(Joshua Paladino, Headline USA) National Public Radio whined that Democrats no longer appreciate the phrase “My body, My choice” because Republicans turned the pro-abortion phrase into a slogan to oppose vaccine mandates, Twitchy reported.
“My Body, My Choice” is no longer polling well with Democrats because of its association with the anti-vax movement
Fascinating read from @RachelHBluth on how vaccine opponents co-opted the abortion rallying cry https://t.co/hPldOf73w0
— Lexie Schapitl (@lexieschapitl) July 6, 2022
Democrats tried to reshape parts of pro-abortion messaging in the months leading up to Roe v. Wade‘s demise, but conservatives helped crush the movement’s central phrase and rallying cry.
The Pro-Choice Caucus, for example, told advocates to describe abortion as a “decision,” rather than a “choice” and to change “safe, legal, and rare” into “safe, legal, and accessible.”
The word “rare” seemed inconsistent in a movement that tells women to celebrate their abortions, and “my body, my choice,” fell under its own weight when Democrats announced their support for forced medical procedures.
Celinda Lake, a Democrat strategist and pollster, said that “My Body, My Choice” no longer polls well with pro-abortion Democrats, who associate the phrase with opposition to forced COVID-19 vaccination, NPR reported.
The Pro-Choice Caucus likely updated its pro-abortion language guidelines in accordance with poll testing, too.
“What’s really unique about this is that you don’t usually see one side’s base adopting the message of the other side’s base — and succeeding,” she said. “That’s what makes this so fascinating.”
Jodi Hicks, president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said that conservatives have harmed the pro-abortion movement by taking its slogan.
“In this moment, to co-opt that messaging and distract from the work that we’re doing, and using it to spread misinformation, is frustrating and it’s disappointing,” she said.
Pro-choice Democrats now have to resort to phrases like “Bans Off Our Bodies” and “Say Abortion.”
