Idaho. Note that emergency contraception also is in the crosshairs, not solely referral to abortion services. It is Idaho. Backwards, nasty, anti-choice because the legislature and governor's house are in GOP hands. It is a warning to the remainder of the nation. Do not put it all into the wrong hands because if you do, there will be hell to pay. Republicans arising from the weeds to strike. From the report [italics added]-
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Public universities in Idaho are warning staffers not to refer students to abortion providers or tell them how to get emergency contraception because they could be charged with a felony, and one is barring employees from recommending birth control, as well.
The guidance from the University of Idaho and Boise State University forms the latest restrictions in a state that already has some of the nation’s strictest abortion laws.
“This is going to have a very broad impact. It’s going to have a very strong chilling effect on free speech,” said Mike Satz, an attorney and former faculty member and interim dean at the University of Idaho’s College of Law. “I’m afraid it’s going to scare people from going to school here or sending their kids to school at Idaho institutions.”
The prohibition against referring students or “promoting” abortion in any way comes from the No Public Funds for Abortion Act, a law passed by Idaho’s Republican-led Legislature in 2021. Boise State, like the University of Idaho, told faculty members in a newsletter this month that they could face felony charges for violating the law. Idaho State did not respond to phone messages from The Associated Press asking if it had issued similar guidance.
Serpent speak: As to the Republican trickster memo here in Minnesota, this link. Strib local content. Our dissemblers at their most dissembling -
The memo marks a shift in tone from the party on abortion and comes as Democratic attacks continue.Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann has advised the party's candidates to refer to abortion as a "protected constitutional right" in the state before pivoting to crime, the economy and education, according to a memo shared by several Republicans.
The memo was sent to candidates Friday as the GOP in Minnesota and nationally struggles to find the right message on abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in June. Democrats have spent the summer hammering Republicans on the issue and have spent millions of dollars on attack ads in the race for Minnesota governor.
The item notes the new hope that papering over the issue and lying is leaving out the fact that there is no aim change, with the MN GOP still dead set at fully killing choice and attendant privacy rights, (making contraception a next target).
The message also marks a shift in tone from the state party's platform adopted in May, which says the U.S. and Minnesota constitutions should be amended to restore legal "protection to the lives of innocent human beings from conception to natural death."
"Here are the facts: Abortion up to the moment of birth is a protected constitutional right in Minnesota," Hann wrote in the memo. "The only two ways this can be changed are by the Minnesota Supreme Court overturning existing law or by Minnesota voters passing a state referendum.
"Since abortion is not on the ballot, let's talk about the ongoing issues that affect Minnesotans every day: crime, inflation, the economy and education."
Abortion is a constitutionally protected right. Fret over other crap: "Since abortion is not on the ballot, let's talk about the ongoing issues that affect Minnesotans every day: crime, inflation, the economy and education." Strib's closing: The [Republican] party did not respond to requests for comment after past former Minnesota GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb and the Libertarian group Action 4 Liberty separately posted the memo. The Brodkorb post, as an image -
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Brodkorb posted on Twitter, (so there's a crap thread left off the imaging) where you can read the pernicious "dissembling instructions" for how to parrot HAHN "developed and tested," one-size-fits-all Big Lie for GOP campaigning.
The ruse is a nationwide Big Lie. Those biting into the apple - usual dissembling suspects - proving M.D. after a name is not necessarily a sign of political integrity. Meanwhile, Matt Birk has kept his campaign website (https://mattbirk.com/issues) truthful in saying:
Matt Birk knew he was pro-life after cradling his first-born son. He has been a long-time pro-life activist - and his Catholic faith drives him to protect the unborn. You can often find Matt Birk at March for Life rallies and advocating for the unborn. As Lieutenant Governor, Matt will help drive policy decisions which reduce and eliminate the eradication of babies - which predominantly impact the black community in Minnesota.
As tacky as ever, but not following Hahn guidelines of deceit, at least there.
