Planned Parenthood has been under siege for a year, but in three days it managed to recast its controversial image thanks to a fight with Susan G. Komen.
When House Republicans voted to defund Planned Parenthood a year ago, the usual suspects came to the group?s aid, like liberals and Democrats in Congress.
Continue ReadingBut when Komen announced last week it planned to pull grants for breast cancer screenings, they got an unexpected response: the Internet exploded with thousands of angry supporters and others who gave the group $3 million.
Komen changed course Friday and Planned Parenthood claimed a win on an important source of power in Washington ? angry, organized voters.
?I hope that there are members of Congress who will re-think their attacks not only on Planned Parenthood and on women?s health, but really think about the importance of providing preventive care for women in America, and particularly those women who have nowhere else to turn,? Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards told reporters Friday. ?Bullying and trying to make political women?s access to health care is just a losing political strategy.?
It?s not clear what effects the Komen fight will have on Planned Parenthood funding going forward ? the lawmaker whose investigation spurred the Komen move, Rep. Cliff Stearns, has showed no sign of backing down. And conservative presidential candidates like Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have both teed off on the reversal.
Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said Planned Parenthood has more political leverage than it did a week ago.
?Any politician that has been attacking Planned Parenthood I think is going to have second thoughts now,? she said. ?You can?t put this genie back in the bottle.?
Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), the first lawmaker to denounce Komen?s decision, lamented that the fight became political.
?On the Hill, unfortunately it becomes a partisan battle and it shouldn?t be,? the California Democrat said. Honda is circulating a letter supporting Komen?s reversal.
Even moderate lawmakers went on the record assailing Komen?s initial move. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who?s facing a tough re-election fight this fall, along with Democratic Sens. Mark Begich of Alaska, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Max Baucus of Montana signed a letter to CEO, Nancy Brinker Thursday condemning the decision to slash funds, along with many liberal Democrats.
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