Oregon Public Broadcasting

Actor Martin Sheen is best known for playing a President with MS on TV’s “The West Wing.” Now he's speaking out against Initiative 1000 in Washington State. That's the ballot measure that would enact an Oregon-style assisted suicide law. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.

Sheen is a well known liberal activist. He’s also Catholic and the Catholic Church is a key opponent of I-1000.

Sheen stars in the first ads to hit the airwaves in the battle over the so-called Death with Dignity law. In this minute long radio spot, he says he has an urgent message about the Initiative.

No on I-1000 ad: “It’s a dangerous idea that could hurt thousands of low income people who need medical care. It’s a step backwards and I urge you to vote no.”

Proponents of I-1000 respond that the initiative gives terminally ill patients a choice of when and how to end their suffering.

Sheen will also appear in a TV ad scheduled to start airing later this week.

It’s late for ads to begin in a political campaign season – a sign that despite the emotional nature of the debate neither side is lavishly funded.