Ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, making abortion a state-level issue, the Democratic Party and their media allies have been leveraging this topic to motivate their voters. Framing it as a matter of “women’s rights,” they have focused primarily on the right to abortion, arguably sidelining other issues like safety and the participation of biological males in women’s sports.

A recent example of this focus came from Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg during the “White Dudes for Harris” virtual campaign event, where abortion was a central topic of discussion. Buttigieg emphasized:

“I’m so glad she [Harris] has made freedom the theme of her campaign, because I think in so many ways that’s at stake. Of course, women’s freedom is Exhibit A after Donald Trump demolished the right to choose. But, of course, men are also more free in a country where we have a president who stands up for things like access to abortion care.”

He suggested that legalized abortion grants men the freedom to engage in sex without the consequence of unwanted pregnancies, allowing them to evade responsibility. Buttigieg’s office did not respond to requests for further clarification on his remarks.

Mainstream media has largely focused on GOP vice-presidential nominee JD Vance’s past comments while giving scant attention to the “White Dudes for Harris” event and Buttigieg’s statements. This selective coverage raises questions about media bias, as Buttigieg’s controversial remarks about abortion received minimal scrutiny.

Pete Buttigieg says that men are freer when abortion is legal because men can have consequence free sex and simply kill their unborn babies instead of taking responsibility for them.

But J.D. Vance is weird or something.
pic.twitter.com/4Mj24p3USK

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 30, 2024

Several prominent figures in the pro-life community have condemned Buttigieg’s comments. Andrea Trudden, Vice President of Communications and Marketing for Heartbeat International, criticized Buttigieg’s perspective, stating:

“This perspective not only undermines the value of women and their inherent dignity, but also perpetuates a culture that evades responsibility and fails to support women in their time of need. This is a stark reminder of the cultural shift that needs to happen – one where men are called to embrace their roles as responsible adults who support women and children.”

Ashley McGuire, Senior Fellow with The Catholic Association, echoed this sentiment:

“Buttigieg is just admitting what we have always known about abortion: that it empowers men to exploit women. Buttigieg’s male ‘freedom’ comes at the cost of women’s freedom. It creates a world where men are ‘free’ to use women and women are coerced into abortions they don’t want to have. That’s not authentic freedom. It’s just domination by another name.”

Carol Tobias, President of the National Right to Life Committee, emphasized the need for men to take responsibility:

“Pete Buttigieg is recklessly suggesting that legal abortion makes men ‘more free’ as they can push a woman into having an abortion in order to shun responsibility. If men are part of creating a new life, they should accept the responsibility that goes along with caring for their child and the child’s mother.”

Emily Davis, Communications Spokeswoman for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, drew from her personal experience, comparing Buttigieg’s comments to her ex-boyfriend’s pressure for an abortion, which she refused, choosing instead to give birth:

“Not only have I experienced this firsthand, but every day more women come forward to talk about how they were pressured or coerced into unwanted abortions, often by male partners. These brave women have a question for the Democrats: Where was our freedom? So far, the Democrats have no answer. Under Abortion Czar Kamala Harris, they’re too committed to pushing an all-trimester, no-limits abortion agenda.”

This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the true implications of abortion access and the societal responsibility towards women and children. The divergent views on this issue continue to fuel heated debates as the nation navigates its post-Roe v. Wade landscape.