South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s stance on medication abortion in an interview with Vice had reproductive rights advocates up in arms over the weekend, with some progressives pointing to past statements indicating the presidential hopeful has changed his tune.
Buttigieg, whose relative rise in national presidential polling has brought with it outsized media attention and scrutiny, told Vice‘s Marie Solis in a statement that the use of medication abortion needs “research into the pros and cons and unintended consequences of its use in the context of the United States.”
The mayor’s campaign did not say if Buttigieg endorses or opposes use of the medication, but that he supported the “spirit of the policy suggestion.”
That’s a mistake, reproductive rights expert Dr. Jamila Perritt said in an interview with ReWire News Friday.
“As a physician I know that when we allow medical care to be dictated by politicians, my patients suffer,” said Perritt. “Moreover, those who have difficulty accessing medical care, including abortion care, are more likely to be impacted by these policies. This includes women of color, young people, folks in rural communities, and those with low incomes.”
In a tweet Sunday, Vice reporter Solis said that her article makes clear that the mayor’s position is inconsistent with the evidence.
“Buttigieg’s stance ignores loads of research that shows medication abortion is safe and effective,” said Solis, “even when the drugs are administered outside of a traditional clinic setting.”
The mayor’s stance also appears to contradict a tweet from his own account just seven months ago.
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