Kapanke is Bad for Women; Would Deny Morning-After Pill to Rape Victims
Anti-woman candidate distorts his own views as well as his opponent’s in new ad
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2004
Contact: Kelda Helen Roys
608-213-4502
LaCrosse, WI— Perennial candidate Dan Kapanke has sunk to a new low in his most recent race for State Senate in the 32nd District. He is lying not only about his opponent’s positions, but about his own record.
Here’s the truth about Dan Kapanke:
§ He opposes giving rape victims information about emergency contraception, which can prevent pregnancy if taken after an assault. Withholding compassionate care from victims of sexual assault punishes them twice.
§ He doesn’t believe in a patient’s right to doctor-prescribed medication, such as birth control
§ He would allow physicians to withhold prenatal testing and results from expectant parents
§ He supports criminalizing abortion, and putting women and their doctors in prison for having or performing an abortion
§ He believes abortion should be a felony even in cases of rape or incest, or where the woman’s health is at risk – in fact, he would make it punishable by prison time
§ He supports ending a patient’s right to sue a physician who withholds information or abandons the patient, even when that patient is harmed by the physician’s misconduct
Dan Kapanke’s views are so extreme that he would deny emergency contraception to a young teenager who had been raped by a relative, and then force her to carry a pregnancy to term – even if her health was in jeopardy. Dan Kapanke’s policies would re-victimize women who have experienced brutal assaults. In 2000, voters in the 32nd Senate District rejected Kapanke dangerous, extremist views.
Many groups working on behalf of women’s health and safety support expanding access to emergency contraception, including the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, the Rape Crisis Center, and Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Just as the number of abortions has increased under George W. Bush’s anti-choice regime, Kapanke’s policies would only lead to more women needing abortion yet fewer being able to access abortion and contraception safely.
Brad Pfaff, the Democratic nominee for the 32nd Senate District, is a strong proponent of common-sense preventative policies that help women and families. Pfaff supports measures that respect women, reduce the need for abortion by preventing unwanted pregnancy, and help rape victims get the care they deserve. Pfaff is committed to policies that improve the health of women and their children, such as increasing the minimum wage, expanding quality childcare, and improving access to family planning services.
NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, the state’s leading political organization for women’s reproductive health, works to reduce the need for abortion through access to comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education, accurate medical information, and birth control including emergency contraception.
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