Planned Parenthood didn't endorse Clinton, its Political Action Committee did.

[geek tragedy]

This seems like a distinction with out a difference, but there's a big difference.

Money donated to Planned Parenthood itself does not get donated to candidates, and does not get spent on advocacy on behalf of candidates, or any kind of policy advocacy.

It gets spent on providing health care to poor women.

If people want to withhold donations to Planned Parenthood Action Fund over the donation to the PAC, hey I guess that's fair. They're certainly not entitled to the donations of people who are supporting a rival candidate.

But people who are encouraging a 'defunding' of Planned Parenthood itself are trying to hurt poor women by preventing them from getting healthcare treatment. That's what Republicans are doing when they make such a call, that's what Bernie Sanders supporters are doing when they call for people to withhold donations to PP over the Clinton endorsement.

Republicans are shitty human beings when they do that. So is everyone else.

[-none]

1. Good to know they are two different enities.

[geek tragedy]

2. two different budgets, two different legal structures etc.

of course, they're not completely independent, but the funding sources are separate.

each solicits their own donations.

[earthside]

3. For 80 percent of Americans ...

... it is a distinction without a difference.

Planned Parenthood has just shot itself in the foot.
Now in addition to all the scurrilous charges hurled against PP can be the accurate observation that is has become a shill for Hillary Clinton.

It is almost perplexing to me that Planned Parenthood Action Fund could be so politically inept, except that this is the result of Hillaryism: insider, elitist cronyism, just like the Clinton Foundation.

Once again, everything Hillary touches ends up being tainted.

[geek tragedy]

4. or maybe they think Clinton would be a more outspoken advocate on women's health issues

Clinton came to their defense when Sanders didn't after those tapes came out.

http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/hillary-clinton-defends-embattled-planned-parenthood-n397476

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/17/politics/planned-parenthood-video-bernie-sanders/

(note that Sanders did make statements similar to Clinton's a week after she did)

Sanders isn't entitled to anyone's support.

Sanders supporters generally make themselves look quite bad when they claim only corruption could cause someone to support the other candidate.

[senz]

35. Do some Hillary supporters use Bernie avatars?

If so, that would be a very, very "Hillary" thing to do.

[geek tragedy]

38. No, but in the real world there are people who are neither 100% Clinton

nor 100% Bernie supporters.

One can prefer Sanders to Clinton (not a neocon Warmonger, no history of surrounding himself with people like Mark Penn and Syd Blumenthal and Lanny Davis) without thinking that all things Bernie are golden and all things Clinton are toxic waste.

[Historic NY]

78. Thank you..

The endorsement, technically made through the nonprofit’s advocacy arm, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, brings with it at least $20 million to spend in this election cycle on presidential and Senate races in crucial battleground states, including New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

[jeff47]

86. Came to their defense...by calling the videos disturbing. And later making a statement in support.

Just like when she said "All Lives Matter", she needed a do-over to get it right.

[geek tragedy]

87. You have it exactly backwards.

The statement I linked to defending PP is dated 7/23/15. The interview where she called the videos disturbing (while also defending PP) was dated 7/28/2015.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150729/NEWS0605/150729073&template=mobileart

[jeff47]

88. So she got it right, then got it wrong, then got it right.

Oh, that's SO much better.

[geek tragedy]

89. Um, no.

"I have seen pictures from them and I obviously find them disturbing. Planned Parenthood is answering questions and will continue to answer questions. I think there are two points to make. One, Planned Parenthood for more than a century has done a lot of really good work for women: cancer screenings, family planning, all kinds of health services. And this raises not questions about Planned Parenthood so much as it raises questions about, you know, the whole process, that is, not just involving Planned Parenthood, but many institutions in our country. And if there’s going to be any kind of congressional inquiry, it should look at everything and not just one part of it.” - See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150729/NEWS0605/150729073&template=mobileart#sthash.xNpuNTox.dpuf

Any way you slice it, she outdid Bernie in that respect. Does that mean voters should ignore her war mongering and terrible governing instincts in general? Of course not.

