We last left spanking-new First District Congressman Brad Finstad back in mid-August, carrying about being farmer by asserting 19th century stereotypes about farmers and circulating a photo purporting to show the New Ulm Republican being sworn in by the House Minority leader.
That last item didn't survive a Rochester Post Bulletin fact check.
Now he's getting dodgy about his stand on abortion in an article published Wednesday in the APG Southernminn chain, Local congressional candidates prepare for November. Andrew Deziel reports:
. . . Since the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Whole Health overturning Roe v Wade, abortion has been at the top of mind for many voters as well. Ettinger has promised to safeguard abortion rights and portrayed Finstad’s position as potentially dangerous.
“It’s not even clear to me whether Mr. Finstad approves of any exceptions for abortion,” he said. “Minnesotans are very clear that Roe v. Wade should be reinstated.”
Finstad sidestepped the issue, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling will return the issue to the states. While Democrats have argued that abortion rights should be enshrined nationwide by law, if not court ruling, Finstad said it should be an issue now for states and their governors to consider. . . .
And that's not the first time Finstad's done some fancy footwork on exceptions to anti-abortion stance. There's this example from his Democratic rival's tweet stream:
Once again, Brad Finstad refuses to give a straight answer on his position on abortion rights. I agree with my opponent on one thing: I’m not a doctor either, and therefore I pledge to stay out of the private healthcare decisions of women. Will he? https://t.co/NYsbnqEkfL
— Jeff Ettinger For Congress (@SouthernMN4Jeff) August 11, 2022
What's causing the vagueness? Could it be his record, that prompted this endorsement press release from the Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life, Pro-life groups endorse Brad Finstad for Congress in southern Minnesota special election? Here's how anti-choice folks see him [bold emphasis in original]:
The Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) Federal PAC and National Right to Life have endorsed Brad Finstad for Congress in the special election in Minnesota’s First Congressional District. Finstad won the Republican primary election on May 24 and will compete in the general election on Aug. 9 to serve out the remainder of the late Congressman Jim Hagedorn’s term.
“Brad Finstad is a dedicated pro-life champion who will work in Congress to protect unborn children and their mothers and to prevent the use of taxpayer dollars for abortion,” said Cathy Blaeser of the MCCL Federal PAC. “These are not mere promises. Brad Finstad has a proven track record of pro-life leadership here in Minnesota. We can count on him to fight for life in Washington.”
From 2003-2009, Finstad served in the Minnesota House, where he cast 63 different pro-life votes and compiled a perfect 100 percent pro-life voting record. He authored the Positive Alternatives Act, which created a grant program to provide practical support and alternatives to abortion for pregnant women and new mothers; through 2020, the program has helped close to 80,000 families.
Finstad voted for the Woman’s Right to Know informed consent law and the Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act, and he cast numerous votes against taxpayer funding of abortion. He also proposed amendments that would allow abortion-seeking women to see their ultrasounds and prevent groups that perform or promote abortion from receiving taxpayer dollars.
“National Right to Life is pleased to endorse Brad Finstad for election to Congress,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Brad Finstad has a proven record of standing up for unborn children and their mothers.”
The Democratic candidate in the special election, Jeff Ettinger, takes a very different position. He states on his website, “I believe Roe v. Wade is and should remain decided law,” and he tweeted that he would “vote to codify Roe v. Wade into law.” Roe v. Wade is the U.S. Supreme Court decision that nullified laws protecting unborn children nationwide.
“Jeff Ettinger wants to permanently enshrine abortion-on-demand. He doesn’t want the Supreme Court to even allow Minnesotans to have a say,” said Blaeser. “Brad Finstad offers a stark contrast. He will advocate for the most vulnerable and be a strong pro-life voice for southern Minnesota.”
At least now we know who got that public money stream flowing to emergency pregnancy centers that Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Matt Birk thought were privately funded.
We're not the first to look at Finstad's dilemma. On August 9, Carly Olson reported for the New York Times in On Republican turf, a Minnesota Democrat is highlighting his stance on abortion rights:
. . . The Democratic candidate, Jeff Ettinger, has leaned hard into his support for abortion rights as he campaigns in the special election for a House seat in southern Minnesota.
The election in the First Congressional District will fill the seat of Jim Hagedorn, a Republican who died from cancer in February. On the ballot in the Republican-leaning district are Brad Finstad, a Republican and a former Agriculture Department official during the Trump administration, and Mr. Ettinger, a Democrat and the former chief executive of Hormel Foods.
The two candidates have tangled over the economy and farming issues in the largely rural district. But in the weeks since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Mr. Ettinger has turned up the volume on his messaging on abortion rights. Mr. Ettinger is in favor of passing legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, and Mr. Finstad is anti-abortion. The Finstad campaign’s website says he will “fight to protect all unborn human beings.”
“There’s a stark difference between Jeff Ettinger and the Republican candidate, so we’ve definitely been highlighting that piece of it,” said Jeanne Poppe, Mr. Ettinger’s campaign chair.
Posts on the campaign’s Twitter and Facebook pages from the past week mention “reproductive rights” and “abortion rights.”
Last week, Kansas voters overwhelmingly decided against removing the right to abortion from the state’s constitution, which Ms. Poppe said affirmed the Ettinger campaign’s messaging push.
Mr. Finstad’s campaign doesn’t think abortion is the issue that will move the needle at the polls. “It hasn’t really come up with very many voters,” said David Fitzsimmons, a general consultant for the campaign of Brad Finstad. “Voters seem to be talking about the economy, inflation, gas prices.” . . .
Ettinger lost, but it was close. And even Thursday's MinnPost article that does a real Debbie Downer on Ettinger's chances in the November election for a full term, Finstad has an incumbent’s advantage in his race against Ettinger, mentions abortion in a post-Dobbs world. Ana Radelat reports:
. . . With about two months until the general election, the 1st District seat is now Finstad’s to lose. Talk of a GOP “wave” has been muted as Biden’s poll numbers have improved and Republicans have faced a backlash over the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Still, most analysts predict Finstad has the advantage.
“It’s a Republican-leaning district,” Rugeley said.
Meanwhile, Rubashkin of Inside Elections said, “the bigger difference in dynamic will be turnout.”
“Ettinger benefited from relatively heftier turnout in the more Democratic areas of the district such as Olmstead County, which reflects a Democratic enthusiasm edge in special elections post-Dobbs this year,” Rubashkin said. “In a general fall election, though, the two parties are likelier to be on more equal footing, rather than one side being extra motivated to turn out for an unusual race. That should be a slight advantage to Finstad.”
No wonder Finstad's sidestepping the questions on what could be a losing issue for him in a post-Dobbs world.
Photo: Finstad doesn't have to answer questions about abortion if he's out standing in a field. Via Twitter.
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