Independent Republicans chide Moreno for comments about older women and abortion

Republican and independent voters are criticizing GOP U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno after he called women “kind of crazy” for making abortion policy a factor in their vote. In video obtained by WCMHMoreno told the crowd in Warren County, “(there are) a lot of suburban women who are saying, ‘Listen, this is abortion. If I can’t have an abortion in this country whenever I want, I will vote for anyone else.”

“It’s kind of crazy, by the way,” he continued, “but – especially for women over 50 – I think, ‘I don’t think this will be a problem for you.'”

“I’m 63 years old,” Tammy Krings said. “When I turned 50, I didn’t stop caring about my daughter’s body, her choices and her rights.”

Krings described herself as an independent voter and spoke Thursday with two Republicans on the sidewalk outside the Columbus Club, where Moreno was holding a fundraiser. The event was organized by Moreno’s opponent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

“I have not stopped caring about my future grandchildren and their rights,” Krings added. “Just because you’re not of childbearing age and you’re not a woman doesn’t mean it’s not important to you.”

Moreno’s comments in context

In an emailed statement, Moreno campaign spokeswoman Reagan McCarthy said: “Bernie was clearly joking with tongue in cheek when he said that Sherrod Brown and members of the left-wing media like to pretend that the only issue that matters to women voters is abortion. “

“Bernie believes,” she continued, “that women voters care about the economy, rising prices, crime and our open southern border as much as male voters, and it is disgusting that Democrats and their friends in the left-wing media continue to treat all women as if they were automatically voting on one issue on abortion.”

Still, Brown’s campaign is banking on Moreno’s comments. Just days after Ohio voters approved a reproductive rights amendment known as Issue 1 last November, state Democratic officials made clear they would make politicians’ positions on the issue a central issue in this year’s campaign.

Moreno’s team claims to support exceptions for rape, incest and maternal life, but when he ran for office in 2022, before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe, he described himself as “100% pro-life, no exceptions” He also supported the idea of ​​a national “15-week minimum limit” on abortions, but was less willing to provide it beyond an aspiration after former President Donald Trump abandoned the idea in April. Now Moreno argues that the issue should be resolved “primarily” at the state level. After a surprise ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that threatened access to in vitro treatment, Moreno dismissed the concerns as a “left-wing issue created by the media.” And Wednesday, Columbus shipment reported that Moreno claimed that the Founding Fathers would “murder you” for supporting abortion rights.

Moreno he is not the only Republican candidate trying to thread the needle on the problem of where most voters do not seem to share their position. But even within his party, Moreno’s comments sparked a backlash. Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley asked, “Are you trying to lose the election?” on social media on Tuesday.

Republicans and independents vote

“Fifty-seven percent of Ohioans voted,” Krings argued, referring to the No. 1 issue last November, “and Bernie Moreno just wants to throw that out the window.”

She insisted that politicians must “understand this task.” Their job, she said, is to follow the voters’ will, not guess it.

He thinks he knows better, she said. “We the people, it is his job to enforce what the people vote for. It’s really quite simple.”

Krings supports Brown because of his record of bringing people together, listening and striving to represent all citizens of the state, she said. In addition to Krings, Ed Dunn and Lea Maceyko also had harsh words for Moreno. Both also support Brown.

Dunn is from Beavercreek and described himself as a lifelong Republican. Like Krings, he argued that even politics does not concern him personally, which does not rule out that he may care about it.

“We just want women, including my family, friends and others, now and in the future, to have the right to make their own health care decisions,” he said. “The government or politicians should not get involved in these extremely personal matters.”

“It’s not crazy,” Dunn added. “It’s just common sense.”

Lea Maceyko is also a Republican and comes from the “small one stop town of Cardington”. She described herself as a woman in her 50s from Ohio. “I won’t say exactly how over 50 I am,” she added, “but I’m over 50.” Maceyko was a bit shocked that Moreno not only disregarded the results of the first issue, but downright disregarded them.

“(He) makes fun of people for caring about our rights and other people’s rights,” she said. “And honestly, I just don’t think it’s funny.”

“I have grandchildren, nieces, friends and other women in my life that I love and care about, and I don’t think it’s crazy that I care about their rights.” Maceyko added. “Bernie said I was crazy, but I really think he’s a little crazy for mocking the people he wants to represent.”

Follow the OCJ reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.