Gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez during a press conference July 2, 2014. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)
The social issues prevalent in the U.S. Senate race once again trickled into the campaign for governor Thursday, as Republican candidate Bob Beauprez faced a question about whether he respected a woman’s right to choose an abortion.
“Nobody’s taking that away — that’s a false argument,” the former congressman told the Progressive 15 conference in Denver. “That’s the law of the land. Some like me are personally pro-life, but I’m not going to deny what the law provides you.”
Democrats contend his language, or at least his tone, conflicts with Beauprez’s prior statements. In his 2006 Congressional re-election campaign, which he lost by a wide margin, Beauprez said he opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest. The only exception, he said, is when the mother’s life is endangered. He said he would sign a bill to that effect.
When the abortion question came up at the conference for Progressive 15, an organization of leaders from 15 northeastern Colorado counties, Beauprez suggested it’s a non-issue.
“I don’t want to make your choices in health care and I don’t think the conservatives do,” he told the 30 members in the audience. “The law is pretty clear.”
Asked about the question after the event, the Republican added: “The governor has very limited impact on what is really the federal law. Democrats always bring it up because they don’t want to talk about the economy or education or about transportation,” he said. “I don’t know where it is an issue in this campaign.”
Beauprez suggested the talk on the topic is coming from the U.S. Senate race, where Republican candidate Cory Gardner is .
Beauprez said he firmly opposes this year’s ballot measure in Colorado to grant legal rights to fetuses. in the criminal code and the wrongful death law.
“I’m opposed to that,” he said. “I don’t think that moves the needle forward. I am a fan of protecting what I define as innocent life, but this is not the way to do it.”
Again, Democrats suggest the Republican candidate is wiggling on his stance. Beauprez said in his 2006 campaign he supported an amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving full protection to unborn babies. But the candidate between federal and state laws, the former he supports and the latter he opposes.
