TheBlaze personality Tomi Lahren has garnered criticism from conservatives and liberals alike after announcing her pro-choice stance while on The View on Friday.
While discussing politics, show host Sunny Hostin asked Lahren about her stance on abortion.
“I’m pro-choice, and here’s why: I am a constitutional—someone that loves the constitution. I am someone that’s for limited government and so I can’t sit here and be a hypocrite and say, ‘I’m for limited government but I think that the government should decide what women do with their bodies,'” Lahren responded. “I can sit here and say that as a Republican, and I can say, you know what, so I’m for limited government, so stay out of my guns, and you can stay out of my body as well.”
Lahren’s seemingly liberal response came as a surprise to other hosts, as the conservative host had denounced the Women’s March against President Donald Trump in January and criticized Lena Dunham’s ignorant comments on how she wished she had gotten an abortion in December.
Along with feminism and abortion, Lahren is known for going in on similar liberal topics and celebrities to her 4.2 million Facebook followers, from criticizing Beyoncé and NFL athlete Colin Kaepernick, to calling the Black Lives Matter movement the new Klu Klux Klan.
Almost immediately Lahren’s comments drew ire from conservatives, who were enraged at her pro-choice stance and her insistence that thinking otherwise as a conservative is hypocritical.
It doesn’t matter if you’re prochoice or pro-life. That’s not the point about Tomi Lahren. The point is she’s not a conservative. Clearly.
— Ben Howe (@BenHowe) March 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/davis1988will/status/842852115039031298
idgaf that tomi lahren is pro choice, she's still racist, classist and musty as hell
— achala (@lizujwok) March 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/NoTrueScotist/status/842841910418989056
Tomi Lahren: "I'm pro-choice, and here's why." Conservatives: "You're not conservative, and that's why."
— The Rev. Ryan Landes (@rslandes) March 18, 2017
Tomi Lahren hates the left but continues to be a guest on all the "liberal" talk shows 🤔🤔🤔
— oatmeal rasin cookie (@JustinIsSick) March 18, 2017
I can't agree with Tomi Lahren this time. Abortion is murder, it's wrong. It's not about choice, it's about saving a life.
— Mr. Matt (@Hipzip14) March 18, 2017
wait. tomi lahren said she was pro choice and conservatives are turning against her?? i love this episode of gossip girl
— bri (@rxinyweather) March 18, 2017
Tomi Lahren is no longer a champion for conservative women. Oh wait she never was. She does not represent my values! #tomilahren
— Dr. Aubrey (@AubreyAnnJax) March 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/sierrapaoli/status/843206830050361344
Most notably, Glenn Beck, former Fox News show host and TheBlaze founder, tussled on Twitter with his network’s host after she doubled down on her stance the following day.
I have moderate, conservative, and libertarian views. I'm human. I will never apologize, to anyone, for being an independent thinker.
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 18, 2017
Thank you. Conservatives don't have to exist in a monolith and share the same brain on every issue. It's okay. https://t.co/YqzJNcaRar
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 19, 2017
Listen, I am not glorifying abortion. I don't personally advocate for it. I just don't think it's the government's place to dictate. https://t.co/qRjbAtJdo7
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 19, 2017
Funny, some of the self-appointed "conservative police" now attacking me are the same folks who hated Trump, said he wouldn't win…🤔
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 19, 2017
Rule another label out. I am NOT a "constitutional". I believe in LIFE, liberty and property. Just an old fashioned "constitutionalist."
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 17, 2017
Wait, libertarian views? Help me out on Trumpcare, stimulus, and executive orders. Trump is anything but libertarian. #intellectualhonesty https://t.co/jlt5sFvQMP
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 20, 2017
TheBlaze reporters Kate Scanlon and Kaitlyn Schallhorn responded to Lahren’s stance as well, though Lahren clarified that she didn’t see other conservatives as “hypocrites” and only spoke for herself.
There is no "my truth." There is only the truth. pic.twitter.com/dDdItnPDbp
— Kate Scanlon (@kgscanlon) March 18, 2017
Even Hillary Clinton didn't call pro-life conservatives hypocrites.
— Kaitlyn Schallhorn (@K_Schallhorn) March 18, 2017
Nah, actually I said I believe it would make me a hypocrite. I never claimed to speak for you or judge you. You do you. https://t.co/B4mfjdHUt4
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 19, 2017
I have my beliefs and you have yours. Doesn't make you right. Never said y'all have to agree with me. Get over it. https://t.co/wResXuUNet
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) March 19, 2017
According to the Daily Caller, Lahren and Beck have been at odds since she defended alt-right personality and former Breitbart writer Milo Yiannopoulos in February, and Lahren is likely on her way out from the TheBlaze as soon as her contract expires in September. Beck appeared to tweet that he’d comment on the rumors on Monday.
"Mass outings?" "Beck's changing POV". "Tomi Going to Fox". See you on Radio tomorrow. https://t.co/7ncLrnj4yY
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 20, 2017
H/T Huffington Post, Mediaite