- The Washington Times - Wednesday, September 25, 2024

A newly launched ad campaign accuses Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats of promoting “misinformation” about state abortion laws, saying the left’s fear-mongering contributed to the deaths of two Georgia women.

The pro-life Women Speak Out PAC unveiled this week a six-figure ad buy in Georgia accusing Democrats of “spreading misinformation that led to the deaths of at least two women” who suffered complications after taking abortion pills in 2022.

“No Georgia law blocks life-saving care for women, or treating complications after abortion, but because of reckless misinformation, Candi Miller was afraid to seek the care she needed, deserved and could have gotten,” said the ad. “And doctors didn’t save Amber Thurman with an operation that was 100% legal. Candi and Amber should be alive. The left’s scare tactics are deadly.”

The ad calling out “Democrats’ abortion lies” features shots of Ms. Harris and President Biden as well as former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, a Democrat.

Candi Miller, 44, died at home after refusing to go to the hospital over fears about the legal consequences, while doctors waited 20 hours before operating on Amber Thurman, 28, after she was transported by ambulance at the hospital, according to a report last week in ProPublica.

Both had taken abortion pills after obtaining them from out of state, but the drugs failed to expel all the fetal tissue from their bodies. Both needed a surgical procedure called dilation and curettage, or D&C, to remove the tissue.

Ms. Harris blamed the law for their deaths, saying at a Friday rally in Georgia that “doctors have to wait until the patient is at death’s door before they take action.”

“In state after state, Trump Abortion Bans have criminalized reproductive care,” she said on X.

Georgia’s abortion law does not ban abortion. It allows abortions up to six weeks’ gestation, and then afterward for “emergency care, miscarriage care, and treatment for ectopic pregnancy,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

The law also includes penalties of up to 10 years in prison for those who provide abortions, but not for the women undergoing pregnancy terminations.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp accused pro-choice activists of spreading “egregious misinformation and propaganda that fostered a culture of fear and confusion,” while Ms. Dannenfelser said that “Democrats led by Kamala Harris are lying about pro-life laws and women are dying.”

“The laws do not penalize women who have abortions and they use plain, commonly accepted legal language,” she said. “There would be no confusion if abortion advocates were not spreading confusion. Amber, Candi and their babies should be alive today.”

The $500,000 television and digital ad campaign is running in Georgia cable and broadcast markets, including Atlanta, Augusta, Macon and Savannah.

— Jeff Mordock contributed to this report.

• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.

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