[jeff47]

90. Outdid by saying the videos are awful, but they do good work too!!

I think we've defined "defend" down quite a bit.

[geek tragedy]

91. Since you obviously did not read the first link:

Here are her comments on July 23, 2015:

"For more than a century, Planned Parenthood has provided essential services for women," Clinton said while campaigning at a community college in Greenville, South Carolina. "And I think it is unfortunate that Planned Parenthood has been the object of such a concerted attack for so many years. And it's really an attack against a woman's right to chose."

There is no possible, conceivable argument that Clinton didn't handle it better than Bernie did. That is reality. Also reality is that Clinton is not perfectly evil. Also reality is that Bernie is a human being not a unicorn that farts rainbows.

[questionseverything]

19. Once again, everything Hillary touches ends up being tainted.

sad but true

they had to know what a back lash this would cause but i guess hc and ms richards decided that hc's campaign was more important than the millions of women that need it's (pp) services

[2pooped2pop]

26. yep n/t

[William769]

5. To bad the circular firing squad has already engaged. nt

[geek tragedy]

6. not really a circular firing squad--that would imply those doing the shooting

are part of the same squad as everyone else.

I'm a Bernie supporter (I just agree with him on the big issues more than I do with HRC) , but JHC a lot of truly obnoxious cranks are self-identifying as supporters of his.

[William769]

14. I never even thought of you when I made the comment.

My apologies if you thought so.

[geek tragedy]

17. no, I didn't take it personally, cheers nt

[Armstead]

28. Call me a crank if oyu must but.....

I really feel strongly that an issue and service oriented organization like PP should not be interfering in primaries where all candidates are supportive of their positions. (If they want to support a pro-choice candidate over a clearly anti-choice candidate, that's anotehr matter.

It muddies the waters and creates the perception, justly or not, that they are partisan hacks. That undermines their very worthy overall goals and mission -- and it creates a needless conflict of feelings among those who support PP but do not support their chosen candidate.

[geek tragedy]

32. Your position is perfectly reasonable.

I probably agree with it.

I'm talking about people who are encouraging donors to "defund" Planned Parenthood itself.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=986450

Not a good way to sell one's candidate.

[Punkingal]

41. I agree with this post totally...

I am not so much aggravated at the endorsement, though, as I am finding out after that Ms.Richards daughter works for Hillary's campaign.

I don't doubt she is qualified for the job, but the way it makes PP look is disappointing. They have enough problems with the RW. They didn't need to give them another issue to be stirred up about, but they did. And because I am upset about that, I get accused of being anti-abortion and a reader of RW rags like Brietbart and numerous other things.

I simply dread having to defend another thing that looks under-handed while working during the GE if Hillary is the nominee. It is distressing to say the least to be attacked for honest concerns, with no acknowledgement that are honest.

[PowerToThePeople]

8. makes you wonder

With a supporter of republican candidates running the DNC, how many Republicans have infiltrated other progressive organizations and are trying to destroy them from the inside as well?

[questionseverything]

21. to be fair

i would not call ms richards a repub but she has been a child of privilege,there is no reason to expect she could understand how bad things are for the 99%

your larger point about how many have infiltrated is spot on ....children of privilege find there way to the top over children with actual talents all the time

[Amimnoch]

67. Really.. today new Bernie faux outrage topic.

This group shouldn't get political, yet there were no cries from his side when they got the endorsement of Friends of Earth.

The 30% who support Bernie can withhold their donations for planned parenthood. The 53% of democrats currently supporting the REAL Democrat in the race will boycott Friends of Earth and any other organization who supports sanders.

Is that statement above stupid enough? It's basically what every jackass who's decided to target PP over this endorsement is saying.

