NARAL freaks out over Wisconsin’s “Choose Life” license plates

Citizens of Wisconsin will soon have the option to express pro-life values by purchasing a recently approved license plate design, featuring an ink stamp of a baby’s foot and the words, “Choose Life.” The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports, “Annual $25 donations for issuance and renewal of each plate will be awarded to pregnancy resource centers in Madison, Milwaukee and Appleton’s Womankind Medical Clinic.”

The special plate was proposed by Choose Life Wisconsin, a corporation formed by Wisconsin Family Action and Pro-Life Wisconsin. Choose Life Wisconsin President Julaine Appling celebrated the state’s approval of the plates:

This is an incredible way for people all over the state to make a donation that will help the on the ground frontline resource centers who help women in crisis situations and help them make wise choices when they have an unplanned pregnancy.

On Friday, NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin issued a statement condemning the license plates, and labeling crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) as “fake women’s clinics.” The statement reads:

Crisis pregnancy centers are run by anti-choice (“pro-life”) groups and are designed to be easily mistaken for real reproductive health clinics. An investigation by NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin conducted in 2012 found that there were at least 79 CPCs operating in the state. In 2016, there are only three abortion clinics remaining.

An “investigation”? To find out how many crisis pregnancy centers exist in the state? Ok then, Sherlock. Glad you figured out how to use Google.

NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin executive director Eliza Cussen added, “[Crisis pregnancy centers] operate solely to mislead women who are seeking health care and use a moment of vulnerability to push an extremist agenda.”

And of course, by “extremist agenda,” she means helping pregnant mothers through a time of crisis – without selling abortions. Yeah, totally extremist. When is the pro-choice camp going to figure out that people aren’t buying their ad hominems and empty phraseology?

Cussen continued, claiming that Choose Life Wisconsin “is an organization that does real social harm that is centered around restricting the human rights of women.”

Appling countered that buying the Choose Life plate is, quite literally, a matter of “choice.”

“No one’s forcing anyone to buy the plate,” Appling said. “This is an option just like all the other specialty license plates are for people who want to go purchase those… It’s a country where we have lots of opportunities for pluralistic messages.”

According to Wisconsin Public Radio, Cussen suggested that pro-choicers should present alternatives to the Choose Life plate.

Hmm… “Choose Death”?