3. Backtracking on important issues
Slide 3 of 4
Social conservatives praised the platform’s language on religious freedom and opposition to gender ideology, but lamented the platform’s backsliding on two key issues: abortion and same-sex marriage.
This is the weakest pro-life language in the Republican platform since the 1970s.
“We are proud to be pro-family and pro-life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that no person shall be denied life or liberty without due process, and therefore states are free to enact laws to protect these rights,” the 2024 platform states. “Fifty-one years later, thanks to us, that power has been placed in the hands of the states and the people in a vote. We oppose late-term abortion and support mothers and policies that promote prenatal care, access to birth control and IVF (infertility treatments).”
Every Republican platform since the 1970s has supported federal protections for the unborn, often with strong pro-life language. For example, the 1984 platform stated that “the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which may not be infringed.” The new platform says this is a matter for each state.
Additionally, the 2024 platform will be the first since 1972 that does not mention “the unborn child.” The new platform also supports in vitro fertilization, a procedure opposed by many pro-lifers. IVF was not discussed in the previous platform.
Meanwhile, the 2024 platform removes the Republican Party’s opposition to same-sex marriage, an issue that first appeared in the Republican platform in 1992, where it said, “We oppose any legislation or law that would legally recognize same-sex marriage.”
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