CBS4 News' Jessup aired unchallenged Beauprez claim that Ritter “won't do anything” about his pro-life views

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

Before the August 11 gubernatorial debate, CBS4 political specialist Terry Jessup failed to challenge a video clip in which candidate Bob Beauprez falsely asserts that Bill Ritter “won't do anything” about his pro-life beliefs if he is elected governor. Ritter “in fact” has put forward several proposals to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions.

In a recorded introduction that aired before an August 11 gubernatorial debate between Democrat Bill Ritter and Republican Bob Beauprez, KCNC CBS4 News reporter and political specialist Terry Jessup showed, but did not challenge a video clip in which Beauprez asserted that Ritter “won't do anything” about his pro-life beliefs if he is elected governor. While Ritter has said that legislation banning abortion would not be part of his agenda as governor, he has put forward several proposals to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions.

From Jessup's introduction to the August 11 debate, sponsored by Denver PBS affiliate KBDI Channel 12, Denver CBS affiliate KCNC, and the Rocky Mountain News:

JESSUP: Both candidates are opposed to abortion, but even there, Beauprez says there's a critical distinction.

BEAUPREZ [video clip]: Bill says he's pro-life. I'm certainly pro-life. But Bill says he won't do anything about it. You know, I happen to believe in walking the talk, that you can't kind of be something but leave it on the shelf.

RITTER [video clip]: I don't get asked about it much -- I mean, what we've been clear in saying is that I'm opposed to abortion. It is not part of my agenda as governor to change the law.

Though Jessup's report did not say so, Ritter's campaign website lists several policy proposals intended to reduce unintended pregnancies and abortions, including:

  • Make a stronger commitment to family planning. I will restore the funding to Planned Parenthood and other agencies that Gov. Owens cut by executive order.
  • Ensure better access to health care for all women, including birth control and emergency contraception. I would have signed the bill that was passed by the legislature but vetoed by Gov. Owens that would have given pharmacists the ability to provide EC without a doctor's prescription.
  • Provide responsible sex education.
  • Make a stronger effort to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion.

Ritter also explains on his website that he is “an advocate of family planning and a strong supporter of government funding for agencies involved in family-planning education, teen-pregnancy prevention programs as well as responsible and age-appropriate sex education in schools.”

Ritter also addressed his position on abortion in an April 6 Rocky Mountain News article, which quoted him as saying, “It is not part of our agenda to change the law in this state. ... Our agenda around this issue is to reduce unintended pregnancies.”