NPR reports on how opponents of vaccine mandates co-opted 'My Body, My Choice'

It was only a couple of months ago that the congressional Pro-Choice Caucus sent out “messaging materials” with new instructions on how to argue with pro-lifers. First, they recommended replacing “choice” with “decision.” Out: “Safe, legal, and rare”; In: “Safe, legal, and accessible.” And there were no longer “unwanted” pregnancies, only “unexpected” pregnancies. None of these have caught on, and it’s easy to see why.

NPR has a piece out about how “vaccine foes” — nice choice of words there — co-opted “My body, my choice” from the pro-abortion movement. What NPR is actually talking about without saying it is opponents of vaccine mandates, but they just go with “anti-vaccine.”

Anyway, it’s a beautiful thing.

"My Body, My Choice" is no longer polling well with Democrats because of its association with the anti-vax movement

Fascinating read from @RachelHBluth on how vaccine opponents co-opted the abortion rallying cry https://t.co/hPldOf73w0

— Lexie Schapitl (@lexieschapitl) July 6, 2022

How is this fascinating? The government wants you fired if you don’t take an experimental vaccine? It’s the perfect slogan.

Rachel Bluth writes:

Celinda Lake, a Democratic strategist and pollster based in Washington, D.C., said “My Body, My Choice” is no longer polling well with Democrats because they associate it with anti-vaccination sentiment.

“What’s really unique about this is that you don’t usually see one side’s base adopting the message of the other side’s base — and succeeding,” she said. “That’s what makes this so fascinating.”

Jodi Hicks, president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, acknowledged that the appropriation of abortion rights terminology has worked against the reproductive rights movement. “In this moment, to co-opt that messaging and distract from the work that we’re doing, and using it to spread misinformation, is frustrating and it’s disappointing,” Hicks said.

She said the movement was already gravitating away from the phrase. Even where abortion is legal, she said, some women can’t “choose” to get one because of financial or other barriers. The movement is now focusing more heavily on access to health care, using catchphrases such as “Bans Off Our Bodies” and “Say Abortion,” Hicks said.