Planned Parenthood Votes Ad Targets Women In Virginia
For Immediate Release: Jan. 27, 2013
Planned Parenthood Patient Says “Mitt Romney is
Out of Touch” in New TV Ad Hitting Virginia Airwaves
Part of 2012 Election Campaign Targeting Women
Voters in Key Battleground States
Watch the ad here: http://youtu.be/fzo5JD9-hIM
Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Votes is rolling out its second TV ad on northern Virginia airwaves this week as part of the organization’s campaign targeting women voters in key battleground states. The ad “Cynthia’s Story” features Cynthia Wilson, a Planned Parenthood patient whose cancer was diagnosed early as a result of the care provided at a Planned Parenthood health center. In the ad Cynthia says, “I believe Mitt Romney is out of touch. I think he just does not have any idea how many lives he’s devastating.”
You can watch the new ad here: http://youtu.be/fzo5JD9-hIM
The ad highlights the lives that would be affected by Romney’s pledge to “get rid” of Planned Parenthood. The strategy behind the ad comes from recent polling of women voters in Virginia, who said they are more likely to vote for a candidate who will continue funding for Planned Parenthood (by 45 points).
Key polling in swing states, including Virginia, has also found that an overwhelming majority of women voters trust Planned Parenthood Votes and Planned Parenthood Action Fund when it comes to issues affecting the health of women and teens in America. Women surveyed place a premium on Planned Parenthood Action Fund's voice in understanding important health care-related issues.
The ad is part of a combined $3.5 million TV buy spanning Ohio and Virginia markets from Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Votes. The ad will begin airing in Toledo and Columbus markets next week.
“The Republican ticket needs to be held accountable for their out-of-touch policy positions that would have a disastrous and measurable impact on women and their families,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president for Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “One in five women has visited a Planned Parenthood health center in her lifetime, and women know they can count on Planned Parenthood health centers for professional, nonjudgmental, and confidential care. That’s why women are so appalled to hear that Mitt Romney has pledged to ‘get rid’ of Planned Parenthood. Politics has no place in a woman’s personal medical decisions. Women voters believe that, and in November their votes will reflect it.”
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have pledged to defund Planned Parenthood, cutting off women’s access to preventive care including cancer screenings and birth control; and have promised to shut down the nation’s family planning program that more than five million people a year rely on for birth control, cancer screenings, and other care. They have also vowed to overturn Roe v. Wade and end safe and legal abortion, and have said they support extreme “personhood” measures that would give full constitutional rights to fertilized eggs.
"Planned Parenthood saved my life," said Cynthia Wilson, a Planned Parenthood patient whose cancer was diagnosed early as a result of the care provided at a Planned Parenthood health center. “It makes me weep to think of the women who will not have access to the care that I did — and who may end up dying because their last lifeline was cut. That’s why I take it very personally when I hear that Mitt Romney has pledged to get rid of Planned Parenthood — ending access to cancer screenings, preventive care, and birth control for millions of women.”
In 2011, the seven Planned Parenthood health centers in Virginia saw 23,728 clients, providing them with a wide range of preventive health care services including birth control, breast exams, Pap tests, and STD testing and treatment. It is these preventive services that would be threatened under a Romney/Ryan administration.
Nearly three million patients come to Planned Parenthood health centers every year — not to make a political statement, but to get high-quality, affordable health care. Planned Parenthood health centers see more than two million patients for birth control every year, and provide nearly 750,000 breast cancer screenings and more than four million STD tests/treatments. Preventive care and birth control are economic issues for women and families, and supporting family planning is smart fiscal policy for the country.
The ad script is as follows:
Cynthia Wilson: When Mitt Romney says “Planned Parenthood, we’re going to get rid of that,” he really doesn’t understand how many women depend on Planned Parenthood.
I could feel a lump in my abdomen. I was very scared. Planned Parenthood saved my life with an early diagnosis of cancer.
We’re talking about real lives here. I believe Mitt Romney is out of touch. I think he just does not have any idea how many lives he’s devastating.
Title Card: Mitt Romney: Wrong for Women’s Health
Disclaimer: Planned Parenthood Votes is responsible for the content of this advertising.