Republican George Leing. (Campaign handout)
Congressional candidate George Leing, a Republican taking on U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, has denounced the “personhood amendment” on the November ballot.
“Just as many Democrats seem unwilling to oppose some of the extreme elements of their party, too many Republicans have succumbed to personhood’ advocates,” Leing said in a news release. “If Republicans, including pro-life Republicans, are to win elections statewide in Colorado, they must stand up to these efforts.”
Earlier this year, Senate candidate Cory Gardner made national news when he told The Denver Post he was , believing the measures do restrict access to birth control as critics have always maintained. Democrats are still blistering Gardner for his shift.
“This so-called personhood amendment is vague, risks unintended consequences on women’s healthcare, and hurts the pro-life cause and candidates,” Leing said, in a news release. “I do not support it.
argue it is not about personhood but protecting pregnant women from assault. it’s an attempt to find a workaround for failed personhood ballot amendments in 2008 and 2010.
“Every life is treasured and valued and instead of turning toward government to reduce the numbers of abortions letap work to support individuals facing this decision one person at a time,” Leing said. “An attempt to pass top-down, government-oriented measures will only further divide our country and do little to curb the number of abortions. We should be working to remove government from such issues rather than increase its involvement.”
In 2008, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer opposed that year’s personhood amendment. He pointed out Colorado’s three Catholic bishops also didn’t support Amendment 48.
“I think there are other strategies and tactics that get us far closer to advancing the cause of human life,” Schaffer said, in an radio interview.
Colorado’s Catholic bishops said in a statement in 2008 that that while they “admire the goals” of Amendment 48 “it does not provide a realistic opportunity for ending or even reducing abortions in Colorado.”
