Planned Parenthood takes aim at McCain [should we wish them luck]

1 posted on 02/12/2008 5:04:09 PM PST by SJackson

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America: We work in the streets, in the states, and in Washington, DC to advance women's health.

Radio Ad: "Real Talk"

Planned Parenthood Action Fund Launches Radio Ad
Criticizing Sen. McCain’s Commitment to Overturn Roe v. Wade

Contact:
Tait Sye, 202-973-4882

February 10, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC — The Planned Parenthood Action Fund today announced the release of a radio ad educating voters about Sen. John McCain’s anti-choice voting record. Throughout his entire public career, Sen. McCain has voted consistently against women’s health, and he supports overturning the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Roe v. Wade.

“Sen. McCain believes government has the right to interfere with the most personal and often the most difficult decisions affecting a woman's health,” said Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Most Americans believe just the opposite and, as more voters realize Sen. McCain’s ardent anti-choice position, this will be an issue for him in the general election.”

As Sen. McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, his record and rhetoric on abortion will come under further scrutiny. As NPR reported last week, many Republican voters incorrectly believe that Sen. McCain supports abortion rights. However, Sen. McCain’s voting record and statements put him out of the mainstream of voters.

According to a recent Quinnipiac Poll (August 2007), 62% of voters support Roe v. Wade, with 64% of independent voters supporting Roe v. Wade. In the same poll, by a 20-point margin, voters believe abortion should be legal (57–37); among independent voters, that margin increases to 26 points (59–33).

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is launching an aggressive effort to educate voters about Sen. McCain’s anti-choice record, using Sen. McCain’s own words in the radio ad.

“We will make clear to voters that Sen. McCain is anti-choice and wants to overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Richards. “The more voters learn about Sen. McCain’s ardent anti-choice record, the more resistance he will face from the majority of voters, especially among moderate Republicans and independents, who support Roe v. Wade.”

Sen. McCain has received a zero percent rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the lowest rating in the U.S. Senate. He opposed commonsense measures to avoid unintended pregnancies and thus reduce the need for abortion. He opposed ending the “global gag rule,” an anti-family planning restriction that reduces access to contraception and abortion services and information in poorer countries.

The radio ad, called “Real Talk,” will air in the Washington, DC, media market, targeting voters going to the polls on February 12.

Script for Radio ad: “Real Talk”
:60

Announcer: Think you know which candidate for president wants to outlaw abortion and overturn Roe v. Wade?

McCain: “I do not support Roe v. Wade. It should be overturned.” [AP, 2/18/07]

Announcer: That’s John McCain, not Mike Huckabee, and those are his real views. Even though John McCain knows what’s at risk, he wants abortion to be illegal again, just like it used to be.

McCain: “I do believe that it’s very likely or possible that a Supreme Court should, could overturn Roe v. Wade.” [ABC This Week with George Stephanopoulos, 11/19/06]

Announcer: McCain’s plan to outlaw abortion threatens the lives and health of women — that’s why John McCain received a zero percent rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the lowest rating in the US Senate. When you vote, always vote pro-choice and remember John McCain’s real talk:

McCain: “I have been pro-life for all of my political career.” [NBC Meet the Press with Tim Russert, 5/13/07]

Announcer: Paid for by Planned Parenthood Action Fund; not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. www.plannedparenthoodvotes.org. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is responsible for the content of this advertisement.

###

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund exists to ensure that elected officials support policies and programs that help women and their families make responsible choices about family planning and reproductive health. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational end electoral activity including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. The Action Fund cannot accept corporate or labor union contributions.

2 posted on 02/12/2008 5:07:06 PM PST by SJackson (If 45 million children had lived, they'd be defending America, filling jobs, paying SS-Z. Miller)

McCain has continually floundered on the issue.

3 posted on 02/12/2008 5:08:08 PM PST by pissant (Time for a CONSERVATIVE party)

should we wish them luck

Sure, after all, it's only a few million children per year we're talking about here.

4 posted on 02/12/2008 5:09:22 PM PST by zipper ( Suicide voting is the quickest way to send the whole country to Hell.)

Interesting, I’m not sure the details will be important to me, but amongst the issues he’s floundered on the least, I’d have picked this one.

5 posted on 02/12/2008 5:09:49 PM PST by SJackson (If 45 million children had lived, they'd be defending America, filling jobs, paying SS-Z. Miller)

should we wish them luck

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." ;)

6 posted on 02/12/2008 5:11:08 PM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle ("John McCain is to conservatism what Cindy Sheehan is to the Miss Universe Pageant.")

The Eugenicists never go away. They have caused more trouble for the USA in the world than anything including oil wars.

7 posted on 02/12/2008 5:11:41 PM PST by RightWhale (Clam down! avoid ataque de nervosa)

The murderers of the innocents.

