Indianapolis News and Headlines

Actions

Indiana congressman calls letter comparing Sour Patch Kids to forced birth "shocking & disgusting"

Posted at 11:36 AM, Sep 08, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-08 13:41:48-04

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- An Indiana congressman shot back over social media after receiving a letter and a box of Sour Patch Kids delivered to his office earlier this week, calling them a "shocking and disgusting attempt to devalue human life."

Congressman Larry Bucshon (R-IN) posted a photo of the letter written by Planned Parenthood Action Fund Volunteer Kylie Carrithers to his twitter page on Wednesday. It came with a box of Sour Patch Kids that read: "Kids are sweet but forced birth leaves a sour taste."

The letter also included a small baggy of erasers with the words "you can never erase your votes" written on them."

"Regardless of your views on this issue, how can anyone defend this sickening and callous disregard for the sanctity of human life," Bucschon posted on his Twitter page. 

Carrithers defended her letter, saying she used the term "forced birth" to remind Congressman Bucshon of the quote "removing access to a safe, legal procedure is essentially forcing women to carry pregnancies to term that otherwise may not have been."

Congressman Bucshon's Deputy Chief of Staff Nick McGee said it wasn't the political message that was the issue, it was the way the message was delivered. 

McGee says Bucschon felt the message being written on a box of Sour Patch Kids was "in poor taste, disgusting and devalues the sanctity of life."