DENVER – Despite pleas to curb “inflammatory rhetoric” days after a shooting spree at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, vitriol from all sides swirled about Tuesday.
Inside a committee room across the street from the Colorado Capitol, Republican state lawmakers used a budget briefing to allege a lack of transparency from state health officials concerning investigations into whether Planned Parenthood, an abortion provider, sold fetal body parts.
Over on the west steps of the Capitol, reproductive-rights advocates – mostly women – declared that the GOP inquisition led to the Colorado Springs shooting last Friday, which left three dead, including a police officer and two civilians.
Neither of the events seemed to answer a call by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper on Monday, who said, “I think it’s time to look at how we tone down some of the inflammatory rhetoric.”
Authorities, as of Tuesday afternoon, still had not released a clear motive in the case. Robert Lewis Dear Jr., 57, has been preliminarily charged with first-degree murder, though additional formal charges are expected in the coming days. Prosecutors are looking into domestic terrorism and hate crimes as possible offenses.
Much of the politics have been driven by media reports that Dear referred to “baby parts” in a statement to authorities when surrendering.
Despite the tragedy still fresh for the public and victims’ families, Republicans on Tuesday wasted no time, getting right back to the fetal body parts issue. Remarks came during a budget hearing with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
“Will the department be taking some action to deal with this inadequacy?” asked Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, pointing out that the state health department has taken no action against Planned Parenthood on the fetal body parts issue.
Anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released videos over the summer that the group says shows Planned Parenthood profiting from fetal-tissue programs. The secretly recorded videos were heavily edited, according to forensic experts who submitted their findings to congressional panels.
Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director of CDPHE and chief medical officer for the state, said his department did investigate, watching more than five hours worth of video footage.
“We did not see any connection to Colorado,” Wolk responded to Lundberg’s question.
Lundberg appeared irked by the response, pointing out that the medical director of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains appears to discuss organ harvesting in a video released by CMP. He accused Wolk and his department of withholding information and not being truthful, despite Wolk promising to be “transparent, as always.”
“The word ‘as always’ is also not accurate,” Lundberg responded.
Across the street, NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado and ProgressNow Colorado claimed Republicans have blood on their hands for advancing the anti-Planned Parenthood message.
“I find it hard to believe that these things are not linked,” said Amy Runyon-Harms, executive director of ProgressNow Colorado. “We must start pointing out who is the real culprit.”
Karen Middleton, the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, added: “If you’re calling women’s health care providers evil, you’re part of the problem.”
Colorado Springs Republicans responded with dismay, livid that left-leaning groups would use the recent tragedy to advance a political message.
“Our grieving has been interrupted by groups that would exploit our tragedy to promote their agenda,” said Jeff Hays, chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party. “They use the vile actions of an evil man for fundraising and political gain.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, assailed Hickenlooper for suggesting that people need to curb political remarks.
“Gov. Hickenlooper’s comments that he wants to limit discussion of a controversial political issue are reckless,” Tipton said. “It’s a slippery slope when politicians begin deciding what is and is not an acceptable form of political rhetoric.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
