Josh Welle, Chris Smith Spar On Topic Of Abortion

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Josh Welle, the Democrat who hopes to beat Republican Congressman Chris Smith in representing New Jersey's fourth congressional district, said this week he opposes the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Welle joins fellow New Jersey Democrat Sen. Cory Booker, who continues to fight Kavanaugh's confirmation.

“The Senate needs to stand up and protect American women and their rights. If Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed, Roe vs. Wade could be overturned and millions of women will lose access to basic healthcare independence and the right to make their own decisions,” said Welle, in a press release put out Tuesday, Sept. 5 by his campaign.

Welle also used Kavanaugh's nomination to take several firing shots at the area's longtime Republican Congressman Smith, who he is trying to unseat in the upcoming November midterms. Smith, a Catholic, has been pro-life for decades. In fact, journalists have described Smith as one of the most ardent abortion opponents on Capitol Hill today.

“My opponent, Chris Smith has been waiting for this moment his entire 38-year career in Congress," Welle said in a statement, referring to Kavanaugh's nomination. "He has spent his long political career working to deprive women of their reproductive rights."

Smith has represented New Jersey's fourth congressional district in Congress for the past 38 years; Welle hopes to knock him off his seat this fall in the pivotal and closely-watched midterms.

Congressman Smith's pro-life views are staunch and well-known: Ever year, he continually votes in support of the Hyde amendment, which prohibits federal taxpayer dollars from being used for abortion. In 2017, Smith voted in favor of a national ban on late-term abortions after five months in utero, at which point a fetus has been found to experience pain. That bill, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham and known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, passed the House, but has not yet been approved by the Senate.

Smith has also voted in full support of a bill that would require fetuses or babies that survive an abortion to receive immediate medical care.

Welle also said in a statement on Tuesday, "Representative Smith supports legislation that bans abortion, even in the case of rape or other health reasons."

But a review of Smith's voting record on the matter of abortion found that is not accurate: In 2017, Smith sponsored legislation that permanently banned federal funding for abortion for women except in cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother. Smith also voted yes on banning 'partial-birth” abortions, except if the life of the mother is at risk.

"The falsehoods about Rep. Chris Smith coming from Josh Welle tell more about him than Chris," said Mary Noonan, a spokeswoman for Smith's re-election campaign. "There are no surprises here. Voters in the district — regardless of party — know that Chris Smith is pro-life. They have always respected Smith for his honesty, his courage, and the compassion he shows toward both women and children, regardless of their own position on abortion."

"What they may be surprised to learn is how extreme Josh Welle is in his promotion of abortion," she continued. "Welle holds these extreme views during a time when parents sharing the first photo of their child share a photo of their child alive in the womb, not one taken at birth ... Chris Smith believes that the lives of both women and children — from the very beginning of life — need to be valued and protected."

Patch asked Welle's team if he supports using taxpayer dollars to fund abortion. They responded that he supports fully funding both Title X programs and Planned Parenthood.

Welle's campaign did not respond when Patch asked how he would vote on the proposed federal ban on abortion after five months.

"As a veteran, I spent years overseas fighting for equal rights for all Americans," Welle said. "My opponent and Brett Kavanaugh want to take those rights away from women."

The fourth congressional district covers nearly all of Monmouth County, including towns such as Holmdel, part of Middletown, Colts Neck, Rumson, Manalapan, Freehold, Red Bank and Wall Township. The fourth district also reaches into Jackson and Lakewood in Ocean County and Hamilton and Robbinsville in Mercer County. The district has voted for a Republican in the past four presidential elections by comfortable margins: Trump, Romney, McCain and Bush.

Despite efforts, Democrats haven't been able to unseat Smith, who has represented the area since 1981. Some speculate the 2018 midterms could be a year of change, as Democrats hope to ride a wave of anti-Trump backlash.

The election will be Nov. 6.