Clinton schools Trump on how abortions work

"And using that kind of scare rhetoric is just terribly unfortunate."
 By 
Heather Dockray
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo

Between sexual assault allegations and painful slurs, it's been a traumatizing election season for many female voters.

During Wednesday night's presidential debate, Clinton attempted to give American women something to hope for. Responding to a question about the Supreme Court, Clinton made a powerful, emotional case for Roe v. Wade and women's right to choose.

After Wallace asked Clinton about her vote against a ban of "late-term partial birth abortions," Trump accused her of being willing to allow women to "rip the baby out of the womb . . just prior to the birth of the baby."

Partial-birth abortions is a political term, a not medical one. The procedure Trump may have been referring to, called "dilation and extraction," makes up approximately .2 percent of abortions each year, and largely do not take place in the third trimester.

Clinton clarified her position.

"And using that kind of scare rhetoric is just terribly unfortunate. You should meet with some of the women that I've met with. Women I've known over the course of my life. This is one of the worst possible choices that any woman and her family has to make. I do not believe the government should be making it. I've been to countries where governments forced women to have abortions like they did in China or force women to bear children like they used to do in Romania. I can tell you the government has no business in the decisions that women make with their families in accordance with their faith, with medical advice, and I will stand up for that right."

Across Twitter, people spoke passionately about Clinton's response and the social issue.

Clinton has been relatively silent on the sexual assault allegations levied against Trump, possibly because of the allegations made against her own husband. Forty-seven thipercent of women voters now support Clinton, compared to just 38 for Trump.

Women voters are critical to Clinton's success this election.

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Heather Dockray

Heather was the Web Trends reporter at Mashable NYC. Prior to joining Mashable, Heather wrote regularly for UPROXX and GOOD Magazine, was published in The Daily Dot and VICE, and had her work featured in Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, Mic, and Gawker. She loves small terrible dogs and responsible driving. Follow her on Twitter @wear_a_helmet.

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