UPDATED: 5:26 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Senator Darren Bailey may soon be on the defense after a five-year-old video resurfaced where he said the deaths during the Holocaust aren’t like the deaths caused by abortion.
Bailey made the video in 2017 when he was running for an Illinois House seat. He later won an Illinois Senate seat, and is the Republican candidate for Illinois Governor currently.
“I believe that abortion is one of the greatest atrocities of our day,” said Bailey, in the video. “I believe it’s one of the greatest atrocities, probably forever.”
The video was made as Bailey was running for a seat in the Illinois House. He later won a run for Illinois Senate. It was uncovered by “Forward,” a national Jewish newspaper. Incumbent Governor JB Pritzker is Jewish.
“The attempted extermination of the Jews of World War II, it doens’t even compare on a shadow of the life that has been lost with abortion since its legalization,” said Bailey, in the video.
The Pritzker campaign, the Midwest chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, Planned Parenthood, and even Senator Tammy Duckworth are among those already criticizing Bailey.
“Darren Bailey’s comments are despicable and deeply upsetting. Comparing the extreme horror of the Holocaust and its immeasurable loss to a woman’s right to choose is unacceptable, full stop. To conflate a woman’s freedom over her own body to the attempted extermination of the Jewish people is antisemitic, inaccurate and wrong. I urge my opponent, Kathy Salvi, to denounce Darren Bailey’s extreme and inappropriate comments, but know she’s lockstep with her Republican running mate on women’s healthcare, leaving no exception on abortion for rape or incest.” — Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
The Holocaust and abortion are not the same. These types of comments have no place in public discourse. They are deeply offensive and do an incredible disservice to the millions of Jews and other innocent victims killed by the Nazis. https://t.co/y3zmgRwaVn
— ADL Midwest (@ADLMidwest) August 1, 2022
“The Holocaust is a human tragedy without parallel. In no way was I attempting to diminish the atrocities of the Holocaust and its stain on history. I meant to emphasize the tragedy of millions of babies being lost. I support and have met with many people in the Jewish community in Illinois and look forward to continuing to work with them to make Illinois a safer and more affordable place for everyone.” — St. Sen. Darren Bailey