[FreakinDJ]

7. Correction - a Clinton Crony did

HRC is channeling Bush Cronyism even before she gets elected

[geek tragedy]

9. Do you really think Cecile Richards is anyone's crony? nt

[FreakinDJ]

12. Difficult view looking up at the 1% club

[geek tragedy]

15. Did you watch Cecile Richards when she testified in front of Congress?

This is a woman who believes in her cause.

[Agschmid]

24. Yup. Very powerful testimony.

[Armstead]

31. I love her then, but she pissed me off with this endorsement

Among otehr problems, it adds to the perception that PP is some kind of partisan Democratic organization, which is not going to make it any easier for them in the current fights over finding.

[geek tragedy]

33. the right to choose is a partisan issue.

There hasn't been a credible pro-choice Republican or credible anti-choice Democrat to run for their party's nomination in a long, long time.

PP is a partisan issue against their own will, having been used as a political football by the Republicans.

I don't think the endorsement is a great idea, but I also know that Cecile Richards is savvy and dedicated to her own cause, so I can't really sit here and say I know better than her on how to help her own cause.

[senz]

37. I think they shot themselves in the foot with that.

And I am a supporter.

[Amimnoch]

69. So I guess those of us in the Majority should condemn and start attacking

groups like Friends of the earth? You know, one of Bernie's endorsements?

The hypocritical hyperbole is hitting an epic level.

[senz]

72. Did I say that? Even suggest it?

Slow down. Gettin' purty excited there, Amimnoch.

[Amimnoch]

92. Holy hell what has this primary season done to me?

My apologies Senz. You are absolutely right.

Some of the things I've seen said about PP the last couple of days has made me hypersensitive and overly defensive.

Time to step away from the board for a couple days, and breath a little.

[Hekate]

61. Death threats don't mean anything to you? Because everyone at PP is under the literal gun.

You are speaking from incredible ignorance if you don't know that.

[FreakinDJ]

64. Then they shouldn't be playing Crony games with Hillary

WTF 2 wrongs make a Right ??

Now that is ignorance

[Hekate]

71. I'm saying it is not cronyism, and neither has done anything wrong. If you think for one minute that

...rolling over for the Right Wing like you think they should has ever, ever protected anyone, then you have not been paying attention the past 30 years.

[FreakinDJ]

80. You might not be BUT Everyone else is saying CRONY CRONY CRONY

ABC News
CNN
Times
Post

Wake up and smell the Cronyism - and yes in this twisted 1%er Clinton Foundation / Hillary Clinton is playing Planned Parenthood will be the big looser

[Hekate]

81. Question1: have you ever donated so much as a dime to PP? Question2: what kind of advantage...

....is there in being endorsed by an organization so utterly demonized by the RW that Fiorina could get away with her filthy lies about "little legs kicking" for even one minute?

[FreakinDJ]

83. What does that have to do with the Price of Rice in China and Clinton Cronyism

I don't control public opinion NOR do you

But PP brought this on their self playing Crony games with the Clintons

[Hekate]

84. So you have no answer except that you are repeating RW lies. Good on ya.

[seabeyond]

10. It is absolutely offensive Geek, that you have to write an Op clarifying an endorsement

to protect the services PP provides.

Thank you for making this statement. AND, it is absolutely offensive that it is needed or thought to be needed.

I am so tired of supposed Democrats finding any reason at all to embrace misogyny and sexism.

I am stepping out again, refusing to be a part of a conversation where we as Dems find any excuse to trash/attack PP.

[2pooped2pop]

30. so you are saying...

that a group of misogynist and sexist were dontating money to pp but have used the fact that they allowed Hillary to purchase them as an excuse to not give to pp? Cause, I'm thinking they could have just stopped giving at anytime if they were misogynist and sexist. Not everything is about gender even when it includes pp. You do seem to like to claim that everything is though.

[seabeyond]

42. Any time someone starts with "so you are saying..." And then starts telling a story,

The answer is consistently. No, I am not saying.

