Ever since I heard the anti-abortion protesters screaming in my ear and had their fake signs of dead babies thrown in my face as I sheepishly went into a Planned Parenthood on Colorado Avenue back in 1996, I've been pretty clear that these folks are up for using all sorts of manipulative tactics to limit choice. This new angle, however, surprised me. The argument goes:
We should stop federally funding Planned Parenthood because the economy is so bad and they already have private donations.
FYI, Planned Parenthood receives about $335 million a year from the government, specifically targeted for contraception, sex education and health care for poor women and teenagers. Yup. I'm sure this has everything to do with the failing economy and nothing to do with some strategic (not to mention righteous) thinking on the part of a few anti-abortion organizations that are trying to squeeze lemonade out of some really shitty lemons. Note: the federal funds don't go to abortions. That money comes from the other 2/3 of the budget raised through private sources. But I'm sure that the anti-choice folks see any way that they can hurt Planned Parenthood as a score for the team.
The Wall Street Journal gave this specious argument major column inches covering it in yesterday's paper, reporting that "The Family Research Council is developing a kit to help grass-roots activists dig through financial reports so they can make detailed presentations to elected officials about the assets and revenue of local Planned Parenthood chapters. The council has sent letters to 1,200 state legislators describing Planned Parenthood's strong financial position and urging 'a second look' at public funding."
Already, Planned Parenthood's in Florida and Georgia have been hit.
http://www.feministing.com/archives/012636.html
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