A Democratic super PAC launched a new ad Tuesday targeting Ohio Republicans on reproductive rights ahead of next month’s election at the center of an abortion rights battle.
The Progress Action Fund released a five-figure backed ad, titled “Ohio Republicans in Your Bedroom,” and showed the couple having sex and reaching for a condom before confronting the Republican congressman.
“Sorry you can’t use that,” the Republican congressman said in a 30-second ad about condoms, later adding, “Now that we’re in charge, we’re banning birth control.”
After being told to leave the room and declaring that the couple had chosen to use birth control, the Republican congressman said in the ad, “I won the last election, I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to watch and make sure you are not doing anything illegal.”
The ad is scheduled to air on connected TVs, online platforms and streaming services in the Buckeye State, according to the super PAC.
The ad comes as the state is set to hold a special election on August 8 on a proposed constitutional amendment. If passed, it would require at least 60 percent of Ohioans to pass changes to the state constitution instead of a simple majority.
The proposed constitutional amendment, which has drawn bipartisan criticism, says nothing about abortion or reproductive rights, but it preempts a potential abortion ballot measure in November, which would keep the abortion rights in state constitutions.
Groups working to get the abortion-rights measure on the November ballot said earlier this month more than 700,000 signatures had been submitted — more than the nearly 413,000 signatures needed.
But if the measure passes on the August ballot, it will be harder for abortion rights advocates to pass their own measure in November. The ad says Republicans are looking at further restricting access to reproductive rights in the state, despite banning contraceptives.
“Despite massive losses due to their extreme positions on reproductive rights, Republicans refuse to learn because they rely on their far-right base that wants a complete ban on abortion,” he said. Joe Jacobson, founder and executive director of the Progress Action Fund, said in a statement.
“Republicans are obsessed with telling every Ohioan what they can and can’t do in their own bedroom. The GOP really needs to stand up for the ‘Grand Old Perverts,'” he added.
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