Alaska Planned Parenthood Reworks Ads Against Parental Notification on Abortion

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jul 28, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Alaska Planned Parenthood Reworks Ads Against Parental Notification on Abortion

by Joel Davidson of Catholic Anchor and Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 28
, 2010

Juneau, AK (LifeNews.com) — Planned Parenthood has drawn criticism for how it is helping to finance a now $600,000 campaign to persuade Alaska voters to oppose a ballot measure that would allow parents to know when their minor daughters are considering an abortion. Now it is changing those ads to comply with state law.

Alaskans for Parental Rights has filed a formal complaint with the Alaska Public Offices Commission against the Planned Parenthood-affiliated Alaskans Against Government Mandates for reportedly violating state law while campaigning against Ballot Measure 2.

A new state law requires ballot groups to identify their current top three contributors in all broadcast campaign messages and Jim Minnery, chair for Alaskans for Parental Rights, says Alaskans Against Government Mandates has violated this statute in radio ads which began airing on July 19.

“Alaskans for Parental Rights has requested that the ads be pulled immediately and the appropriate fines be imposed. This statute provides for voters to have a clear understanding of any possible interest groups backing initiatives,” he said. “As long as these ads are broadcast while not in compliance, voters are not given full knowledge of interest groups, knowledge which has been deemed necessary through the passage of SB 284. It is also with this in mind, that Alaskans for Parental Rights has requested an expedited review of this complaint.”

“It is not surprising that Planned Parenthood is attempting to hide behind the misleading name of Alaskans Against Government Mandates. By thumbing its nose at clear APOC guidelines regarding campaign disclosure, they are proving once again that deception is their standard operating procedure,” he continued.

Rhiannon Good, campaign manager for Alaskans Against Government Mandates, told the Anchorage Daily News July 28 that her group has reworked its ads and materials to ensure that they follow the state law.

Meanwhile, Minnery is calling on pro-life advocates to help his organization get the word to friends, family and neighbors that the vote is coming up and Alaskans should support parental notification.

“Alaskans know that parents should have the right to be notified before medical procedures can be performed on their minor daughters – as young as 13 and 14 years old,” he said. “We need your help in protecting teens before they make life altering decisions and in strengthening the God-given rights of parents to be informed, engaged and involved.”

“If you have ever considered making a difference in today’s cultural battles, we need you now more than ever,” he said. “We cannot compete with Planned Parenthood financially but we have the truth on our side and, if you are willing, we have you.”

Meanwhile, a new video has been created urging Alaskans to support an upcoming ballot initiative that requires abortion practitioners to notify at least one parent of a minor girl before they perform an abortion on the girl.
The new video was released on YouTube this month but supporters of Proposition 2 are working to raise the needed funds to air the message on television stations across the state in the lead up to the August 24 vote.

Proposition 2, has support from the Catholic Church and many other religious organizations statewide. Alaskans For Parental Rights is organizing supporters of the ballot measure and has also created the television spot.

“Here’s the bottom line. Planned Parenthood, the $1 billion abortion corporation, is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to deceive Alaskans through radio and television stations statewide,” said Jim Minnery, chair of Alaskans for Parental Rights in a July 27 email to supporters. “Currently, (Planned Parenthood) is outspending us roughly 10 to 1.”

Minnery said a the success of the ballot measure hinges largely on raising enough money to purchase ads that can educate voters and combat current ads that oppose the proposed parental notification law.

“Simply put (Planned Parenthood is) outgunning us and unless we tell our story far and wide, victory is unlikely,” Minnery added. “They have a clear advantage when it comes to buying media.”

View the new video visit youtube.com/watch?v=end0ajz3FlQ.

Related webs sites:
Alaskans for Parental Rights – https://www.alaskansforparentalrights.org

 

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