New, unreported information on Kemp’s record proves he would be a disaster for women and families in Georgia
| For Immediate Release: October 8, 2018 Contact: [email protected] |
Today, NARAL released a scathing new report that demonstrates Brian Kemp would be one of the worst governors in America for women if elected in November. The report shines a light on Kemp’s lack of compassion for women’s choices and his desire to outlaw abortion in Georgia without any exceptions for rape, incest, or the health of a woman. Earlier this year, Kemp famously pledged to “sign the toughest abortion laws in the country”, hoping to outdo the country’s most restrictive abortion ban in Mississippi.
In Georgia, access to reproductive healthcare, including birth control and abortion care, has proven to be one of the key issues in campaigns up and down the ticket. NARAL Pro-Choice America currently ranks Georgia as a state with “severely restricted access” to reproductive health care in its annual Who Decides report due to the state’s current bans on abortion, biased counseling requirements, and mandatory delays on women seeing care. NARAL’s new report today reveals just how much worse off Georgia will be if Kemp is elected.
In the neck and neck race for Governor, Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp are polar opposites on the issue of reproductive freedom. Stacey Abrams has a long history of fighting for reproductive freedom and has made the issue a focal point of her campaign. As leader in the General Assembly, not only did she vote against anti-choice legislation, but she led her caucus in fighting an anti-choice bill that would ban insurance coverage for abortion. Abrams has continued to be a fierce advocate for reproductive rights and abortion access from day one of her campaign for Governor.
“The facts in our new report are clear: Brian Kemp has zero compassion for women and our choices, and he would be a disaster for Georgia women and families. It’s clear he would be one of the worst governors in the nation on issues of reproductive freedom,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Georgia Lead Organizer, Ericka Claudio. “Kemp wants voters to think that he’s been a friend to women, but his cruel and out-of-touch record is a direct contradiction to the priorities of Georgians. NARAL members are out on the frontlines every single day making sure Georgians know they have a critical choice to make between two candidates who couldn’t be more different on reproductive freedom. Stacey Abrams has proven time and again that she is the champion that women and families can count on here in Georgia and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that she defeats Kemp on November 6th.”
The program aims to educate suburban women in eight key cities across the country. Suburban women voters, regardless of party, overwhelmingly support Roe v. Wade and access to abortion. NARAL’s program seeks to help people understand the very real possibility that abortion could soon be criminalized in this country and what’s at stake.
The initiative will target these voters with digital advertisements, and a massive direct mail effort. People in Denver, CO, Port St Lucie, FL, Cedar Rapids, IA, Des Moines, IA, Southern Twin Cities, MN, Las Vegas, NV, Dallas, TX, and Leesburg, VA will receive direct mail as a part of NARAL’s initiative.
Watch the digital ad here. View the mailers here, here, here and here.
Statement by NARAL President Ilyse Hogue:
“With Brett Kavanaugh now confirmed, the stakes have never been higher. If Roe is gutted and abortion is criminalized, the stated goal of Donald Trump and those who put Kavanaugh on the bench, women will be forced to stay pregnant, even if it risks our lives, our health, and our futures. This is about the lives of our daughters, sisters, mothers and granddaughters.
“We want women around the country to understand what is at stake when it comes to their reproductive freedom. It’s been proven that suburban women have the power to make their voices heard. We want these women to know the facts about what’s at stake in Congress, state houses, and in the courts.”
We know exactly the brand of “leadership” Brian Kemp will bring to the Governor’s Mansion. Here’s a preview:
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Kemp believes abortion should be illegal even in cases of rape or incest.
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Kemp supported accused sexual assaulter, Brett Kavanaugh in his nomination for the Supreme Court, even after Georgia women called for him to do the right thing and condemn Kavanaugh.
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Kemp wanted to undo the Roe and Doe Supreme Court decisions and outlined his plan to overturn Roe: “We advance pro-life legislation, battle in the courtroom, and wait on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.”
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Kemp identified as “unapologetically pro-life” and supports dangerous “personhood” policies and “believes that life begins at conception.”
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Georgia Right to Life endorsed Kemp in past elections due to his opposition to rape and incest exceptions to abortion bans.
You can find the full report here.
NARAL endorsed Abrams in August of 2017 and has been a driving force in boosting her campaign. NARAL members are working hard in the field to ensure Kemp and other extreme actors are not given another chance to inflict harm on women and families in Georgia and beyond.