January 13, 2012 12:23 AM UTC

"Personhood" Backers Await Word From Coffman, TIpton

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Colorado Independent’s John Tomasic reports:

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains spokesperson Monica McCafferty told the Independent her organization has yet to get either congressman to go on the record. Likewise, a Colorado Right to Life staffer told the Independent that her organization had no news to relate on lawmakers’ positions.

“[T]he only info we have right now is a reminder to you that supporting the dismembering of unborn children is a crime against humanity and against God for which some day all pro-choice people will answer,” wrote a staffer named Donna…

Colorado Right to Life is diligent in getting elected officials to go on the record. The group’s questionnaires go out early and often and the CRTL blog includes an exhaustive list of where state and federal candidates stand on abortion rights.

In 2010, the group raised doubts about Coffman’s commitment to ending abortion, citing his absent support for federal personhood measures. And the group flagged Tipton as untrustworthy on the issue, reporting that he avoided responding to the organization’s surveys over the last three years.

“[Tipton] has lied to us and others about having responded… His website says he is pro-life but he approves of abortion in cases of rape or incest. Scott Tipton is NOT PRO LIFE and is lying in order to get your vote!”

In both 2008 and 2010, Republican candidates were severely damaged in Colorado by their refusal to endorse, or in the case of 2010’s Senate nominee Ken Buck endorsing and then unendorsing, the “personhood” amendments on the statewide ballot at those times. It’s not a universal predictor of political trouble, though, as Rep. Cory Gardner’s early and steadfast support hasn’t hurt him–and probably won’t in his shored-up red district this year.

For Tipton and Coffman, however, every woman “personhood” repulses counts dearly.