Emily: When I got the call and it was the doctor, not the nurse, I kind of suspected that there was something not right.
ON SCREEN: Emily and her husband were expecting their second child.
Emily: She said that there was something wrong with your baby. There’s a chromosomal disorder, most likely she’s not going to survive.
ON SCREEN: The condition would have caused the baby to suffocate and die shortly after birth.
Emily: We spoke to many, many doctors and decided that the best option for us was an abortion.
Darren Bailey thinks that should have been his decision, not mine — that I shouldn’t be trusted with that decision.
He doesn’t understand what we went through, he wasn’t the one who got the phone call saying that our daughter was dying. We were.
It’s like saying that a family doesn’t know what they’re doing. Whether it be in the case of fetal health, rape, or incest, women are perfectly capable of making their own decisions.
ON SCREEN: Daren Bailey wants to ban abortion even in cases of rape or incest.
Emily: Darren Bailey puts his beliefs before my health. And I fundamentally disagree with him on that.
ON SCREEN: Darren Bailey, too extreme for Illinois.
People don’t realize, this is not a rare situation. It happens to millions of women and it happens every day. I know because it happened to us. It was awful. And yea, Darren Bailey and Republicans across the country would have wanted to torture my wife to carry a non-viable fetus to term. It’s cruel and it’s wrong.
Not only is it a strong argument for a woman’s right to choose, but it reminds you of the GOP’s rhetoric that medical decisions should be made by you and your doctor without government interference. But that was when they were fighting the ACA.
- Lake Springfield - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:55 am:
Bailey is gonna lose with or without this ad. It plays well to the Democratic base, but in the end is just more driving of the wedge that divides us.
FWIW, because some people #onhere love to say “Well the Republican won the Tuscaloosa Dog Catcher race by 17 points, so JB is in big trouble”, that rhetoric, that “Darren Bailey wants to take decisions away from you and your doctor” argument, that’s exactly what won the KS referendum.
And really, if Republicans really cared about “small government”, they’d drop their position. But here we are.
A. The best “regular person” ad that I’ve seen this cycle. I’m guessing the “Too Extreme” tests well which is why they are using it but I kind of roll my eyes when I see “Too Extreme” these days. That phrase seems overused to me.
As to New Day, I don’t think the number is millions but it’s enough to justify that all parents have the option. If you were one of these parents, my sympathies to you. Just a terribly difficult decision to have to make.
A+ and just heartbreaking. what a powerful story. Painful as it was happening and painful for women to hear that someone cares so little for them as Bailey believes.
==It plays well to the Democratic base, but in the end is just more driving of the wedge that divides us.==
Think about who is actively pursuing the divide, and why.
Think about why Republicans are aggressively pursuing government control of the bodies of more than half of the electorate, and why countering that or calling that out is not “equally as bad.”
Think about taking your hands off the keyboard before you begin typing “both sides.”
As an aside, I want to just comment how infuriating it is that women around the country are having to share their deep trauma to be taken seriously on the issue of a medical decision that should plainly be between themselves and their doctors.
=== in the end is just more driving of the wedge that divides us.===
Quite the opposite, actually.
There are there are who feel government should force a 16 year old to have a pregnancy full term even if thstv16 year old doesn’t… and others who are not dangerous to women’s health.
The only thing that keeps it from being an A+ is that Darren Bailey has served in the legislature across two decades. He has a record of voting to take away women’s freedoms time-and-again.
Don’t let him run as an outsider, and nail him to his record.
It’s “Senator Darren Bailey” or “Springfield Insider Darren Bailey.”
“As to New Day, I don’t think the number is millions but it’s enough to justify that all parents have the option. If you were one of these parents, my sympathies to you. Just a terribly difficult decision to have to make.”
You’re right. It’s not millions a year but it’s 10s of thousands each and every year. And from our perspective, it wasn’t a difficult decision. It was excruciatingly painful and something we think of often 20 years later, but if your fetus has such a serious defect that it will die upon birth, it’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t terminate the pregnancy and begin the healing process. And it should be nobody’s decision other than myself, my wife and her doctor. It’s nobody else’s business and certainly not the government.
A+. 100% truthful ad. This is real stuff. Been through this myself except for me it was a devastating sonogram appt and not a phone call where I found out my wished-for pregnancy needed to be terminated.
I had to carry that unviable pregnancy just an extra week to make sure I didnt ge0t my dates wrong or something and that was unbelievably traumatic to experience. Can’t imagine the pain of carrying such a situation to term.
The only wedge being driven right now is by Republicans wanting to put a govt. wedge between pregnant patients and doctors.
===In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz apparently used a similar ad to open up a 51-33 lead in his gubernatorial race.
I won’t go on too much about my adopted state given the site is about Illinois, but Jensen and Bailey have made a lot of the same moves. Both have tried to compare fairly benign policies to the Holocaust and both then doubled down (Jensen more than Bailey). Both don’t seem to think there is anyone they need to talk to outside of their base. Both are losing and likely will lose badly.
