Prasanth Reddy: Don’t fall for the smears. Here’s the truth | Opinion
I am running to represent Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District because I see that the American dream, which I’ve been blessed to live, is in jeopardy. Now that I’ve won the Republican nomination, Rep. Sharice Davids and her allies are using the same tired, old negative tactics they’re running everywhere.
In a recent Star guest commentary, one of her allies completely misrepresented my positions on abortion rights and in vitro fertilization, and did so without a shred of evidence to support their argument. This is the first of many misleading attacks Kansas voters can expect to see about this deeply personal topic. Between now and Election Day, the topic of abortion will be twisted for political gain to divide Kansans.
The voters of this district deserve better than that. You deserve the truth and I want you to hear my position directly from me. As a cancer physician, I’ve had tough conversations and faced hard choices. The one constant in practicing good medicine is that I always start from a place of empathy by actively listening to and supporting my patients’ choices.
First, Kansas voters made their voices heard on abortion in 2022. For many voters, it was a hard choice. I’ll always support the choice that Kansas voters made on abortion rights two years ago and would never vote in Congress to overrule the will of the people. Period.
Second, I don’t support a national abortion ban. I wouldn’t vote for one in Congress. This issue should be left to the states. I believe any state-level legislation should protect access to contraception and, at minimum, include exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities inconsistent with life and threats to the life of the mother.
Third, like the majority of Americans, I don’t believe federal tax dollars should be used to fund abortions.
Fourth, I support in vitro fertilization and vocally oppose any attempt to restrict it. IVF has helped countless people in Kansas and across the country, start and grow their families. We should help families have children. That’s exactly what IVF does.
For me, supporting life means continuing to support a baby’s life after birth. We can be doing more to help families by removing taxes on baby and toddler items. I also believe we should be doing more to streamline the adoption and foster care services. These systems are broken and far too many children have been left behind because of it.
The Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling in 2022 has led to ongoing legislative battles across the country, a statewide referendum in Kansas, and questions and uncertainty for patients and their physicians. I believe life is an important issue which should be treated with empathy, respect, and honesty — not made up talking points to fit a politician’s preferred narrative.
But instead of being honest with the voters, Sharice Davids is running a campaign of baseless partisan attacks — the kind that have left many Kansans fed up with politics altogether.
Over the last year, I’ve attended hundreds of events and met thousands of voters in this district. I’ve heard what’s on their minds and what issues matter most to them.
They’re struggling with rising costs and making ends meet. They know if we don’t reverse course, the American dream will continue to grow further and further out of reach.
They’re worried about what’s been happening at our southern border since 2021 — millions of illegal border crossings, including hundreds on the FBI terrorist watch list, and fentanyl invading our community.
These are the issues that Kansans can unite around. We all want lower costs and safer communities. We are not as divided as Washington would like you to think, and we should be focused on the solutions we can agree on, not stoking divisive partisan flames.
Instead, Sharice Davids and the party insiders in Washington are taking the predictable low road and making up attacks against me. They’re nervous about November, and they should be, because their records speak for themselves.
It’s time for a change.
I’m listening to the people of our district, not the bosses in Washington. I’m running to serve you, not to be beholden to them. I’ll always be clear about where I stand, even if we may sometimes disagree. And I’d be honored to have your vote in November.
Prasanth Reddy of Lenexa is a physician and Republican candidate to represent Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.