Heinrich misrepresents opponent

Senator Martin Heinrich is running a commercial that he knows is false about Nella Domenici’s position on a very personal and private issue: abortion.

In every speech Nella has given, in every interview, in her own commercial she clearly states she opposes a national abortion ban. She has explained her position in front of pro-life audiences she knows won’t approve of her position, but Nella has integrity. Nella is courageous and she is honest. These are characteristics we should seek in our leaders.

Martin Heinrich is dishonest, and he knows it.  There is not one shred of evidence to support the claims made in his commercials.

• Nella believes abortion should be safe, legal, and most importantly rare. 
• Nella opposes a federal abortion ban.
• Nella trusts and respects women, and she wants every baby to be loved and wanted.
• Nella knows to reduce the number of abortions; we must prevent unintended pregnancies. 
• Her focus has been on preventing unintended pregnancies by educating women on the availability and effective use of birth control. 

This is just the latest example of Heinrich making outlandish claims about Nella. He ridiculously claimed that a Domenici is not a New Mexican—a Domenici.  Maybe he is so unfamiliar with the state that he is uninformed about all the projects, centers, jobs her father, Sen. Pete Domenici, brought to New Mexico. 

Nella has New Mexico accomplishments of her own in communities as far north as Taos and far south as Santa Teresa — support for 15 New Mexico charter schools in Albuquerque, Roswell and Gallup, that includes 9000 students; businesses helped to find investors; small business owned and run with her husband; a consulting firm with her dad; a major infrastructure project for a real estate developer on the border; enough New Mexico philanthropic work to qualify as a second career—the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market to name a couple. Martin probably doesn’t care that Nella’s first job out of college was with the City of Albuquerque working on the homeless situation.

Martin’s next move was to  disrespect all women. He diminished Nella’s achievements, insinuating that a woman could not rise to the top of a worldwide company. Then he claims she is controlled by men in the Senate. Now, he’s claiming that he knows Nella’s position on women’s health better than Nella does. This is worse than lying – it is misogyny at its worst.

Edward Kennedy said, “Integrity is the lifeblood of democracy. Deceit is a poison in its veins.”  Martin Heinrich’s actions exemplify his total lack of integrity. New Mexicans have a choice. 

Amy Orlando is a Las Cruces attorney and former Doña Ana County District Attorney.