A+. Cuts right to the heart of the matter. Like some other responders, my family has been there. Twice. This ad depicts a situation many could see themselves in even if they have not personally experienced it. Bailey has no response. He honestly believes this pregnancy should be carried to term, and that government, not individuals, should make this choice.
“I won’t go on too much about my adopted state given the site is about Illinois, but Jensen and Bailey have made a lot of the same moves. Both have tried to compare fairly benign policies to the Holocaust and both then doubled down (Jensen more than Bailey). Both don’t seem to think there is anyone they need to talk to outside of their base. Both are losing and likely will lose badly.”
Same in Michigan, where I live now. In a different environment and with a different Republican nominee, Whitmer would’ve been very vulnerable, but she is hammering Dixon on the abortion issue and the attacks are landing in a big way. I haven’t seen an ad like this one yet yet (and this is an excellent ad), but I’m sure it’s coming.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 4:04 pm:
A+
Very powerful ad. The pro-life people are not pro-life when they force the births of infants who will later pass away. Not to mention the elitist scolding and opposition to welfare benefits for children who need public assistance. Someone couldn’t understand why there were massive women’s marches in 2017. This is why.
- New Day - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:35 am:
Very powerful. A+
People don’t realize, this is not a rare situation. It happens to millions of women and it happens every day. I know because it happened to us. It was awful. And yea, Darren Bailey and Republicans across the country would have wanted to torture my wife to carry a non-viable fetus to term. It’s cruel and it’s wrong.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:49 am:
That’s powerful.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:52 am:
It’s an A+
I don’t give A+s
It’s “Ball Game”, it’s “Game, Set, Match”
It’s the quintessential reason Bailey is dangerous to women’s health.
Bailey can’t respond. Impossible. That’s perfection.
This will likely be the best ad of the cycle.
- Curious citizen - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:52 am:
A+
Not only is it a strong argument for a woman’s right to choose, but it reminds you of the GOP’s rhetoric that medical decisions should be made by you and your doctor without government interference. But that was when they were fighting the ACA.
- Lake Springfield - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:55 am:
Bailey is gonna lose with or without this ad. It plays well to the Democratic base, but in the end is just more driving of the wedge that divides us.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:56 am:
Certainly hits bailey where he is weakest with suburban women.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:57 am:
A+. What are you gonna do for women in this situation, Darren? Pray for them and let the church ladies help them out? That’s all you’ve got?
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:57 am:
FWIW, because some people #onhere love to say “Well the Republican won the Tuscaloosa Dog Catcher race by 17 points, so JB is in big trouble”, that rhetoric, that “Darren Bailey wants to take decisions away from you and your doctor” argument, that’s exactly what won the KS referendum.
And really, if Republicans really cared about “small government”, they’d drop their position. But here we are.
- Northsider - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 10:59 am:
A+
In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz apparently used a similar ad to open up a 51-33 lead in his gubernatorial race.
The FAFO principle at work.
- Original Rambler - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:00 am:
A. The best “regular person” ad that I’ve seen this cycle. I’m guessing the “Too Extreme” tests well which is why they are using it but I kind of roll my eyes when I see “Too Extreme” these days. That phrase seems overused to me.
As to New Day, I don’t think the number is millions but it’s enough to justify that all parents have the option. If you were one of these parents, my sympathies to you. Just a terribly difficult decision to have to make.
- wildcat12 - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:02 am:
A+
This is the reality of abortion. Bravo to Pritzker’s people for putting this out there, and bravo to Emily for sharing her story.
Abortion is healthcare, not a scare tactic used by right-wingers to get votes.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:03 am:
A+ and just heartbreaking. what a powerful story. Painful as it was happening and painful for women to hear that someone cares so little for them as Bailey believes.
- So_Ill - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:12 am:
Wow, heartbreaking.
A+
- illini - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:16 am:
Bailey, and the Illinois GOP, have only themselves to blame for the message in this powerful ad. I suspect that we will be seeing more like this.
I hope that candidates outside of Illinois who may be in tight races will consider employing this message in their races as well.
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:24 am:
==It plays well to the Democratic base, but in the end is just more driving of the wedge that divides us.==
Think about who is actively pursuing the divide, and why.
Think about why Republicans are aggressively pursuing government control of the bodies of more than half of the electorate, and why countering that or calling that out is not “equally as bad.”
Think about taking your hands off the keyboard before you begin typing “both sides.”
- ChicagoBars - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:25 am:
That’s going to leave a mark.
And while it targets Bailey it’s certainly not going to help down ballot Statewide Republicans with Chicagoland women voters either.
- wildcat12 - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:30 am:
As an aside, I want to just comment how infuriating it is that women around the country are having to share their deep trauma to be taken seriously on the issue of a medical decision that should plainly be between themselves and their doctors.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:30 am:
I give it an A.
With all his anti-abortion talk, shouldn’t Bailey and his ilk mandate vasectomies for single males 18 and up?
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:32 am:
=== in the end is just more driving of the wedge that divides us.===
Quite the opposite, actually.
There are there are who feel government should force a 16 year old to have a pregnancy full term even if thstv16 year old doesn’t… and others who are not dangerous to women’s health.
No wedge. It’s quite simple.
- Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:33 am:
Well said, Wildcat12. Well said.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:35 am:
=== Democratic base===
Forcing a child to have a pregnancy go full term is a Republican base want?
I dunno if that’s a winning *partisan* issue
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:36 am:
==There are there are who feel government should force a 16 year old to have a pregnancy full term==
Slight correction: 10-year-old. And not just in theory, either.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:40 am:
Do Bailey and his base really want a newborn to go through the agony of suffocation?
I can’t with them.
- Cool Papa Bell - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:41 am:
A+
My best to Emily and her family. The bravery to be willing to do an ad like this is impressive.
Now run an ad like this in every state and district in the United States and see what the map looks like in two election cycles.
- Springfieldish - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:42 am:
A+ Her pain is palpable.
- (618) Democrat - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:44 am:
A+ What wildcat12 said speaks for many of us.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:48 am:
I give it an A.
The only thing that keeps it from being an A+ is that Darren Bailey has served in the legislature across two decades. He has a record of voting to take away women’s freedoms time-and-again.
Don’t let him run as an outsider, and nail him to his record.
It’s “Senator Darren Bailey” or “Springfield Insider Darren Bailey.”
He keeps calling himself a farmer for a reason.
- Publius - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:56 am:
The governor should call Bailey a career politician.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 11:59 am:
Top notch A++ hope it runs statewide. Has a tone and topic that should silence all the zealots and fake local controllers
- New Day - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:00 pm:
“As to New Day, I don’t think the number is millions but it’s enough to justify that all parents have the option. If you were one of these parents, my sympathies to you. Just a terribly difficult decision to have to make.”
You’re right. It’s not millions a year but it’s 10s of thousands each and every year. And from our perspective, it wasn’t a difficult decision. It was excruciatingly painful and something we think of often 20 years later, but if your fetus has such a serious defect that it will die upon birth, it’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t terminate the pregnancy and begin the healing process. And it should be nobody’s decision other than myself, my wife and her doctor. It’s nobody else’s business and certainly not the government.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
A+. 100% truthful ad. This is real stuff. Been through this myself except for me it was a devastating sonogram appt and not a phone call where I found out my wished-for pregnancy needed to be terminated.
I had to carry that unviable pregnancy just an extra week to make sure I didnt ge0t my dates wrong or something and that was unbelievably traumatic to experience. Can’t imagine the pain of carrying such a situation to term.
The only wedge being driven right now is by Republicans wanting to put a govt. wedge between pregnant patients and doctors.
- Dotnonymous - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:26 pm:
A+… I can’t help but wonder…what Darren Bailey would say to this Woman…face to face.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:57 pm:
===In Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz apparently used a similar ad to open up a 51-33 lead in his gubernatorial race.
I won’t go on too much about my adopted state given the site is about Illinois, but Jensen and Bailey have made a lot of the same moves. Both have tried to compare fairly benign policies to the Holocaust and both then doubled down (Jensen more than Bailey). Both don’t seem to think there is anyone they need to talk to outside of their base. Both are losing and likely will lose badly.
- ArchPundit - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 12:58 pm:
Oh, forgot, A. Really simple straight forward message that has super-majority support.
- stateandlake - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 1:16 pm:
A+. Cuts right to the heart of the matter. Like some other responders, my family has been there. Twice. This ad depicts a situation many could see themselves in even if they have not personally experienced it. Bailey has no response. He honestly believes this pregnancy should be carried to term, and that government, not individuals, should make this choice.
- Northsider - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 1:33 pm:
== Both are losing and likely will lose badly. ==
ArchPundit, from your keyboard to God’s inbox.
- Romeo - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 2:51 pm:
A. “Everyone knows somebody.”
The Governors campaign is lucky that Bailey gave them a gun with all it’s ammunition loaded, all they had to do was aim it and shoot.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 3:08 pm:
An exceptional ad. This isn’t the only reason to vote for Pritzker, but it’s a really good start.
- 60657 - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 3:12 pm:
“I won’t go on too much about my adopted state given the site is about Illinois, but Jensen and Bailey have made a lot of the same moves. Both have tried to compare fairly benign policies to the Holocaust and both then doubled down (Jensen more than Bailey). Both don’t seem to think there is anyone they need to talk to outside of their base. Both are losing and likely will lose badly.”
Same in Michigan, where I live now. In a different environment and with a different Republican nominee, Whitmer would’ve been very vulnerable, but she is hammering Dixon on the abortion issue and the attacks are landing in a big way. I haven’t seen an ad like this one yet yet (and this is an excellent ad), but I’m sure it’s coming.
IMO Pritzker’s ads featuring ordinary people have generally been very, very effective. I’m reminded of this one from earlier this year: https://capitolfax.com/2022/03/07/rate-gov-pritzkers-new-tv-ad/
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Sep 7, 22 @ 4:04 pm:
A+
Very powerful ad. The pro-life people are not pro-life when they force the births of infants who will later pass away. Not to mention the elitist scolding and opposition to welfare benefits for children who need public assistance. Someone couldn’t understand why there were massive women’s marches in 2017. This is why.