Planned Parenthood launched a new, six-figure ad buy against President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh Tuesday as the first day of his confirmation hearings got underway.
The advertisements will air in Alaska, targeting Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a self-described pro-choice Republican, who will be a key vote in the confirmation process.
The ads emphasize the importance of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
Murkowski met with Kavanaugh last week but has made no indication of how she plans to vote.
In a statement, Murkowski said she and Kavanuagh discussed a wide range of issues in the meeting “from privacy to precedent, executive power, vouchers, Indian law, and healthcare, including women’s reproductive rights and protections for pre-existing conditions.”
"These ads launching today make clear that people want a Supreme Court nominee that will protect their right to safe, legal abortion," Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, commented.
The abortion provider will also air ads in D.C. next weekend during NBC’s “Morning Joe” and “Meet the Press.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), at the behest of abortion groups including Planned Parenthood and NARAL, has been pushing for a “personal liberty standard” meaning that any Supreme Court nominee has to affirm Roe v. Wade.
“The Senate must only confirm a justice who firmly declares that the constitution protects individual liberty and the right of all people to make personal decisions about their bodies and relationships, including the right to have contraception, the right to an abortion, and to marry the person who you choose,” Dawn Laguens said in July.
As the confirmation hearings began on Tuesday, the abortion group’s advocacy arm praised disruptions from protestors and promised to “fight like hell” to stop Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
The disruptions we're seeing during Brett Kavanaugh's hearing pale in comparison to the disruptions and lengths women already take to access safe, legal abortion.
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) September 4, 2018
This is what the resistance looks like, and we're going to fight like hell to #StopKavanaugh. https://t.co/yi6exBqwCL
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