‘Condoms everywhere!’ Dayton’s Planned Parenthood endorsement riles religious right

Mark Dayton. MnIndy file photo

DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton got the endorsement of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund on Wednesday, sparking a harsh response from local religious right outfits — including the Minnesota Family Council, which says a Dayton win “will mean abortion and condoms any and everywhere.”

“As our U.S. Senator, Mark Dayton demonstrated his dedication to Minnesota women and families,” said Sarah Stoesz, president of PPMNS in a statement. “He has a long history of fighting for what’s right: access to affordable and high quality health care, including family planning, and protecting the health and safety of women. He has always been a true champion for women’s health.” (Next Thursday, Dayton will be speaking at a PPMNS event with Sen. Al Franken and his wife Frannie.)

Tom Prichard, president of the Family Council wrote, “I presume that means taxpayer funding of abortion on demand and a condom for every teenager. And of course millions of taxpayer dollars going into PP’s coffers each year.”

Meanwhile, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, a group that backs GOP candidate Tom Emmer, said Dayton is too wishy-washy on the issue of abortion.

“Mark Dayton needs to clear away all of the confusion surrounding his abortion stance,” said MCCL Executive Director Scott Fischbach. “Minnesotans want the candidates for governor to be clear and direct about where they stand on the issues, and Dayton and his spokespersons have issued muddled messages on abortion.”

The group says that Dayton supports a ban on partial birth abortion and supports parental notification for minors, but also supports the Freedom of Choice Act. It believes Dayton can’t support the first two without opposing FOCA.

“Has Dayton flip-flopped on his absolute opposition to parental notification, which is central to Planned Parenthood’s abortion advocacy? And does he suddenly regret his votes against the partial-birth abortion ban?” Fischbach asked. “If so, why would Planned Parenthood endorse a candidate who disagrees with its own agenda? His campaign appears to be in chaos, at least over the issue of protecting human life from abortion.”

While MFC and MCCL try to make hay out of the PPMNS endorsement, PPMNS points out that “65 percent of women in battleground states like Minnesota view Planned Parenthood positively, a rating that puts Planned Parenthood just behind Boys and Girls Club of America, and well ahead of other women’s advocacy groups, and both political parties.”

“Women will play a pivotal role in this election and so will the Planned Parenthood Action Fund,” Stoesz said.