Republican governor candidate Knute Buehler told anti-abortion supporters he would ban 80 percent of abortions statewide, according to new audio released by Lane County Republican Senate candidate Scott Rohter.
Rohter told a Salem radio station that Buehler has pledged to sign a blatantly unconstitutional bill to ban abortion after 8 weeks of pregnancy, “because that’s when the fetus can feel pain.” The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has made clear that similar abortion restrictions “are not based on sound science.” Such a ban could have devastating consequences when a woman is experiencing medical complications. Most abortions take place in the first trimester of pregnancy.
“Knute has promised that he will sign a pain-capable bill that at that point, abortion is no longer allowed,” Rohter said.
Host Jeff Kropf, a former Republican state legislator, responded to Rohter’s revelation, “Knute is willing to sign legislation and has said so publicly on the pain-capable issue and that would knock out about 80 percent of the abortions.”
The exchange on conservative talk radio exposed a key problem in Buehler’s bid for statewide office: He’s willing to tell different groups of voters opposing things in order to get elected.
Kropf said, “Your point is everyone who says they’re not going to vote for Knute because he’s pro-choice is missing the point that Knute is willing to sign legislation — he said so publicly — on the ‘pain capable issue.’”
Rohter responded, “You can have your beliefs, but they don’t do anything if you don’t get elected. And Knute’s trying to become a Republican governor in a largely Democrat state.”
The pledge flies in the face of Buehler’s campaign rhetoric, which attempts to wipe away his vote against protecting abortion rights in the Oregon Legislature.
“When Knute Buehler had an opportunity to vote to protect the right to safe, legal abortion in the Oregon Legislature, he voted no,” said Emily McLain, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon. “Is Knute Buehler telling anti-abortion voters one thing and telling the rest of Oregon another thing? It’s time for him to answer that basic question.”
Full audio of Rohter’s interview with 104.3 FM KSLM is available here.
Oregonians deserve to know the truth. Here are 10 questions that Knute Buehler still hasn’t answered:
- Why did he vote against codifying Roe v. Wade into Oregon law?
- Why has he been silent about Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee who is committed to overturning Roe v. Wade?
- Why did he say abortion is “the wrong option” if he’s indeed “pro-choice”?
- Why did he promise to restrict abortion, while claiming he “doesn't see access to abortion under threat”?
- Why did he seek the recommendation of Oregon Right to Life, a radical organization that wants to ban all abortion and the most popular forms of birth control?
- Why does he oppose state funding for low-income women to access to safe, legal abortion through their insurance plan?
- Why has he refused to defend the Planned Parenthood health center that serves his own constituents, in the face of relentless attacks at the federal level from his own political party?
- Why did he brag on right-wing radio about his “record in the Legislature of voting against Governor Brown’s efforts to expand access to abortion”?
- Why does he continue to misrepresent the existence of “over the counter” birth control in Oregon?
- Why did he vote against the Oregon Health Plan, which covers reproductive health services for thousands of women throughout the state?
Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon has endorsed Governor Kate Brown for re-election because she has provided clear answers to these questions in her endorsement interviews and in her longtime voting record and leadership. Voters should visit TheTruthAboutKnute.com for more information about why Buehler cannot be trusted to protect women’s health and rights.