I am just saying.

[2pooped2pop]

44. well, don't you have any more room on your blocked list?

I would be proud to be on it. Then you won't have to read any of what I say. It's kind of a win win, don'tcha think?

Oh that was in reply to your post prior to your edit. Following is the original if you need a reminder.

The answer is consistently. No, I am not saying.

I am just saying.

As you well know, what I am saying.

Btw... I pretty much stop reading when i see, "so you are saying..."

So, I really have no clue what you said.

[seabeyond]

46. My lock list is empty. as is ignore, or whatever other choices we have. I don't care.

[2pooped2pop]

47. hmmm. so are mine

perhaps we both need to rethink that decision? I'm going for the smiley this time.

[seabeyond]

50. hmmm.

[a2liberal]

65. logic has no place here! (nt)

[cali]

11. Excellent post

[Attorney in Texas]

13. The better approach is to donate directly to candidates who support Planned Parenthood rather than

donating directly to Planned Parenthood or its PAC.

Private donations to Planned Parenthood are not going to keep Planned Parenthood's doors open (especially when Planned Parenthood PAC is committing unforced errors that foolishly alienate a large portion of Planned Parenthood's former supporter base).

Ensuring we have a Congress that will continue to fund Planned Parenthood is the best way to keep Planned Parenthood's doors open and this has the added benefit of cutting the mismanaged Planned Parenthood PAC out of the loop.

[geek tragedy]

16. PP gets less than half of its revenue from the government nt

[Attorney in Texas]

22. Without government support, Planned Parenthood cannot go forward. This is not true of any private

contributor's financial support of Planned Parenthood.

Any challenge to the continuation of governmental funding is an existential threat to Planned Parenthood.

The alienation of a sizable portion of those who no longer donate directly to Planned Parenthood because of the reckless mismanagement of its PAC might possibly be an inconvenience to Planned Parenthood but it is not an existential threat to Planned Parenthood.

Those of us who have redirected our financial contributions to addressing the existential threat to Planned Parenthood rather than subjecting our contributions to the influence of a mismanaged PAC are providing more of a long term benefit to Planned Parenthood than we were achieving through our previous financial contributions directly to Planned Parenthood.

[MADem]

18. Private donations kept the door open when Komen pulled the rug out. How soon people forget.

That bullshit game also produced blow back that Komen never has recovered from.

Which is a GOOD thing.


http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-susan-g-komen-20140108-story.html

[SunSeeker]

34. The PP PAC is not "mismanaged." It did the right thing.

PP PAC is just acknowledging reality and making sure the best fighter, for its and all women's interests in the political war over women's bodies, gets into the White House.

Donating directly to PP cuts the PAC "out of the loop" too, AND ensures 100% of your donation goes to PP's work.

[Attorney in Texas]

43. Not mismanaged? So you think that this is all going well for Planned Parenthood? So the PAC's

alienation of a large segment of its supporter base was what the PAC intended all along because this was the best way to serve Planned Parenthood's interests?

The PAC is not independent from Planned Parenthood so donating directly to Planned Parenthood does not, in fact, cut the PAC out of the loop.

This was an error.

The regrettable consequence were foreseeable.

Making an error where the regrettable consequences were foreseeable is mismanagement.

[SunSeeker]

48. Nope. Picking the best candidate is not mismanagement.

And money going to PP does not go to the PAC.

[Attorney in Texas]

49. How would you react if Planned Parenthood endorsed George Pataki?

[1StrongBlackMan]

68. Pataki indicated that he would defund PP ...

(After the video thing) so I doubt they would endorse him. Besides, Pataki isn't Pro-choice, so much as just not wanting to spend the capital to reverse Roe.

[MerryBlooms]

20. Rec & Kick. Good post.

[MH1]

23. Admittedly I haven't looked, but I haven't actually seen

any major effort to encourage people not to donate to PP. I guess they're probably out there though.

i have, however, seen individual declarations of withdrawal of support. So thank you for this thread, it is important to make the distinction.

