Laura Bush — who outed herself as pro-abortion rights and marriage equality in 2010 — told CNN’s Erin Burnett that she didn’t think the GOP’s stands on social issues were a “mistake” in the 2012 election, but “there were obvious examples of candidates that I think frightened some women.”
She went on to say, “But they were the exception rather than the norm.”
Likely the former First Lady was referencing Senate candidates Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock, whose pained defenses of opposing abortion even in cases of rape cost them their elections.
However, Akin and Mourdock’s beliefs on abortion are, in fact, the GOP “norm.” The Republican Party platform bans abortion in all cases — the same stand taken by Paul Ryan, the 2012 GOP vice-presidential nominee and a frontrunner for the 2016 presidential nomination.