A Wisconsin pro-life group is doubling down on its criticism of a false ad that erroneously attacks a pro-life law Governor Scott Walker signed.
Leading pro-abortion groups are attacking pro-life Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is facing a tough re-election battle in this purple state. The out-of-state and extreme pro-abortion group Emily’s List is making false claims about Sonya’s Law, the pro-life bill Walker signed that allows women a chance to see their unborn baby in an ultrasound while considering an abortion.
The pro-abortion groups claim Walker is violating women’s privacy by forcing them to have a transvaginal utlrasound — a claim the state’s leading pro-life group rejects.
Now, Wisconsin Right to Life is asking television stations to pull the ad.
“Today, Wisconsin Right to Life requests that Wisconsin television stations stop airing an ad produced by Emily’s List,” stated Heather Weininger, Executive Director of Wisconsin Right to Life. “The ad states that Governor Walker is forcing women to ‘undergo a transvaginal probe to get an abortion,’ and then goes on to call this ‘invasive.” This is patently false as the law deliberately and specifically allows the woman to decide what type of ultrasound she wants after all options are explained to her.”
The pertinent language in Act 37 is as follows:
“…perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman, using whichever transducer the woman chooses after the options have been explained to her.”
The Wisconsin statutes clearly prohibit false representations:
“12.05 False representations affecting elections. No person may knowingly make or publish, or cause to be made or published, a false representation pertaining to a candidate or referendum which is intended or tends to affect voting at an election.”
“The language in the Emily’s List ad is demonstrably false and intends to affect voting against Governor Walker in the upcoming election,” continued Weininger. “The ad is an affront to the intelligence of women and causes unnecessary anxiety by disseminating false information. The purpose of Sonya’s Law is to provide a woman with complete and accurate information before she makes a decision that is irreversible for her and her baby. We strongly request that airing of this false ad cease immediately as required by Wisconsin law.”
The text of the letter sent to Wisconsin Television Stations requesting that they pull the false Emily’s List ad is shown below:
October 22, 2014
Station Manager:
Re: False Representations in Violation of Wis. Stat. § 12.05
Dear:
I am writing on behalf of Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. to request that your station stop airing the Emily’s List advertisement entitled “Invasive” which contains numerous false representations and deceptions.
False Representations:
The Advertisement is a clear violation of Wis. Stat. §12.05 which provides:
12.05 False representations affecting elections.
No person may knowingly make or publish, or cause to be made or published, a false representation pertaining to a candidate or referendum which is intended or tends to affect voting at an election.
The following are false representations contained in the Advertisement:
“Now Walker is forcing some women to undergo a transvaginal probe to get an abortion,” which is described as “invasive.” The headline featured in the ad is from a blog. No credible Wisconsin newspaper published such a headline throughout the enactment and signing of Sonya’s Law because the information is patently and demonstrably false.
Sonya’s Law provides a mother with the opportunity to see her baby through ultrasound before she makes a decision about how to proceed with her pregnancy. After all options have been explained, it is up to the woman to decide the type of ultrasound she prefers. The actual language in Sonya’s Law states:
Wis.Stat.§ 253.10(3g)(a)1. “…perform an obstetric ultrasound on the pregnant woman, using whichever transducer the woman chooses after the options have been explained to her.”
In other states, based to some degree on language in proposed legislation, opponents of laws like Sonya’s Law have claimed that the bill requires a specific type of ultrasound. This is not true in Wisconsin’s law which gives a woman options.
The language in the Emily’s List ad is demonstrably false and intends to affect voting against Governor Walker in the upcoming election. The ad is an affront to the intelligence of women and causes unnecessary anxiety by disseminating false information. The purpose of Sonya’s Law is to provide a woman with complete and accurate information before she makes a decision that is irreversible for her and her baby.
We strongly request that airing of this false ad cease immediately as required by Wisconsin law. I appreciate your review of this matter and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Heather Weininger
Executive Director, Wisconsin Right to Life
