Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) responded to his former Harvard Law School constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe on Sunday after Tribe claimed that white supremacists opposed abortion over the fear it would reduce the white population.
“My old con law prof, sadly, being deeply deceptive,” Cruz replied. “Abortion targets in particular minority women.”
Cruz’s remarks were in response to Tribe’s contention that white supremacists advocate for the protection of life because “they fear it’ll reduce the number of white infants and thus contribute to what they fear as non-white ‘replacement.’”
“Never underestimate the way these issues and agendas are linked,” Tribe further warned on Twitter. “This turns ‘intersectionality’ on its head.”
Cruz, however, rebuffed Tribe’s claim and further educated the noted left-wing professor on the history of the so-called abortion rights movement in America.
“Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, was a vehement advocate of eugenics,” he explained. The Texas senator then provided an excerpt from a letter Sanger wrote in 1939. In the letter, Sanger outlines her plan to reach out to black leaders, particularly ministers, in order to help dispel any suspicion within black communities that she was, in fact, advocating for race-based eugenics.
“We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members,” the letter read.
Cruz also circulated additional background of Sanger’s infamous letter, and urged individuals to read the full context.
“In 1926, Sanger spoke at a KKK rally in [New Jersey],” the Texas senator said. “Her publications include ‘Some Moral Aspects of Eugenics’ (June 1920); ‘The Purpose of Eugenics’ (Dec 1924); ‘Birth Control [and] Positive Eugenics’ (July 1925) [and] ‘Birth Control: The True Eugenics’ (Aug 1928).”
Cruz initially stated that more than half of African-American babies are aborted, but quickly corrected himself, noting that nearly half are aborted.
“A slight correction,” Cruz said. “Although some cities (eg NYC) see over 50% abortion rates (in 2012-16 black mothers terminated 136,426 pregnancies [and] gave birth to 118,127 babies), nationally the total is just over 40%.”
“Still tragically high,” he added.
Tribe later attempted to clarify his initial statement, claiming that his remarks were misinterpreted.
“Some have misread this to stay that all those who oppose abortion are White Supremacists!” he tweeted. “Learn to read, folks!”
“I neither said nor believe any such thing,” he continued. “Some X are Y doesn’t translate to all Y are X. Duh.”
Cruz also rebuked a photograph circulating around the internet that falsely showed Sanger speaking to a crowd of hooded Ku Klux Klan members.
“This particular photo is an internet fabrication,” Cruz said. “What is TRUE is that in 1926 Sanger addressed the Women’s Auxiliary of the KKK in Silver Lake, [New Jersey] (she admits this in her autobiography).”
“Also, I’m pretty sure that guy in the front row is the guy from Ralph Northam’s yearbook,” he added, taking a dig at the embattled Virginia governor.