Planned Parenthood

I wish I could talk to each of our Democratic women legislators right now, especially those who have decided not to run for reelection. I know they are discouraged and worn out, but the truth is we need them more than ever. Yet even without them, I am optimistic that we can stop the Republican Party from turning women into second-class citizens in North Carolina.

Why the optimism? It's simple. The women I know are fed up with men in government trying to interfere in their personal choices. What's more, they are speaking out and acting up like never before. From concerns about contraception and family planning to abortion rights an dequal pay, women are gearing up to push back against Republican over-reaching. And they are going to turn out in droves this fall.

All that outcry via blogs, tweets, Facebook about Susan G. Komen's bad move against Planned Parenthood has paid off. This afternoon, Nancy G. Brinker, Founder and CEO, apologized to the American public

for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives.

In the press release, she said:

The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen.

No kidding!

In light of cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure's decision to turn their backs on women's health in favor of bowing to GOP political pressure to defund Planned Parenthood, I suggest they change their logo to one that more accurately reflects how they really feel about women. As I have designed the logo, I will sell the rights to use it to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure for the low, low price of what they used to give to Planned Parenthood to help low income women receive breast exams. Please send the check to Planned Parenthood, thank you. NOTE: There is no petition. This is satire!

Unbelievable as it seems, the national offices of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation today announced they are severing their ties with Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Apparently their big right-wing donors pressured them into believing that Planned Parenthood isn't first and foremost a woman's health organization, just like they are.

Read more about this bone-headed move, and sign an open letter to stand with Planned Parenthood as a champion of the right of women to have basic health care and to make their own choices about their bodies.

Today President Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (shown below on our back porch campaigning for Obama in 2008) rejected efforts by anti-women's health groups and their allies in Congress to cut off access to birth control for millions of women simply because they work at religiously affiliated hospitals or attend religiously affiliated universities.

MEDIA ADVISORY
September 29, 2011

Health Care Providers File Lawsuit to Challenge Demeaning and Intrusive North Carolina Ultrasound Law: Groups Say State Violates Free Speech by Forcing Doctors to Give Patients Unwanted, Nonessential Information

I wonder what it will ultimately cost for the state to defend Paul Stam's zygote zealotry. Kudos to Planned Parenthood for taking this on.

The law is expected to cost $6.7 million a year, and Stam said the majority of that will go toward the delivery of more children. He said an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 children will be born as a result of the bill.

Just what we need. More people.

The more I read about the Planned Parenthood suit against the State of North Carolina, the more convinced I am that the state's position is indefensible. Check out this post by Paige Johnson and help spread the word. The state didn't just cut funding to this excellent health service provider, the state instituted a ban against doing business with them. This is classic Republican over-reaching, and it is already costing taxpayers who have to fund a losing defense.

Hat tip to Progressive Pulse for coverage of a bold move by Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina. Read all about it.

The Republican-controlled legislature made it clear they did not want spend any money to fund Planned Parenthood in their new budget. Now it appears they will have to spend money fighting the organization in court. Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina (PPCNC) filed suit Thursday in federal court to invalidate part of the budget that cuts off federal and state funds for family planning.

Republicans in Raleigh have what can only be called an abortion fetish, free to run roughshod over poor people and women without restraint. But when they picked a fight this year with Janet Colm, president and CEO of PPCNC, they picked a fight with the wrong person. Janet is the most effective and toughest executive I've ever met, and she doesn't take crap from anyone.