Mitt Romney stirred up his opposition yesterday after telling a local news reporter in Missouri that he would "get rid" of Planned Parenthood if elected president.
“The test is pretty simple. Is the program so critical, it’s worth borrowing money from China to pay for it?" he told KDSK. "And on that basis of course you get rid of Obamacare, that’s the easy one. Planned Parenthood, we’re going to get rid of that."
A campaign aide later qualified that Romney meant he'd get rid of federal funding for Planned Parenthood, not get rid of the health care provider altogether, but that didn't stop Democrats from pouncing on Romney's original statement. They claim Romney has become the most extreme candidate on issues affecting women.
What do you think?
In a conference call with reporters today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards spoke out against Romney's statement.
“It seems as if Mitt Romney is trying to out-right anyone else in the race,” said Congresswoman Schakowsky, adding that she believes it's because he's trying to distance himself from his position a decade ago. In 2002, Romney sought the endorsement of Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion services, when running for governor of Massachusetts. He supported abortion rights until 2005, when he changed his position.
Richards made the point during the call that at a time when voters are more concerned about the economy than social issues, cutting federal funding to Planned Parenthood is not a viable solution. “The most conservative economist will tell you family planning saves money. It saves taxpayer money," she said.
“For every dollar invested in family planning, we save four,” Congressman Quigley added.
During the call, reporters questioned whether Romney's recent comment about Planned Parenthood was worthy of the level of attention it has received, given that he has said many times that he wants to cut the organization's federal funding. Congresswoman Schakowsky said yesterday's comments were indicative of Romney's real feelings about the Planned Parenthood. “I think if Mitt Romney could get rid of Planned Parenthood, he absolutely would do that,” she said. “When he said ‘get rid of it,’ he meant that he would do whatever he could to get rid of it.”
Image via Planned Parenthood
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Comments 24
This i will take it as cutting federal funding not shutting it down because that is all he says.
In regards to Romney's comment, I wish we, as a people, would give every politician a little more leeway to make statements. I'm tired of BOTTH SIDES taking a single phrase out of an entire speech and using it to frame an argument, or using it to say that "this candidate wants to take away your rights or outlaw xyz." I think it makes us, as a citizenry, look like a bunch of high school drama queens instead of the informed country that we try to be.
In regards to Planned Parenthood, I will agree that they provide an extremely valuable service to many, many women. I do NOT like that they provide abortions while any part of their organization is funded by government money. In an economy like ours, everything needs to be on the figurative chopping block. I don't know how much of PP's budget comes from federal dollars, but I'm willing to bet this piece of chocolate I'm about to eat that they would be able to make up that amount in private donations, if the fed money was pulled. I feel the same about PBS (which I absolutely LOVE), NPR, and many other "non-constitutional" programs.
The fact that we are, in essence, owned by China should scare the ever-lovin' crap out of every one of us. And the fact that we're sitting here twitting about how we need to pay for everybody's birth control and whatever else, while our nation's indebtedness is as out of control as it is, should make us willing to cut whatever federal programs are necessary to get ourselves back on an even keel.
<<given that he has said many times that he wants to cut the organization's federal funding>>
Well yes, given that he has said this many times, I am more apt to take it seriously!
Ponychaser- Why should family planning be on the chopping block? Doesn't it make sense to keep the population down to "manageable" levels while we try to pull out of this recession?
If you make family planning less accessible, you will have more people, and specifically more people on government aid. That makes absolutely no sense in this economy.
I don't like Romney, but I'm all for cutting federal money to Planned Parenthood.
Hm...that maybe makes me like him a little better now.
Well said billsfan and pony. It's the funding NOT the organization. It's such a misleading headline. Also, I'm sick of everyone having a free ride. I paid for my own birth control. Why should my tax dollars be spent paying for someone else's? Far too many people take advantage of these "free" programs and I think that's the first thing that should stop. I also don't like abortion and hate like heck that my tax dollars would support and fund those. If you want one get one but don't expect me to pay for that either.
Lore - cutting federal funding does not mean "cutting access". I never said that PP should be wiped off the map. I simply said that it should not be funded with tax dollars. I also said that they should be able to make up that money easily with private donations. What just happened with Komen? They pulled their annual donation, and it was made up for in very short order by other private citizens stepping up and filling that hole.
And "family planning" is not ever on the chopping block. Family planning starts with a woman making a personal choice that has nothing at all to do with the federal government. Don't try to turn this into a "the feds are trying to ban contraceptives" debate, because it absolutely is NOT.
Woo Hoo! RIght on, Mitt!
Just because he says he wants to do it, doesn't mean it's going to happen. He'd have to get through Congress and that ain't easy. So I don't see this as anything worth getting up in arms about.