, “Herschel Walker has denied these allegations in the strongest possible terms and we stand firmly with him.”
A prominent anti-abortion Republican, Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnellhas remained uncharacteristically calm since the news was released.
Earlier this year, McConnell expressed support for Walker’s candidacy, saying“Herschel is the only one who can unite the party, defeat Senator Warnock and help us take back the Senate. I look forward to working with Herschel in Washington to get the job done.
However, since the reports, McConnell, who has one of the strongest anti-abortion voices on Capitol Hill and has already vote for anti-abortion bills and versus the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, have yet to be publicly commented on.