I say never wish them an ounce of luck

8 posted on 02/12/2008 5:11:58 PM PST by mware (Americans in arm chairs doing the work of the media.)

To: KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." ;)

Not always, while I'll live with McCain, if I considered him an enemy, I'd have two in the context of the PP statement.

9 posted on 02/12/2008 5:12:31 PM PST by SJackson (If 45 million children had lived, they'd be defending America, filling jobs, paying SS-Z. Miller)

Why would they bother?? McCain doesn’t spend any time actually DOING anything about his pro-life stance. They must just need to feel relevant by running ads to try to get abortion back in the headlines again.

Of course, the one thing that could get social conservatives to actually get interested in McCain would be for these nazis to pick a fight with McCain and allow him to actually prove that he does give a crap about the unborn.

10 posted on 02/12/2008 5:12:39 PM PST by bpjam (My party has fallen and it can't get up)

For starters, he does not support legislation to define life at conception, and he supports embryonic stem cell research, and he tried to straddle the fence on abortion by “softening” his position in the 200 race. It’s a mess, just like he has been on most issues. There seems to be no core belief other than maverickism.

11 posted on 02/12/2008 5:13:29 PM PST by pissant (Time for a CONSERVATIVE party)

If I'm not mistaken he's opposed to a pro-life amendment, in the platform since 1980.

That's something he needs to commit to keeping in the GOP platform.

It's a bit early, everyone is still enraged, but there are a number of issues, immigration and taxes come to mind, McCain needs to address in the next few months.

And as a legislative mover and shaker, he can do things in clear terms, on the floor of the Senate and with his allies in the House, to convince conservatives that he's in favor of making the temporary GWB tax cuts permanant, of closing the border, including building the fence whether GWB want's to spend the money or not, and if we're going to have a temporary worker program (we are), defining it as a TEMPORARY program with no path to citizenship. And no baby anchors.

As a prominent Senator, McCain has the ability to convince his critics through his actions.

12 posted on 02/12/2008 5:22:35 PM PST by SJackson (If 45 million children had lived, they'd be defending America, filling jobs, paying SS-Z. Miller)

Having a staunch conservative on the ticket would help, I’m sure.

13 posted on 02/12/2008 5:25:12 PM PST by pissant (Time for a CONSERVATIVE party)

I don’t know who to root for on this one.

14 posted on 02/12/2008 5:33:59 PM PST by nonliberal (Graduate: Curtis E. LeMay School of International Relations)

Why is a publicly backed private entity allowed to run adverts against politicians that don’t funnel money their way? or is this advert run by an “independant” branch of PP that doesn’t receive public funding?

15 posted on 02/12/2008 5:35:40 PM PST by Neidermeyer

On the issue, McCain.

16 posted on 02/12/2008 5:35:58 PM PST by SJackson (If 45 million children had lived, they'd be defending America, filling jobs, paying SS-Z. Miller)

I presume the Action Fund is a PAC. Or some similar organization, 527, whatever. I don't know for sure, but I'm not going to bother looking because PP probably has access to lawyers in the same way their clients have access to abortionists. Paid for by the contributions of supporters.

A bit off topic, but no offence to John McCain, who I will vote for, but you'll NEVER control the money, like water it will find a way.

17 posted on 02/12/2008 5:40:59 PM PST by SJackson (If 45 million children had lived, they'd be defending America, filling jobs, paying SS-Z. Miller)

To: SJackson; All

The ad attacks McCain’s “anti-choice” stance, noting that his “plan to outlaw abortion threatens the lives and health of women.” The 60-second spot will air in the DC area through Tuesday and adds that McCain has a “zero percent rating from Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the lowest rating in the US Senate.” The group promises an “aggressive effort” to educate voters about McCain’s pro-life record through the general election.

McCain's web page concerning abortion indicates that McCain believes that abortion is a state power issue.

McCain on abortion

To me, McCain's acknowledgment that abortion is not a federal issue is not the same as saying that McCain plans to outlaw abortion.

18 posted on 02/12/2008 5:41:44 PM PST by Amendment10

The Romney people here have been telling us that you can judge people by the enemies they have.

I guess they will all vote for McCain now.

19 posted on 02/12/2008 5:43:26 PM PST by Mr. Brightside

To me, McCain's acknowledgment that abortion is not a federal issue is not the same as saying that McCain plans to outlaw abortion.

It's not. While no President has mad an effort, if McCain is serious about the issue, he needs to state that support for a pro-life amendment will remain in the GOP platform. His personal feelings subjugated to GOP tradition established by RR

20 posted on 02/12/2008 5:53:11 PM PST by SJackson (If 45 million children had lived, they'd be defending America, filling jobs, paying SS-Z. Miller)

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