I spent my evening at my local OFA campaign field office making phone calls for the very first time. I'm really fired up and excited and will probably write a diary about my first experience being a volunteer. While I was busy making phone calls I missed what was going on around the Internet, including the release of a new television ad by the Obama campaign, so here it is with transcript for those who can't watch videos online.
Voiceover: As you're making your decision ... maybe you're wondering what to believe about Mitt Romney.
Well, when it comes to protecting your access to birth control ... and the basic women's health care services Planned Parenthood provides ... one thing we must remember, is this:
Mitt Romney: I'll cut off funding to Planned Parenthood.
Voiceover: He'll cut it off. Cut us off.
Mitt Romney: Planned Parenthood. We're going to get rid of that.
Voiceover: Women need to know ... the real Mitt Romney.
I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message.
The Huffington Post describes the ad and where it will be aired. Since budgeting concerns limit the on air television time for this ad, you can help by sharing it with your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors via email and on social media like Twitter and Facebook.
President Barack Obama's reelection campaign released a new ad Friday attacking Mitt Romney's position on women's health issues, the same week in which the Republican presidential nominee attempted to portray a more moderate stance on abortion.
(snip)
The commercial will air in six battleground states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia.
Obama Campaign Ad: Women Need To Know Where 'Real Mitt Romney' Stands On Abortion, Contraception
Last night after the vice presidential debate Lawrence O'Donnell
interviewed President of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, for MSNBC who explains why it is so important for woman to understand what's at stake for them in this election.
Rachel Maddow: Lawrence O'Donnell is in the spin room tonight with Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards. Lawrence, over to you.
Lawrence O'Donnell: Thanks Rachel. Cecile, we've heard something new I think tonight about the Romney-Ryan position on abortion. Mitt Romney has beens saying there is no legislation that I've been contemplating while at the same time saying he definitely wants the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
Cecile Richards: Absolutely.
Lawrence O'Donnell: And would appoint justices to do that. Tonight I think I just heard Paul Ryan saying he doesn't want judges to do this; he wants legislation to do that. He wants elected officials to get rid of the provisions of Roe vs. Wade.
Cecile Richards: Right. I think what we heard tonight was such a clear declaration that they believe; he believes and Mitt Romney believes that government should be making the most private, personal medical decisions for women. And I think this is; I'm glad that it's finally out in the open that they actually do believe that women shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about having children, but in fact this is something we should leave to legislators and government. Because this is something that is not supported by the American people and I think American women needed to hear that tonight.
Lawrence O'Donnell: There was also a discussion in that section of the debate about Obamacare, as they call it, and its effect on contraception services within healthcare plans and as that relates to some religious employers; Paul Ryan talking about that in terms of a depravation of religious liberty.
Cecile Richards: Right. Well I think the incredible thing, and Paul Ryan didn't say this of course tonight, but he and Mitt Romney have said on Day One if they were elected, they would get rid of insurance coverage for birth control from employers all across the board. So actually this is an issue that you know Mitt Romney repeatedly has said. He's going to get rid of Planned Parenthood which serves three million folks a year with preventive care. And now they're saying they're going to get rid of birth control coverage in insurance plans. So I think what you heard tonight is Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan aren't just going to take women back four years; they're going to take women back forty years. And I think this is such a clear distinction; I'm glad women of America and men of America are hearing it because it's going to be a voting issue in the election.
Lawrence O'Donnell: You listened to the whole debate. Taking in the whole debate, what were you hoping undecided voters heard tonight?
Cecile Richards: Well, I think what I heard was a vice president who clearly has the experience, who was fact based, was able to talk clearly about policies. And I thought Mr. Ryan did his best but he talked about big ideas and things with no detail. I think whether it was about war, whether it was about taxes, believing that we need to ... really, the wealthiest in the country need to pay higher shares so that we can get middle class tax relief ... was very clear to me and I think that's what the voters will have heard tonight.
Lawrence O'Donnell: I just want to go back to the abortion issue one more time.
Cecile Richards: Sure.
Lawrence O'Donnell: There was another distinction I think came up between Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney now says that he would favor some kind of exception for, in terms of abortion policy when it comes to rape or incest, Paul Ryan tonight seemed to say no that a pregnancy is a pregnancy.
Cecile Richards: That's exactly what he said. And I think it's very hard, I think, for women to trust Mitt Romney because I feel like he has taken every different position and even this week we've heard him take about three different positions on this. Tonight I think Mr. Ryan made it very clear. They believe that government should make, and legislators should make, decisions that I believe and women believe they should make themselves.
Lawrence O'Donnell: What's your reaction to what we've seen in some polls that indicate a closing of the gender gap with Mitt Romney running better now in the polls any way with women.
Cecile Richards: Well I've seen different polls and I think polls are all over the map right now. I do think this is what women were needing to hear tonight, is what are the differences on particular issues. So I mean I actually think we'll see after this is again this gender gap that has been very strong in favor of the president, I think we'll see it continue to grow.
Lawrence O'Donnell: Cecile Richards, thanks for joining us tonight.
Cecile Richards: Good to see you, Lawrence.