On November 7, Ohioans will again be going to the polls to vote on Issue 1 (among other things.) But unlike in the August special election, where a NO vote protected democracy, a YES vote on Issue 1 is essential to protect reproductive rights. Get to the polls! Registration deadline is October 10.
As many know, the August special election was rushed ahead of the November election to make passing a ballot issue so difficult that passing the reproductive rights constitutional amendment in November would be virtually impossible. But NO voters turned out and August’s Issue 1 failed. Now the misogynists and freedom-haters on the far right have amped up their only remaining weapon: lies.
Follow groups such as Ohio Right to Life and Protect Ohio Women, both laughably named since neither cares about “life” or women, and you’ll be bombarded with alarming messages — none of which is true.
There’s the one about how it takes away “parental rights,” allowing minor children to get gender-transition surgery without their permission — something that literally never happens (how is a 16-year-old going to pay for surgeries many trans adults save for years to afford?) Issue 1 doesn’t concern itself with parental rights or gender transition. Ohio Right to Life and Protect Ohio Women made that up out of thin air.
Their other horror story has become a favorite across the woman-despising far right: the specter of nine-month abortions happening just as the baby is being born. First, that too literally doesn’t happen and would be infanticide, not abortion, if it did. Second, the ballot issue specifically bans legislating abortions PRIOR to viability (about 20-24 weeks) and protects women and doctors forced to make choices later in a pregnancy due to medical complications — the reason for almost every late-term abortion. Nothing in the scare tactics being used is in the actual amendment.
Actually, the virulent women haters DO have another weapon: deeply corrupt, conniving and nakedly partisan Ohio secretary of state Frank LaRose.
A good buddy to the toxic head of Ohio Right to Life, Mike Gonadakis, with whom he’s campaigned against women’s human rights, LaRose made a sleazy and cynical move when approving the language voters will see on the ballot. Instead of just duplicating the language supporters saw when they signed the petition, he added right-wing propaganda, changing the scientific term “fetus” to the religious-belief-driven “unborn child.”
He also dropped language regarding the scope of what the amendment protects, leaving only abortion, but not the right to miscarriage care, contraception, fertility treatment and to continue a pregnancy — in other words, to make all your own reproductive choices. He wants voters to think it’s just about abortion. His version is actually longer than the original language, so no, he didn’t condense it to make it easier to read. His excuse is that the original language will be posted at polling places — which no one will take the time to read or quite possibly not even see. It could have just as easily been on the ballot — it would’ve been less work for him.
Did he decide that the November issue would also be Issue 1, requiring a yes vote to protect reproductive rights, while August’s Issue 1 required a no vote? Probably. It’s a great voter-confusion tactic. Don’t be fooled. Issue 1 doesn’t kill nine-month babies and it doesn’t force parents to let their 16-year-olds have gender-reassignment surgery. It just allows women to have control over their lives. And most Ohio Republicans hate that.
6 Responses to “Vote YES on Issue 1 on November 7: Everything the No Campaign Says Is a Lie”
Rosemary P
Well done, Anastasia!
Rick Peterson
Politicians have no business in between a doctor and their patient. They do not have medical degrees and see the patient whose rights must be preserved. Vote for women on Issue 1. Yes for the women we love and admire.
Deb Kiesel-Ryan
I have been telling all to vote YES this time.
Rich
I got a survey request. The wording of every question was made to make you look like a crazed murderer.
I’m expecting pickets in front of my home by this afternoon.
Jim Smith
Great article, Anastasia. I’m impressed that you were able to address all the manipulations into such a short post! I’m going to copy and use some of your material in my own posts and messaging leading up to the elections. I especially missed the “bait & switch” tactic of using the same Issue number but swapping the response. Now it’s Yes — it’s HELL YEAH! — to women’s reproductive rights. Thank you.
Bob Rink
Well done, Anastasia. Thank goodness for people like you (and COOL CLEVELAND) for showing and refuting the myriad of lies circulated by the Republican Party. I do remember the day (many years ago) when I had some respect for the honesty and morality of the Republican Party, but it’s clear to me now how the party has abandoned all sense of conscience and will propagate any lie to advance the monied interests that now control the party. On the other hand, thank goodness that the average hard working Ohio citizen seems smart enough (we hope, although I’m waiting for proof of this too!) to know intuitively what all their lies are (sadly, around almost every policy position they hold) and, refusing to become disciples of these snake oil salesmen, writes off most, if not all, of these falsehoods.
Bob Rink