Jezebel.com has a thorough commentary, "Minnesota Republicans Advised to Repeat Claim That 'Abortion Is Not on the Ballot' -- The GOP has been gaslighting us with this line for years, but it's a bit late for that now." It includes quoting the MN GOP platform's unequivocal anti-choice, anti-privacy-rights plank, and noting:
The Republican nominee for attorney general, Jim Schultz, said during a March candidate forum that, unlike some Republicans who go into a defensive crouch on abortion, he would “be the one going on offense.”
As the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party wrote on Twitter, “Talking about important issues is not baiting, it’s called campaigning. If Republicans cannot defend their plans to ban abortion, that’s on them.”
The state GOP email is yet another example of Republicans attempting to deflect when asked about their supremely unpopular abortion policies and focus the midterms only on the economy. There are several problems with that strategy, one of which is that abortion is a top issue for voters. Another is that abortion access is deeply connected to the economy: People struggling to pay their bills will have an even harder time if they have to feed and clothe another human, or make an expensive trip for an out-of-state abortion. Pennsylvania’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro correctly noted last week that state abortion bans could affect the number of jobs available in any given state as employers expand elsewhere.
But hey, if you ask Republicans about it, they’ll gaslight you and say, “There’s nothing happening there.”
It is a bit disgusting and condescending -- In effect, a Father Knows Best how to dissemble and gaslight if "baited" about abortion -- read this, follow this, march to the same tune, leadership leads, caucus follows leadership, turn off your own mind and parrot what we formulate, "developed and tested," we know best, you don't.
And to top it all, "CONFIDENTIAL." A badge just like on the stuff Trump stole from the White House to Mar a Lago after being fired by voters (a theft for which he hopefully will face consequences).
Niska got the message: In closing, Harry Niska is the Republican candidate for HD 31A where I live. This campaigning card arrived in the mail:
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Trimming the issues, crime/inflation, as the memo said, "developed and tested."
Marching orders seen, marching orders followed. (Niska does list his campaign website, where he is more expansive about being anti-choice and a waffle on public education being a constitutional bedrock community function in need of full protection against erosion.)
I know Harry. I know that he is fully aware that in HD 31A crime is negligible, and almost exclusively property crime and domestic dispute calls, not violent attacks by strangers upon strangers on the district sidewalks. It is just not there. Cops are not disrespected. Occasionally roadside doing traffic stops, but mainly patrolling and on call with prompt response times. It is simply a non-issue for "our community" and he knows it. Yet on website and flyer, same featured posturing. I expected more and better personalized attention to District factors from Niska. I know he is smart. One of the smartest people I've met in Ramsey.
His opponent is very personal in stating her guiding outlook, not parroting anybody's canned presentation of leadership's "developed and tested" talking points.
And yes, I would vote for Betsy in any event, knowing her and family. But Harry's lockstep flyer was a disappointment. Flyer heading, "Focused on the issues that matter to our community." Then talking points via Dave Hahn. Public Safety not really a concern in HD 31A, but packaged as if it was. As if Harry is turning his campaign over to "specialists," and not thinking things out on his own. As if he'd be a follower if elected, leadership being accepted as for the likes of Kurt Daudt - a clearly far lesser man than Niska. I expected more. Even while an O'Berry supporter.
___________UPDATE__________
Two points. It is not said nor implied in this post that Harry Niska is Norm Coleman. He is not. Norm is who he is, Harry is who he is, and neither is the other. I have respect for Niska. I have nothing but disdain for Norm Coleman in all his dimensions as a political figure, and now a lobbyist and fixer for Saudi Arabia while managing strings tied to vast amounts of political PAC money doled to Republicans; and in 2018 being a fixer for a Chinese high tech firm violating U.S. sanctions against certain dealings with North Korea and Iran. Money sloshing all around. Harry is not that.
Second, a MN DFL twitter thread worth consideration on the questions posed in this Crabgrass post; video embedded as truth over more recent fiction.