I just recently renewed my recurring donation to PP. Even though I don't "stand with Hillary" in the primary (she's my 3rd choice), I'll damned sure stand with Planned Parenthood. Always.

[geek tragedy]

25. Bingo. I don't agree with the endorsement of Clinton, but I understand

why an advocacy group on choice would choose Clinton.

PP is not an organization that is set up to deal with Wall Street, or foreign policy.

But they walk the walk on women's health and choice.

[SunSeeker]

27. K & R

[karynnj]

29. Thanks -- however, I wonder if the charge that Sanders' supporters are "defunding" is itself a smear

attack.

The endorsement happened TWO DAYS ago. It would seem that it is far too early to even see a drop in contributions - even if it were beginning to happen. I know that I did not see anything until today suggesting that -- yet it is written as if there were some immediate organized action to do this.

In fact, I am not surprised that they endorsed HRC even though Bernie has a similarly good record. I had more problem than LCV endorsed HRC - though Bernie had a MUCH BETTER environmental record than Clinton.

[geek tragedy]

36. it quite often happens that a number of Sanders supporters say such obnoxious shit that the

rest of us feel it's a smear to have those statements extrapolated to us.

Supporting Sanders is often life wearing an "I'm with stupid" t-shirt.

We're seeing it with regard to this, we saw it with regard to the "Uretsky was a DNC plant" boomlet wherein about 20% adopted it and the rest said stop smearing us a bunch of loons.

[karynnj]

39. True of almost all large groups -- there have been at least as many obnoxious posts that

likely embarrass most Clinton supporters. It is unfortunate - on both sides - and will make it harder to come back together after the primary.

[geek tragedy]

52. those who got along before the primaries will get along after the primaries

[stevil]

40. Thanks for the post

PP PAC does not exist to solely endorse Hillary Clinton, if the endorsement turns people off, so be it. I would encourage people to at least look at their advocacy and support (including other politicians) an other areas to support women's health.

[aikoaiko]

45. Right, that's just like the distinction between the NRA and the NRA-ILA (the political entity).

Except for the different missions.

[RandySF]

51. Thank You!

[BainsBane]

53. Thanks for pointing that out

It's an important distinction many of us have missed.

[joshcryer]

54. This defending thing started on Reddit.

Some ratfucker over there posted a preposterous thread suggesting that all money intended for PP go to Sanders and to not give them a dime of support.

Fortunately there were a lot of Sanders supporters who didn't like that idea but the cat was out of the bag.

[geek tragedy]

57. unfortunately, there's nothing so stupid that it won't get some support

so long as people say "you don't love Bernie unless you do this"

[joshcryer]

58. just another goddamed thing that's causing insanity

at this point I'm certain is ratfucking, there's no way actual progressives throw PP under the bus like this without insane social media manipulation

[SusanCalvin]

55. Good point, thanks for making it.

Although it was still a stupid move.

[PFunk1]

56. Actually that's a good idea.

But put somewhere on the donation that it's to PP proper and NOT to it's PAC if it is possible to do just that.

Still PP was the one that started this mess IMO. And now it has to deal with it's fallout.

[madfloridian]

59. Cecile Richards IS that group. On about page only Cecile and Laura Tucker listed.

Only two names mentioned. Cecile Richards and Laura Tucker.

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/about-us/cecile-richards/

In the blog section Richards explains why they endorsed Hillary over Bernie. I frankly don't think there's enough of a difference for the group to give more fuel to the anti-abortionists and anti-choicers. One of their main arguments against the group is that it donates more to Democrats.

This is verifying that in their minds.

