Joe O’Dea can’t get away with misleading Coloradans about his stance on abortion; Michael Bennet releases a new campaign ad to tell voters the truth about where Joe O’Dea stands on the issue.
DENVER – Today, Michael Bennet released his seventh campaign ad ahead of the general election. The ad, titled, “Ban,” tells Coloradans the truth about Joe O’Dea’s record on abortion.
“Michael’s stance on abortion aligns with the majority of Coloradans – he believes the government should not interfere in a woman’s right to choose, but his opponent cannot be trusted on this issue and voters deserve to know the truth about his record on this important issue,” explains Bennet for Colorado spokesperson, Georgina Beven.
While Michael has always worked to protect reproductive freedom, his opponent has tried to mislead Colorado voters about his views on reproductive rights. The purpose of Michael’s latest campaign ad is to set the record straight and give Coloradans the truth:
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- TRUTH: In 2020, Republicans supported an initiative that sought to impose an abortion ban in Colorado, with no exceptions in cases of rape or incest.
- Colorado Politics Reported That “Republicans, Primarily, Are Driving The Issue.” Of Proposition 115. “Proposition 115 took on a new emphasis on Aug. 18, with the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a defender of abortion rights and an icon in the preservation of the 1973 landmark ruling Roe v. Wade. […] Republicans, primarily, are driving the issue. To remove any doubt, Ken Buck, the uber-conservative congressman from Windsor and chair of the Colorado Republican Party, sent out a congratulatory statement to the Due Date Too Late campaign when it submitted its petitions for the ballot in May. ‘This team completed a monumental task in the face of difficult odds and a global pandemic,’ said the candidate up for reelection in the 4th Congressional District. ‘I’m proud of their work and this vitally important mission.’” [Colorado Politics, 10/8/20]
- Colorado GOP Chair Ken Buck And Colorado GOP Vice Chair Kristi Burton Brown Endorsed Proposition 115. “Supporters of Colorado’s Proposition 115, including the group behind the initiative, Due Date Too Late, argue that 22 weeks is a ‘balanced’ and ‘reasonable’ approach to the abortion debate. ‘I think it’s the human rights issue of our lifetime,’ said Giuliana Day, an organizer of the grassroots campaign behind the initiative. It’s been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, chair of the state GOP, Vice Chair Kristi Burton Brown and others.” [Associated Press, 9/21/20]
- TRUTH: 59% of Coloradans voted against the ban, but Joe O’Dea voted for it.
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- Coloradans Rejected Proposition 115, Which Sought To Impose A Statewide Abortion Ban, With 59 Percent Of The Vote Against. “Proposition 115, which would have banned abortion after 22 weeks of gestation, has failed, according to the Associated Press. According to the ballots counted by 9:45 p.m., 59.4 percent of Colorado voters rejected the measure. […] It’s the fourth time since 2008 that voters have been asked to vote on an abortion ballot measure. Proposition 115 would have made exceptions in cases where the life of the mother is endangered, but not in cases of rape, incest or a fatal fetal diagnosis. Doctors attempting to perform an abortion after the cut-off date would face misdemeanor charges and at least a three-year suspension of their license.” [Colorado Public Radio, 11/3/20]
- Joe O’Dea Voted For A Statewide Abortion Ban In Colorado And Said “I Voted For That.” “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea believes abortions should be legal through 20 weeks of pregnancy, after which the procedure should be allowed only in cases of rape and incest or when a mother’s life is at risk, his campaign told The Colorado Sun on Friday. O’Dea announced his stance after he told The Sun on Thursday that he voted for an unsuccessful 2020 ballot measure that would have outlawed the procedure after 22 weeks of gestation, or 5.5 months. ‘I voted for that,’ O’Dea said in a brief interview after an event in Greenwood Village with U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican.” [Colorado Sun, 8/19/22]
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- TRUTH: Mitch McConnell and national Republicans said a national abortion ban is “possible” with Roe Vs. Wade overturned. Republicans only need to flip one seat this November to retake the majority and push a nationwide abortion ban.
- Mitch McConnell Said It Was “Possible” The U.S. Senate Could Take Up A National Abortion Ban If Roe V. Wade Was Overturned. “Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in an interview with USA Today that a national abortion ban is ‘possible’ if Roe v. Wade gets overturned this summer. ‘If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies — not only at the state level but at the federal level — certainly could legislate in that area,’ McConnell told USA Today when asked if a national abortion ban is ‘worthy of debate.’ ‘And if this were the final decision, that was the point that it should be resolved one way or another in the legislative process. So yeah, it’s possible,’ he concluded.” [The Hill, 5/7/22]
- Washington Post Reported That Anti-Abortion Groups And Republican Senators Had Been Discussing A National Abortion Ban Should The Supreme Court Overturn Roe V. Wade. “Leading antiabortion groups and their allies in Congress have been meeting behind the scenes to plan a national strategy that would kick in if the Supreme Court rolls back abortion rights this summer, including a push for a strict nationwide ban on the procedure if Republicans retake power in Washington. […] A group of Republican senators has discussed at multiple meetings the possibility of banning abortion at around six weeks, said Sen. James Lankford (Okla.), who was in attendance and said he would support the legislation. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) will introduce the legislation in the Senate, according to an antiabortion advocate with knowledge of the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal strategy. Ernst did not respond to a request for comment.” [Washington Post, 5/2/22]
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- Mitch McConnell put abortion bans on the Senate floor twice the last time Republicans held the majority. [S. 2311, Vote 25, 1/29/18; H.R.36, Vote 268, 9/22/15]
- TRUTH: Joe O’Dea said he would help move the pro-life movement forward.
- JOE O’DEA: “But there’s a whole lot that you and I agree on Dan, and I do want to earn your vote. I think you’ll see me help move the pro-life movement forward. And I’m going to be an advocate for adoption. If you really want to end abortion. Adoption is the answer. And you know, I’m adopted at birth. I had a brave mother that carried me to term and turn me over to two loving parents. And so we need to make that easier, in my opinion.” [630 KHOW, Dan Caplis Show, 6/18/22]
Click here to watch the full ad. Transcript pasted below.
“Ban” audio transcript:
- Bennet: “I’m Michael Bennet and I approve this message.”
- Narrator: “2020, Colorado Republicans supported an initiative to ban abortion.”
- Narrator: “With no exceptions in cases of rape or incest.”
- Narrator: “59% of Coloradans voted against it.”
- Narrator: “But not Joe O’Dea. He voted for the ban.”
- Narrator: “Now Republicans want a national abortion ban. And Joe O’Dea would give them the majority they need to pass it.”
- Joe O’Dea: “I think you’ll see me help move the pro-life movement forward.”
Narrator: “Joe O’Dea is wrong for Colorado.”
