Voters, show liars behind false Kansas abortion text that women deserve a real choice
A campaign marked for weeks by lies and misleading statements reached a new low Monday, in a text message apparently sent to hundreds, if not thousands, of voters.
“Women in KS are losing their choice on reproductive rights,” the unsolicited message said. “Voting YES on the amendment will give women a choice. Vote YES to protect women’s rights.”
The text is lying nonsense. Any Kansas voter who wants to protect reproductive choice, and women’s rights, will vote no on the amendment. The polls open Tuesday at 7:00 a.m.
Kansans who value truth in politics, and who want to prevent such shenanigans in the future, will also vote no on the amendment.
We don’t yet know who is behind the text. A broad group of anti-abortion activists denied knowledge of the offensive message, although Operation Rescue president Troy Newman said, “There’s a lot of people trying to confuse people on both sides, I guess,” piling one lie on top of another.
We may never know who sent the message. “Under current law, text message advocacy about constitutional ballot initiatives does not require paid-for disclaimers,” the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission explained in a lengthy tweet.
That is, of course, ridiculous and frightening. Normal ads require paid-for disclaimers — although, to be honest, the buyers are often obscure committees untraceable to specific candidates.
But failure to require any disclaimer on an issue text allows liars and cheats to post anything they want, in the hours before an election. That allows miscreants to escape scrutiny — or for voters to judge the messenger, as well as the message.
Lawmakers must address this loophole next year. (Monday, some Democrats suggested complaints to the Federal Communications Commission, which may be a step some will want to take.)
The other issue is more complicated. Nothing in law prohibits campaigns from lying in any message. That’s unfortunate, but probably unavoidable: You don’t want outside agencies determining what is “true” about a political ad, or, in this case, a text.
Sadly, the yes vote coalition has too often relied on misdirection and misinformation in this campaign, a surprising fact given the movement’s alleged religious foundation. They’ve created the atmosphere in which a false text can breathe.
The only defense against such garbage is an informed electorate prepared to understand lies and reject the desperation of the anti-abortion crowd. Vote no. In a clear voice, tell those who distort the truth they cannot be in charge of a woman’s health or freedom.
This story was originally published August 1, 2022 at 6:46 PM.