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Voters reject Amendment 48 'personhood' issue

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 5, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Colorado won't become the first state to amend its constitution to give fertilized eggs the same rights as human beings, as voters soundly rejected Amendment 48.

The so-called Personhood Amendment was failing by a 3-to-1 ratio, and co-author Kristi Burton laid a lot of the blame for its demise at the feet of high-profile officials with strong anti-abortion credentials that refused to endorse it.

Burton pointed out that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer and Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams hurt the amendment's chances when they "campaigned against this issue" publicly.

"That proved to be insurmountable," she said.

But Wadhams and Schaffer didn't actually campaign against it - they simply refused to endorse it, with Wadhams calling the measure the wrong avenue for the abortion fight.

The measure would have granted constitutional rights to a fertilized egg - including due process and inalienable rights.

The amendment fractured much of the anti-abortion establishment - with Burton unable to round up such notable abortion opponents as Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput and National Right to Life.

But the political arm of Focus on the Family did support it, and Burton was aided by several other anti-abortion groups and some Colorado candidates willing to endorse the measure - including Scott Helman, who was running for a state Senate seat in Weld County

Fofi Mendez, the No on 48 campaign manager, said the splintering of the anti-abortion groups proved the point they made their campaign slogan - that the amendment "went too far."

"We knew when Coloradans understood the far-reaching consequences of the amendment, they'd vote no," Mendez said.

"The credit goes to our 5,300 individuals who volunteered, donated and fought against this."

The amendment qualified for the ballot with a big splash - getting more than 130,000 signatures.

But once the campaign started, opponents - including Planned Parenthood - outraised Burton's group by a wide margin.

Comments

  • November 5, 2008

    7:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Ed_Thompson writes:

    Very good! We also have The Coalition for Secular Government to thank for their in-depth philosophical analysis.

    http://www.seculargovernment.us/a48.s...

  • November 5, 2008

    8:40 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LadyBird112 writes:

    No Ed, I think its' failure has a lot to do with plain old common sense.

  • November 5, 2008

    8:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Shaupeen writes:

    Thank you Colorado, for being smart enough not to fall for a narrow-minded person's end-run attempt to push her "morality" on all of us in the state. And Kristi Burton, author of this ludicrous amendment, the people have spoken. Loudly and decisively. Go away. Don't waste your energy or our time any more on this.

  • November 5, 2008

    10:36 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Amos writes:

    Colorado’s (and America’s) love affair with killing human life in the womb is representational of its narcissistic preoccupation with death. Death begets death and Colorado is now leading the way in its refusal to define human life in the womb as a person. Death begets death…think about it. Wake up Colorado, God will vindicate the slaughter of the innocent and defenseless. He will bring His justice! He always has and always will. Are you ready? --Amos ben Michael

  • November 5, 2008

    10:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Queen_Gorgo writes:

    3 to 1 ratio = extreme measure. Bye Bye.

  • November 5, 2008

    11:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Himay1 writes:

    Dear Shaupeen and other anti-free speech advocates: You want us to GO AWAY, squelch our free speech and turn away from our desires for a better nation..It's not going to happen! We will not go away...we will continue to be the voice of reason and the voice of those who can not speak for themselves! You can continue to be loud and decisive...your attacks and viciousness only strengthens our commitment...you can't stop us from caring and you can't stop us from supporting what is right!
    As long as you have disdain for life..we will fight to protect it!

  • November 5, 2008

    11:39 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    aia writes:

    Voting against Amendment 48 does not show intelligence on the part of Coloradoans; in fact it shows ignorance and a complete lack of morality and judgement. America needs God in a big way! It is appaling to me that so many people actually believe that killing a child is acceptable. May God have mercy on your souls and on this country. We are so far from the ideals that our country was founded on and so removed from God. I can only pray that the hearts of all Americans are softened toward God and his will.

  • November 5, 2008

    2:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Shaupeen writes:

    Who's god, aia? How about Buddha? Or Ja? Why yours, and why are you so forcibly trying to push him/her on me? If you need someone to tell you how to think, fine. But I'll continue to choose to think for myself, thanks. Keep your god in your (expensive) church.

    And Himay1, 3 to 1. As long as there continue to be 3 intelligent people in this state for every sheep-like zealot, I can rest easy. If you feel you have a boulder to push up a hill, then keep at it. But don't get mad at me when I don't help.

  • November 5, 2008

    2:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    schmaschmortion writes:

    Those goofy proponents of amendment 48. Don't they know that if it passed, it would have been the end of in-vitro fertilization as we know it? I would pay money to see a preist or preacher explain this to a married couple who wants children but cannot conceive.

  • November 5, 2008

    11:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Himay1 writes:

    Shaupeen, you are the only one who mentioned religion...not me! I haven't pushed religion or God on you (ps..Buddhists also hold the sanctity of life high)....you obviously don't need God because you have elevated yourself to a god like position. Your anger and lack of right and wrong define you in more ways than one...you seem to think that your ideas are unique and your thoughts independent...however, there is nothing new under the sun! The embracing of darkness and the culture of death have always permeated society..pagans sacrificed children and the unborn to appease the Sun...today they sacrifice children to appease the gods of convenience and self!
    Shalom and La'Chiam!

  • November 6, 2008

    9:27 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Shaupeen writes:

    Himay. Try reading my reply to you (the second paragraph) again--I never mentioned religion to you either.

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