The Republican effort to defund Planned Parenthood at the federal and state levels is beyond the pale.
They want us to believe they are trying to stop abortion services and/or the sale of fetal tissue, but a close examination of both issues reveals how false that claim is.
For one thing, not only is it illegal for Planned Parenthood to use federal or state funds to support abortion services, it is impossible.
Planned Parenthood funding comes in the form of reimbursements for services rendered.
That means clinics have to submit proof of services that have been provided and then they are reimbursed. There is no wiggle room here, and no federal or state money can or has been paid for abortion services.
In regard to the sale of fetal tissue, it is something Planned Parenthood started doing for the sake of medical research, not profit, and only when a woman wanted to do it.
In reality most Planned Parenthood clinics never engaged in this practice, but because of Republican propaganda about it they decided to stop it altogether.
Who was the loser? Medical research, that’s who.
So Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood have nothing to do with abortion or the sale of fetal tissue.
It’s all about trying to destroy Planned Parenthood, period.
Remember the community organization called ACORN that Republicans destroyed based on fake videos and false information? That same effort is now being directed at Planned Parenthood.
If they succeed they will have managed to deny basic healthcare services – pelvic exams, pap tests, STD screenings, mammograms, HPV tests, yeast infection & vaginal exams, issues related to menopause, pregnancy testing and birth control – to those who will not get them without Planned Parenthood.
When Republicans say these services can be provided by others they know perfectly well that without Planned Parenthood clinics no such services exist in many places around the country, especially in rural and remote areas.
So when Republicans talk about being “pro-family,” they are not talking about all families, only some.
But I have to admit Republicans are right about one thing. Defunding Planned Parenthood is a moral issue, only it is about how morally reprehensible their efforts are.
It makes you wonder if truth or integrity means anything to Republicans these days.
linnposts.com 