Trump’s Lies About Haitian Migrants Sparked IVF Vote

As their opponents grapple with a recent controversy following Donald Trump’s lackluster debate performance against Kamala Harris, Democrats are seizing the moment to widen the rift within the Republican Party.

On Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill initiated a dual messaging offensive against the GOP. This comes as the Senate is set to vote for the second time on a bill aimed at establishing federal protections for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and mandating insurance companies to provide coverage for it. This legislation had previously failed in a narrowly controlled Senate, in which Democrats hold a one-vote majority. However, this additional vote arrives as Trump seeks to deflect criticism from the Harris campaign regarding reproductive rights, marking his endorsement of the plan.

The situation is expected to exacerbate divisions among Republicans. A significant factor in this is that many staunch Christian conservatives within the party oppose IVF altogether. The push to expand insurance coverage akin to Obamacare has further unsettled these factions.

Congressman Matt Rosendale has publicly asserted his strong opposition to IVF, suggesting that the destruction of an IVF embryo equates to abortion. This stance highlights the uncomfortable position it places on more moderate Republicans, who are striving to maintain party unity.

Curiously, Senator Tom Cotton incorrectly claimed on Meet the Press that “all Republicans support IVF,” which underlines the discrepancy within the party.

Additionally, Senate Democrats along with Harris campaign officials heavily criticized their Republican counterparts on Tuesday, particularly pointing out that JD Vance chose to skip the IVF vote entirely.

“He’s a no-show,” remarked Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow during a press call. “He also wasn’t here to vote on the Child Tax Deduction despite deeming it crucial for supporting families.”

Senator Tammy Duckworth, who shared her personal experiences with having children via IVF, emphasized the essential nature of access to reproductive technologies. “I won’t remain silent while Donald Trump and JD Vance push a platform threatening IVF access. Every person in America deserves the right to parent without facing criminalization,” she declared.

In a parallel move in the House, a Democratic lawmaker held a press conference to announce a bill addressing another key issue brought to light by Trump’s campaign: the elimination of federal taxes on tipped wages. This proposal has become a centerpiece of Trump’s economic agenda as he vies for a return to the presidency.

Introduced by Congressman Steven Horsford, the bill aims to retain payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare while proposing an increase in the federal minimum wage for tipped workers, currently set at a mere $2.13 per hour. This aspect is expected to stir contention among Republicans, many of whom have historically resisted increases in the federal minimum wage.

Democrats haven’t limited their criticisms to the halls of Congress. While campaigning in key battleground states, Vance was targeted by a new advertising campaign launched by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the largest teacher’s union in the United States, which has endorsed Harris. The ads leverage Vance’s previous remarks about women without children to set the narrative against him.

AFT’s campaign will trail Vance as he canvasses in Michigan and North Carolina, utilizing digital platforms while concurrently launching a radio and television initiative in Pennsylvania, essential to Harris’s electoral ambitions.

In a statement, AFT President Randi Weingarten voiced concern, saying, “What’s wrong with these guys? We must prioritize uplifting individuals and envision a brighter future through the eyes of every child. If you care about families and children, how can you undermine the vital bond between educators and parents?”

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign shifted gears to highlight what they deemed “violent” language from Democrats following a recent assassination attempt against the former president. This attempt served as a distraction from the ongoing scrutiny Vance and others have faced regarding Trump’s inflammatory comments about Haitian migrants.

Despite being unharmed in the incident, Trump was quickly taken from his golf course after Secret Service confronted an armed suspect who had been apprehended on-site. An AK-47-type rifle was found during the encounter.

In their response, the Trump campaign accused Democrats of inciting violence through their rhetoric. This reaction comes across as somewhat contradictory given Trump’s own history of dehumanizing opponents in previous rallies, where he has utilized even harsher language aimed at his rivals. Just a fortnight ago, he labeled Harris as “the first major party nominee who fundamentally rejects freedom and embraces Marxism, communism, and fascism.”