The blog makes clear that Bernie is considered a strong supporter of women's rights, but that it is Hillary who started legislation that Bernie strongly supported and voted for and signed on to.

https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/elections-politics/blog/

I still believe they broke a longtime pattern of not endorsing because they are a medical group because of two reasons...to add to the inevitability aura just before Iowa and because of close ties to the Clintons personally and Clinton Global Initiative.

http://jackpineradicals.org/entry.php?152-Clinton-s-Planned-Parenthood-ties-run-deep-A-little-obvious-for-1st-endorsement

In an added sign of bonhomie between Clinton and the top Planned Parenthood executive, Richards’ daughter, former Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Lily Adams, signed up last spring with the Clinton campaign as Iowa press secretary, a high-profile portfolio for a campaign eager to shore up support in the important early state that rejected Clinton in 2008.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the group’s federal political action committee, gave $8,000 to Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign, and $1,837 to her presidential committee in the 2008 cycle, records show. Many of Planned Parenthood’s PAC biggest donors are also longtime Clinton donors, some of whom supported the Ready For Hillary PAC as early as 2013, and have maxed out with $2,700 contributions to her primary campaign this year.

Longtime Democratic donor and proponent of women candidates Barbara Lee, for example, was one of the top 20 Planned Parenthood Action Committee donors in the 2012 cycle. She also donated $7,000 to Ready For Hillary in 2013. And other major Planned Parenthood donors like Susan Mandel, Democratic bundler Naomi Aberly and major Democratic donor Amber Mostyn, have all maxed-out for Clinton with $2,700 donations.

Clinton’s relationship with Planned Parenthood also extends to the Clinton Global Initiative. For the past two years Planned Parenthood has been a member of CGI and in 2012 committed to train “youth peer providers” in Latin America, Africa and the U.S. on ways to promote birth control.

..... Planned Parenthood has enlisted Democratic consultant SKDKnickerbocker’s Hilary Rosen, another close Clinton ally, to help with the current public relations crisis. And Planned Parenthood Action Fund hired Democratic pollster Geoff Garin — who is also the pollster on the Clinton super PAC Priorities USA and served as a chief strategist of Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign — to conduct a poll about attitudes toward the organization.

I think probably it would have been best to continue their previous policy of not endorsing.

[geek tragedy]

70. That's probably true, but as you pointed out there's

a lot of ties between Hillaryland and PP's base of support. Not surprising--this is one area where Clinton has been good for a long time.

I'm a little surprised they did this, but not shocked.

[Hekate]

60. It says a LOT about the current climate at DU that your statement brought tears to my eyes

We can disagree about the candidates without going blind with crazy partisanship.

[marksda]

62. You Can't Have It Both Ways

Either Planned Parenthood endorsed Hillary Clinton or all you Hillary Clinton shills lied.

Additionally, if the Planned Parenthood Action Fund is independent then it can be sued for false representation of the positions of Planned Parenthood.

By taking no action against the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Planned Parenthood is in effect signing off on the endorsement.

So which is it?

You Can't Have It Both Ways.

[geek tragedy]

66. Whoosh. nt

[blackspade]

63. Then perhaps it is incumbent on PP to make this arguement

I hear what you are saying, but the fact is that the Clinton Campaign is the most to blame by preempting the PP announcement but not making this clear.
They fucked PP by jumping the gun.

[highprincipleswork]

73. Never have I seen a group of voters more prone to rationalizations...

since Republicans.

Just accept that actions have consequences, and go with that.

[senz]

74. I'll bet none of Hill's largest donors give a whit for PP.

And would make a another bet that all of Bernie's largest donors are PP supporters.

[geek tragedy]

75. You'd lose that bet. nt

[senz]

76. Whole lotta big banks up there before you get to Emily's list -- the single outlier.

I just love your Bernie support and can't wait to hear more about it!

[geek tragedy]

77. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=988799

[Hekate]

85. You would lose that bet.

[Hekate]

82. Which "mistake" they are vociferously defending at "Democratic" Underground.

[cherokeeprogressive]

93. My Chevy didn't get me across the country; its seat belts did.

Has about as much distinction.