Wow:
http://www.denverpost.com/...
Much like the U.S. Senate race in Colorado, abortion became the focal point in the race for governor after the Republican candidate took a contentious stance on a popular birth control method.
Wednesday's discussion came a day after Bob Beauprez suggested that intrauterine devices, known as IUDs, cause abortions.
"IUD is an abortifacient," he said at The Denver Post's gubernatorial debate Tuesday, labeling the contraceptive as a drug that causes abortions.
The remark once again injected abortion politics into a campaign season in which women hold the key to the election and anti-abortion activists are pushing a so-called personhood ballot initiative.
Beauprez drew a rebuke from experts in the medical community who called his assertion false, while Democrats and like-minded women's rights organizations suggested it showed the candidate is out of touch.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and 10 other physician organizations, as well as the Federal Drug Administration, define IUDs as contraceptives that prevent a pregnancy. An abortifacient ends a pregnancy after it has occurred.
Dr. Daniel Grossman, an ob/gyn who does reproductive research and who practices in San Francisco, said the definition of a pregnancy as the implantation of a fertilized egg is an established scientific standard. He said IUDs are not abortifacient.
"I would say in mainstream medicine, this is really not a debate," Grossman said. - Denver Post, 10/1/14
Here's the exchange between Beauprez and Governor John Hickenlooper (D. CO):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Beauprez made the comments after Hickenlooper asked Beauprez if he'd use public money for contraceptives to reduce abortions and teen pregnancies.
"I have no problem with people using contraception," Beauprez said. "I have a big problem, and here again is a debate, I have a big problem with publicly funding contraceptions that are actually abortifacients, because our citizens have said over and over again that they don't want taxpayer funding of abortions. So, the devil might be in the details, but I think it's an extremely important distinction to draw in understanding to respect both the taxpayers' will and the technology you referred to. Did I answer your question?"
"We're talking about implants and IUDs," replied Hickenlooper. "I don't think they fit that--"
"[An] IUD is an abortifacient, John," said Beauprez, gesturing with his hands.
"Abortifaciant" is a word for a chemical that induces an abortion.
After the debate, Beauprez told The Denver Post: "Do you understand how IUDs work? The egg is fertilized and never allowed to impact. That's why people who consider that life begins at conception believe (IUDs) are an abortifacient."
"These comments illustrate how little Bob Beauprez really understands about women's health," said Cathy Alderman of Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado, in a news release issued after the debate. "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."
After the debate, the Yes on 67 Campaign, which is backing a "personhood" amendment on the November ballot in Colorado, tweeted, "Great to see a candidate for governor come out against abortion-causing IUDs. Thanks, @bobbeauprez." - Huffington Post, 10/2/14
Timing is everything because when Beauprez made those remarks, this sexist ad came out supporting his campaign:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/...
Leave it to college kids to come up with the oddest attack video of Colorado’s campaign season. The College Republican National Committee compares GOP gubernatorial nominee Bob Beauprez, the tough-talking bison rancher, to a fancy wedding dress in a video released Wednesday.
The 60-second spot is being adapted for various races in 16 states playing off the TLC reality TV show “Say Yes to the Dress,” which chronicles the angst of brides-to-be. In the videos posted on Youtube, a betrothed young woman named Brittany, aka “Undecided Voter,” wants to wear “The Bob Beauprez,” a stylish, strapless number — I’m guessing but I doubt the makers of this video ever met Bob Beauprez, who’s way more cowboy than couture — while her mother, Gloria, prefers “The John Hickenlooper,” a frumpy thing the daughter reacts to with horror.
Then the ad gets inaccurate, starting with mispronouncing Beauprez’s name (it’s BOW-pray, not BOO-pray, kids). “The John Hickenlooper” is said to come with additional costs: a bad economy, lower educational standards and a billion-dollar tax hike.
“But I’ll be paying this off the rest of my life!” Brittany exclaims.
Relax, Brittany.
Amendment 66, the $950 million increase to fund K-12 education repaid with a sales tax increase, which Hickenlooper supported, failed last year, so Brittany is off the hook on that one.
The “bad economy” is hard to rationalize, since Colorado is well-publicized as one of the best state economies in the country. Beauprez’s campaign has acknowledged those reports, but the candidate contends Colorado’s economy could do even better, that not all Coloradans are benefiting from the economic recovery and that he can add another 200,000 jobs. - Denver Post, 10/1/14
That's not the only crazy thing to come out of Beauprez's mouth during the debate:
http://thinkprogress.org/...
In a debate with incumbent Democrat John Hickenlooper Tuesday night, GOP nominee Bob Beauprez was asked whether humans are contributing significantly to climate change and whether we can reverse it. No and No, answered Beauprez.
Five years after he characterized those who are concerned about climate change as religious zealots, Beauprez said “powers bigger than us” are in control of Earth’s fate.
“But are we going to end or alter the path that Earth’s evolution is going to take? I don’t think so,” Beauprez said in the debate hosted by the Denver Post. “I think the Earth’s already figured that out and powers bigger than us have figured that out.”
Hickenlooper, for his part, said humans are contributing to climate change that to reverse it will take “a concerted effort, not just on the part of the United States, but worldwide.” Of course, 97 percent of climate scientists agree that human activity is driving recent global warming.
Beauprez, a former congressman who was trounced in his last gubernatorial try in 2006, is locked in a tight race with his Democratic opponent, with some recent polls giving him a narrow lead. That, despite what the Denver Post’s conservative editorial page editor calls Beauprez’ “tendency in recent years to voice support for the fringe issue du jour on the right.” - Think Progress, 10/1/14
Hickenlooper is in a tight race against this clown and we can't let this extremist win. Click here to donate and get involved with Hickenlooper's campaign:
http://www.hickenlooperforcolorado.com/