Vivek Ramaswamy signaled his belief at an event in Iowa that life begins at conception, in an apparent contradiction to his remarks several months ago in which he seemed to claim that life begins about six weeks later.
“I believe life begins at conception. I believe that unborn life is life,” Ramaswamy said at a winery in Iowa on Friday, answering a question from a self-described “abortion abolitionist” in the crowd, as reported by The Messenger.
“I came to those beliefs, actually in my teenage years at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and I hold them to this day,” Ramaswamy said.
However, a mere four months prior, during an interview on Fox News, Ramaswamy’s stance appeared somewhat different. He was questioned about his views on abortion, which he labeled as “a form of murder,” and when it should be considered illegal.
“If life ends, right, when do brainwaves end? That’s how we determine when life ends on the back end. I think we should apply consistent principle on the front end. That’s around the six-week mark that brainwaves do begin. So I think that’s the right way to think about the issue at the state level,” Ramaswamy said at that time.
This apparent shift in perspective has not gone unnoticed. Critics argue that Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old former entrepreneur, has been inconsistent in his views on several policy matters. The Ramaswamy campaign, however, defends his statements, emphasizing the nuanced nature of his beliefs.
Tricia McLaughlin, Ramaswamy’s communications director, provided clarity on his stance.
“Vivek believes life begins at conception. Vivek believes state governments should be consistent in their position: they say life ends with brain waves, then life should begin with brain waves,” McLaughlin told The Messenger. She further added that many supporters of a 6-week ban also believe life starts at conception.
“This is another case of people trying to push a narrative of him changing, when what he is saying is highly nuanced,” she added.
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