Rep. Seth Moulton (D., Mass.) compared funding abortion to funding the troops during an interview Thursday.
Speaking on CNN's New Day, Moulton called for Congress to repeal the Hyde Amendment. The amendment, passed in 1976, prohibits providing federal funds for abortion procedures. Asked about Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden's support for the amendment, Moulton compared Biden's view to opposing paying America's troops.
"I think he should change his position," he told CNN's Alisyn Camerota and John Berman. "I think it's wrong."
Moulton, a Marine Corps veteran, claimed the government not funding private abortions was analogous to refusing to pay the armed forces.
"It's sort of like saying, you know, I support the troops but don't want to pay them," he said.
Camerota seemed surprised by the argument, her back straightening and jaw dropping.
Earlier this week, Biden set himself apart by defending the federal funding ban. He told the American Civil Liberties Union he supported the amendment. Most Democratic candidates—like Moulton, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Rep. Tim Ryan (D., Ohio)—have called to repeal the amendment.
"The Hyde Amendment does not prevent organizations in the U.S. that provide lifesaving health care services for women from receiving the federal funding they need," Biden's campaign told Politico.
This week, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund asked the former vice president to "re-evaluate his position," calling the law "discriminatory."
The organization's executive director claimed that "[t]o support the Hyde Amendment is to block people — particularly women of color and women with low incomes — from accessing safe, legal abortion."
The military is a government-funded institution. Abortions are a privately-funded medical operation. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress powers for raising an army and navy, and "organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia military." It does not mention abortion.
"That's the analogy here," Moulton insisted.
Moulton has called for Congress to "uphold the Second Amendment," which gives private citizens the right to keep and bear arms. He has not yet expressed support for buying all Americans firearms with federal funds.