Ted Cruz confronted by mother of disabled girl over bill to limit abortion

Exclusive: The Texas senator was campaigning ahead of a crucial primary in Indiana

Andrea DeBruler had thought long and hard about what she wanted to say. And when the opportunity came to ask her question, she did not let it pass.

Why, she wanted to know, did Senator Ted Cruz and Governor Mike Pence believe they had the right to tell a woman whether or not she could get an abortion. Why, specifically, did they support Indiana House Bill 1337, a law that prevents a doctor performing an abortion that was sought because a foetus was diagnosed with Down syndrome or another disability?

"I'm not here as a Republican, I'm not here as a Democrat. I'm here as a woman, a woman with choices, choices that you guys should not make," she said.

Mr Cruz, campaigning in the city of Marion on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s Indiana primary, appeared stumped. He told Ms DeBruler he was not aware of the bill. Why then, she shot back, was he campaigning in the company of Mr Pence, who sparked widespread controversy when he signed the bill into law in March.

Ms DeBruler's daughter, Jania, was born with cerebral palsy (Andrew Buncombe ) (Andrew Buncombe)

“It’s a pro-life bill, it means you can no longer have an abortion based on deformity,” Ms DeBruler told The Independent. “I’m against this law because I think it should be a woman’s choice, it should be the family’s choice.”

The 41-year-old nurse said she felt passionately about this issue. Eighteen years ago she gave birth to a daughter, Jania, who was born with cerebral palsy. She said she had made the decision to have her daughter; she said other woman should be able to make their own choices too.

“I fight every day to keep my daughter in school because they want to throw her out,” she said.

Ms DeBruler said the town of Marion was suffering in many ways - from depopulation, from unemployment, and from a lack of hope. “We have a significant drug problem and crime. And yet they come up here start smiling,” she added. “I want to know what they’re going to do for this city, but they’re just going to slide out the side door.”

Mr Cruz, a devout Christian, has been working to reach out to Indiana’s social conservatives as he seeks to halt Donald Trump from securing the Republican nomination. Last week, he earned the endorsement of Mr Pence, who sparked outcry when he signed the bill. Yet, despite the criticism he faced, Mr Pence said he was proud to have signed the legislation.

Governor Pence and Senator Cruz have been campaigning ahead of Tuesday's primary (Reuters)

“HB1337 will ensure the dignified final treatment of the unborn and prohibits abortions that are based only on the unborn child's sex, race, colour, national origin, ancestry, or disability, including Down syndrome,” he said in a statement at the time.

“Some of my most precious moments as governor have been with families of children with disabilities, especially those raising children with Down syndrome.”

Among those to criticise Mr Pence’s actions was Bernie Sanders, who is also battling in Indiana and trying to beat Hillary Clinton. “The decision to have an abortion is for a woman to make, not the Governor of Indiana,” he said on social media.

Ms DeBruler said she was going to vote not for Mr Sanders for Hillary Clinton and she said she reckoned she was the only Democrat who had attended Mr Cruz’s rally at The Mill restaurant. She said she believed Ms Clinton had the policies that would help the country’s economy.

“Did Bill get caught up in some stuff - sure he did, they’re politicians,” she added.

Ms DeBruler waited until Mr Cruz and Mr Pence left the rally to ask her question. Mr Pence said he would take her details and ensure she got received more help for her daughter. He looked at the picture Ms DeBruler held up of the teenager and said “God bless her”.

Mr Pence initially sought not to answer question as to why he believed it was a politician’s right - and not that of the mother - to decide whether or not to have an abortion. Eventually, he replied: “I’m pro-life.”