By Vianes Rodriguez and Mireya Saenz
Democrats have been up this cycle with an aesthetically pleasing, but hard-hitting ad illustrating Rep. Mike Coffman’s past support of measures that would outlaw most forms of abortion and common forms of birth control.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s ad, “Undeniable,” uses Coffman’s handwritten responses from a 2008 questionnaire to respond to its own claims. 
Claims:
1. Coffman supported the 2008 Personhood amendment that would outlaw many forms of birth control
When Coffman ran for the CD6 in 2008 he submitted a from Colorado Right to Life, a Colorado based pro-life organization, answering “yes” to all seven questions posed from Right to Life including, “Do you support the 2008 Colorado Personhood Amendment?”
The 2008 amendment was titled , and it would have changed the Colorado state constitution by, “Defining the term ‘person’ to include any human being from the moment of fertilization as ‘person’ is used in those provisions of the Colorado constitution relating to inalienable rights, equality of justice, and due process of law.”
Fact Lab has previously on how a candidate’s support for a personhood amendment is often correlated with an attempt to outlaw common forms of birth control. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concerning personhood:
These “personhood” proposals, as acknowledged by proponents, would make condoms, natural family planning, and spermicides the only legally allowed forms of birth control. Thus, some of the most effective and reliable forms of contraception, such as oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and other forms of FDA-approved hormonal contraceptives could be banned in states that adopt “personhood” measures.”
However, it should be noted that Coffman reversed his support for a personhood amendment during his 2012 re-election bid, while remaining a staunch pro-life candidate. At The Denver Post CD6 in September, Coffman defended his decision to no longer support personhood. He argued that he backed away from supporting personhood a couple years ago because such measures are too broad, and included effects that made him uncomfortable.
This claim receives an A. This claim is true. The facts bear it out.
2. Coffman wants to outlaw a woman’s right to choose, even in cases of rape and incest
The 2008 questionnaire asked the following two questions: “Do you agree that abortion is always wrong, even when the baby’s father is a criminal (a rapist)? Will you refuse to support any legislation that would allow abortion, even if it is a pro-life bill? (i.e. legislation that says “Abortion shall be prohibited unless…” Coffman answered “yes” to both of these questions. Coffman’s critics would argue that Coffman’s answer demonstrates a belief that all abortions are wrong, regardless of the circumstances in which pregnancy occurred. However, this questionnaire is over six years old, and Coffman has since shifted his stance on permitting abortion under certain circumstances.
In 2012 Coffman stated in a Post “I am against all abortions, except when it is necessary to save the life of the mother.” In June of 2013 Coffman voted in favor of a bill in the US House, House Resolution 1797, that would limit late term abortions. However, Coffman released a on his support for exceptions to an abortion, “I strongly support the exceptions for rape, incest, and protecting the life of the mother that have been included in this legislation.”
This claim receives a D, as Coffman has since reversed his 2008 hard-line stance. The ad fails to mention Coffman’s evolution on abortion, and that he has even voted at the federal level on legislation that would provide exceptions for an abortion in cases of rape and incest. This claim is misleading because information is missing that and would change how the ad is interpreted.
We give the overall ad a C. In 2008, Coffman expressed complete agreement with the Personhood amendment. However, since then, Coffman has evolved on his stance against abortion, and has acted on this stance through his vote on the House floor.
