Vice President Kamala Harris quoted the Declaration of Independence during a speech, but left out a significant detail.
While delivering remarks on abortion access in Tallahassee, Florida, over the weekend, Harris said, “We collectively believe and know, America is a promise … It is a promise of freedom and liberty.”
She added, “Not just some, but for all. A promise we made in the Declaration of Independence, that we are each endowed with the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Be clear, these rights were not bestowed upon us, they belong to us as Americans.”
Watch part of Harris’ remarks below:
Kamala Harris, while giving a speech on abortion, leaves out the right to life when quoting the Declaration of Independence. pic.twitter.com/3zAOuDY8uJ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 23, 2023
Harris quickly received criticism from users on Twitter for leaving out the right to life included in the document.
One tweet suggested, “This point is obvious but when the ‘right to life’ blows up your message so bad you have to pretend it doesn’t exist then maybe your message isn’t very good.”
This point is obvious but when the “right to life” blows up your message so bad you have to pretend it doesn’t exist then maybe your message isn’t very good. https://t.co/C0yxzDDNch
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 23, 2023
Another user tweeted, “Wow. You’d think she’d stay away from quoting it all rather than highlighting the omission. Silly me — look who we are talking about.”
Wow. You'd think she'd stay away from quoting it all rather than highlighting the omission. Silly me — look who we are talking about. https://t.co/OPch3u5bCw
— John David Soriano (@sorianojohnd) January 23, 2023
One user called it “disgraceful” that she left the detail out of the quote.
There is a reason Life is first in our founding document. It wasn’t accidental. Her leaving it out is disgraceful. https://t.co/xjqGpdLW1X
— Nicky (@heavyv63) January 23, 2023
See more reactions below:
Her handlers didn’t write it down so she of course didn’t include it. She doesn’t have any clue what the Declaration of Independence actually says https://t.co/qGGK1ij0qE
— RA224 (@224RMA) January 23, 2023
Holy shit. So ridiculous. https://t.co/Ufm877xuw4
— Black Shark Tooth (@BlackSharkTooth) January 23, 2023
Kamala Harris is cringe. https://t.co/yqFAO9lQHB
— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) January 23, 2023
— Nicholas Horton (@nhhorton) January 23, 2023
Now they’re just toying with you https://t.co/pVVIDDIhhL
— Vince Coglianese (@VinceCoglianese) January 23, 2023
The right to life is fundamental. https://t.co/UZGjyIEVWF
— Tommy Pigott (@TommyPigott) January 23, 2023
So is she rewriting the Declaration of Independence? https://t.co/OfV3f8iPoU
— Bert (@trebsnikpoh) January 23, 2023
Over the weekend, President Joe Biden issued a statement of his own commemorating the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
“Since the Supreme Court’s decision, Americans, time and time again, have made their voices heard: women should be able to make these deeply personal decisions free from political interference,” Biden said.
The statement continues, “Yet, Republicans in Congress and across the country continue to push for a national abortion ban, to criminalize doctors and nurses, and to make contraception harder to access. It’s dangerous, extreme, and out of touch.”
.@POTUS: “Today, instead of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, we are acknowledging that last year, the Supreme Court took away a constitutional right from the American people.” https://t.co/qxupNMDHbK
— Karine Jean-Pierre (@PressSec) January 22, 2023
Concluding the statement, Biden vowed to “fight to protect a woman’s right to choose. Congress must restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law – it’s the only way we can fully secure a woman’s right to choose in every state.”