By Joe Fries
Democratic PAC is challenging Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez’s stance on women’s reproductive rights in a new attack ad titled, “The Race.”
, the group adds Beauprez to the long list of Republican candidates accused of waging a “war on women.”
Although this has been a common theme in other Colorado races, it hasn’t been as prevalent in the gubernatorial race.
“The Race” begins with a group of women lining up at the starting line. The voice in the ad says, “This is the race that matters; the one that Colorado women can’t afford to lose.” The women take off, running from right to left on the screen. Coincidence?
The PAC, which is separate from the campaign of Gov. John Hickenlooper, makes two claims in the ad:
1. Beauprez would ban abortion, even in cases of rape and incest.
The ad refers the viewer to an in 2006. Beauprez said he would favor overturning Roe v. Wade, banning all abortions unless the mother’s life was at risk, even if rape or incest was the cause of the pregnancy.
Just a few days later, on the Colorado Matters radio show, . He later apologized for the statement.
throughout his political career and hasn’t budged. He has long supported the idea that life begins at conception, not at implantation as science suggests. However, he does not support “personhood” legislation.
In a 2006 debate with Bill Ritter, Beauprez was asked, “Would you support a ban on abortion with the only exception being when the mother’s life is at risk?”
Eight years later, .
The first claim made by Making Colorado Great is a fair and truthful claim. Beauprez has made it clear that he would like to ban abortion, even in cases of rape and incest, unless the mother’s life is in danger.
GRADE: A
2. Beauprez opposes funding for Planned Parenthood, denying thousands of women access to birth control and cancer screenings.
In the same 2006 , Beauprez said he would support cutting state funding for health clinics like Planned Parenthood.
The topic was readdressed in . Gov. Hickenlooper asked Beauprez, “If elected, would you reinstate the executive order that bans state dollars from organizations like Planned Parenthood?”
Beauprez responded, “If it violates what the taxpayers have said that they want government to do, not fund abortion with taxpayer dollars, that’s what I would do.”
He went on to say, “I believe ladies should have the choice of what type of birth control to use. I just don’t happen think taxpayers ought to be paying for it.”
In a recent , Beauprez claimed that the IUD is an “abortifacient,” not a form of contraception. The statement drew national criticism and triggered a rebuttal from the group he has supported defunding.
responded to Beauprez’s claim with a that included this statement:
“The fact is the IUD is not an abortifacient. These comments illustrate how little Bob Beauprez really understands about women’s health. The IUD prevents fertilization and is proven to be one of the most reliable methods to prevent pregnancy. As a trusted provider of reproductive health care in Colorado, Planned Parenthood highly recommends IUDs as a method of birth control to our patients. We agree with our colleagues from the American Academy of Pediatrics, who recently released a report finding the IUD is one of the best methods of birth control for teens.”
Between 2009 and 2013, Colorado’s teen birth rate dropped 40%. .
According to Marta Welch, Sr. Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing for , the group provided IUDs to roughly 4,000 Colorado women in the last fiscal year and over 259,000 units of contraception. PPRM screened 13,157 women for breast and cervical cancer in the same time frame.
GRADE: A
Although the group has been , Making Colorado Great hit the mark with “The Race.” The claims are true. They are clearly stated in the ad and the facts uncovered by the Fact Lab support the claims.
Overall Fact Lab Grade: A
