Anti-abortion movement unified in swift rebuke of Trump

NEW YORK -- Donald Trump's remark that women should be punished for getting abortions if they were banned drew swift, unified condemnation from the anti-abortion movement -- evidence of the distinctive role it plays at a time when many right-of-center constituencies are struggling with their responses to the Republican presidential front-runner.

Trump soon backtracked from Wednesday's comments, but not before anti-abortion leaders forcefully repudiated him.

"There was no time to get on the phone and compare talking points, but all the comments were consistent," said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. "The foundational premise of the pro-life movement is to protect both the mother and the unborn child. We don't leave one of them behind."

The anti-abortion movement is by no means monolithic -- there are sometimes sharp splits over political tactics and the question of whether abortion bans should make exceptions for rape and incest. But there is common ground around the belief life begins at conception and a consensus this belief takes precedence over short-term political calculations.

"The pro-life movement has a more than 40-year history of working together," said Kristi Hamrick, a spokeswoman for Americans United for Life. "There's a tremendous consensus."

Once Trump's remarks were reported, Hamrick said, "There was no need to ask each other, 'What do you think of this?' It's wrong."

Alesha Doan, a political science professor at the University of Kansas, has studied the anti-abortion movement. She said Trump's remarks undercut its strategy of voicing empathy with women considering abortion.

"It's been a very successful message, portraying women as victims," Doan said. "Trump's remark really conflicts with that strategy."