Shocking Number of Voters Blame Biden for the End of Roe. I Can't Blame Them.

Biden speaks at the ”Reproductive Freedom Campaign Rally” at George Mason University on January 23, 2024, in Manassas, Virginia. Photo: Getty Images Former President Donald Trump has never been shy about taking credit for killing Roe v. Wade. And for all his laughable posturing about “compromising” on abortion, including more recently backing a bullshit “state’s rights” stance, Trump never misses an opportunity to say, point-blank, “I was able to kill Roe.” Given his own words, on top of his hand in shaping both the Supreme Court and judicial branch for years to come, you’d think there'd be little ambiguity as to who’s to blame for killing Roe. But last week, a new poll showed 17% of voters in six swing states (Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada) said they believe Biden has “a lot of responsibility” or “some responsibility” for ending the right to abortion in the U.S. Most of the surveyed voters—over 55%—said Trump has “some responsibility” or “a lot of responsibility” for overturning Roe. But it’s still fairly jarring that nearly a fifth of voters in key swing states seemingly blame Biden for the demise of abortion rights. To some working in the reproductive rights and justice space, the poll highlights an important reality that many people didn't lose access to abortion care until the current administration—and even if this is a consequence of the previous administration’s actions, some voters might make their judgments based on what they’re directly experiencing. Taren Holliman, program manager at the Abortion Fund of Ohio, is deeply familiar with the Trump administration’s attacks on abortion rights—and she also points to how President Biden’s “inaction” on the issue could shape conflicted public perceptions as to who’s at fault for the end of Roe. Holliman’s work for abortion access was difficult in the Trump era and has remained difficult under the Biden administration. “We’ve always been on our own,” she told Jezebel. She points to the "ceremonial" rallies from Biden's and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign promising to “restore Roe," as well as Biden's avoidance of saying the word "abortion." This all "can contribute" to abortion stigma, she says, and doesn't do anything to change the fact that her work at an abortion fund remains "underfunded." Biden does have a record of appointing judges and justices who support abortion rights, and he has ordered executive actions to protect access to medication abortion and guide hospitals in states that have banned abortion to provide emergency abortion care. It’s fair to debate the extent to which Biden has the power to fully address the fallout of Dobbs—but it's also fair to question how committed the president is to abortion rights or reproductive justice more broadly when he's stated on multiple occasions that he isn't "big" on abortion, and doesn't support "abortion on demand" (a stigmatizing, right-wing term for conveniently available abortion access). He's also stated that Roe itself "got it right," despite leaving large swaths of people behind. So, I can't exactly blame people for watching the fall of Roe take place during the Biden administration, then watch Biden seemingly shrug it all off, and conclude that he has "some responsibility" for the end of a fundamental right.  Holliman also points out that not enough people are able to experience the “material impact” of Biden’s guidances, and the president’s “reluctance to act with conviction” on the issue doesn’t help. “As small as it may seem,” she explained, “not saying ‘abortion’” or articulating specific action plans beyond reinstating Roe (on the off-chance that Democrats win a sizable enough majority in Congress) suggests that abortion isn't an urgent issue for Biden.    View this post on Instagram   A…