Atlanta Anti-Abortion Billboards: Black Children Are An "Endangered Species"

By GottaLaff

"It's ingenious"? Really? That's not the word that comes to mind when I look at that billboard:

The reaction from black leaders has been mixed, but the "Too Many Aborted" campaign, which so far is unique to only Georgia, is drawing support from other anti-abortion groups across the country.

"It's ingenious," said the Rev. Johnny Hunter, national director of the Life Education and Resource Network, a North Carolina-based anti-abortion group aimed at African-Americans that operates in 27 states. "This campaign is in your face, and nobody can ignore it."

These zealots are outright discriminatory. You can't get much more blatant than this:

The effort is sponsored by Georgia Right to Life, which also is pushing legislation that aims to ban abortions based on race.

So white abortions pass muster? How about Latina ones? Or Asian? What other things might they ban based on race?

Will they encourage more births based on race, too?

"The language in the billboard is using messages of fear and shame to target women of color," said Leola Reis, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Georgia. [...]

In 2008, Issues4Life, a California-based group working to end abortion in the black community, lobbied Congress to stop funding Planned Parenthood, calling black abortions "the Darfur of America."

Pro-Life Action League Executive Director Eric Scheidler said a race-based strategy for anti-abortion activists has gotten a fresh zeal, especially in the wake of the historic election of the country's first black president, Barack Obama, who supports abortion rights.

"Fresh zeal". Somehow that sounds especially crass, doesn't it? "Fresh zeal". How nice for them that they're so energized. So... zealous.

The next time some conservative insists that there's nothing race-based in their condemnation of all things Obama, please feel free to share this post with them.

"To use racist arguments to try to bait black people to get them to be anti-abortion is just disgusting," said Guy-Sheftall, who teaches women's history and feminist thought at the historically black women's college.

Maybe we should ban anti-choice groups by race. And age. And height. And weight. And gender. And everything.

H/t: Ellen

Haiti appeal from Planned Parenthood hit

Because women aren't more vulnerable after a natural disaster? I'm sure there haven't been any rapes or women just without the minimal contraceptive resources, correct?

Pro-life groups are accusing Planned Parenthood of taking advantage of the humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti to promote a pro-choice agenda.

Days after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, the International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR) sent out a fundraising appeal to help rebuild two clinics that were destroyed in Port-au-Prince and Jacmel.

The clinics are operated by PROFAMIL, a "member association" that provides "sexual and reproductive health services," including abortions. The fundraising post said that PROFAMIL is setting up a temporary stationary clinic and mobile-health units to provide "basic first aid, as well as obstetric care and family planning."

Outrage over the appeal quickly spread through the pro-life community and its related blogs. Rita Diller, national director of Stop Planned Parenthood, said on LifeSiteNews.com that the group was "using the disaster and the suffering in Haiti to raise money to perpetuate itself."

Ahem, that would be the point lady, they're just trying to rebuild what was already there providing services. Asswipes.

VIDEO: Abortion rights Round 2: Chris Matthews calls out Bishop Tobin

By GottaLaff

If these organizations aren't up for a good fight, then fuggetaboutit:

To their credit, NARAL and Planned Parenthood are have already shown their willingness to do what's necessary to win this next round. They have threatened to withhold funding from Ciro Rodriguez and Harry Teague, the two members of Congress who got money from the groups in the last election cycle and proceeded to vote for Stupak anyway. And Planned Parenthood has announced its intentions to pull its support from any reform bill that includes Stupak.

There's more hardball to be played. These groups, along with the prochoice PAC EMILY's List, could announce that they'll "score" a vote for a healthcare bill that contains abortion restrictions like the Stupak amendment as an antichoice vote, for instance. That's important because these lobbying organizations use their scores to determine which legislators gets their money--and how much. (Planned Parenthood and NARAL have not yet decided how to score votes on health reform bills that contain antiabortion provisions, though NARAL's policy director, Donna Crane said, "That's a very serious question being discussed in our organization." EMILY's List has not returned calls.)

This was a very extensive piece. Please go read the whole thing.

We have to be as tough as nails on this, consistent, persistent, clear, and unified.

In fact, check out how hard core in-your-face Chris Matthews was on this subject on today's Hardball. He was debating Rev. Thomas Tobin, Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island about banning Patrick Kennedy from Holy Communion for his views, among other things:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

VIDEOS: Right wing darling "ACORN pimp" James O’Keefe has quite a history

By GottaLaff

Earlier, I posted about how this little wingnut snake claimed he was "absolutely independent", but was funded by a wealthy conservative investor.

Let's see what else we can dig up on him. Why, here's something now!

He ran an affirmative action bake sale. Let’s repeat – an affirmative action bake sale, where they sold baked goods for different prices based on your race. This was all to prove a point, of course, that affirmative action is bad.

Here’s that bake sale:


In April 2008, our little "pimp" took on Planned Parenthood:

When James O'Keefe, the undercover "donor," asked if a donation could be used for aborting a black child, a PP staffer from Tulsa responded, "We can definitely designate it for an African-American." [...]

Planned Parenthood founder, Margaret Sanger, once stated, "We do not want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population." [...]

Last Spring, [Lila Rose, editor of The Advocate, the pro-life UCLA publication responsible for the investigations] posed as a 15-year-old seeking an abortion for the child conceived with her 23-year-old "boyfriend," played by O'Keefe. Rose recorded a Santa Monica, CA PP employee encouraging her to lie about her age so that the organization would not have to report her situation as statutory rape.

What a busy bee O'Keefe has been:

[W]e heard James' voice soon thereafter on the now infamous phone calls to Planned Parenthood wanting to make donations specifically to abort black babies.

What a stand-up guy. And the right finds Michael Moore offensive?

UPDATE, via DKos: (h/t: CityCountryMe)

Not everyone among Mr. O’Keefe’s acquaintances agrees. Liz Farkas, a Rutgers student who called Mr. O’Keefe "a nice guy and a loyal friend," said she grew disillusioned after he asked her to help edit the script of a Planned Parenthood sting.

"It was snippets to make the Planned Parenthood nurse look bad," Ms. Farkas said. "I said: ‘It has no context. You’re just cherry-picking the nurse’s answers.’ He said, ‘Okay’ — and then he just ran it."

H/t: Gr8RDH

Barack Obama -- The Best Thing to Happen to End Black Genocide

By GottaLaff

How wonderful that Christians like these are looking out for the health and well-being of African Americans. And how special that they connect the African American in Chief with racist murdering abortionist genocidal liberal conspirators. Wow. Just, wow:

Despite the predictable ramifications of electing the most pro-abortion president in our nation's history, Rev. Childress pointed out that the election of Barack Obama would be the best thing to end Black Genocide. "We now have a face to put on Black Genocide." [...]

Rev. Childress further pointed out in November Barack Obama's strong ties to the nation's leading abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, would expose the facilitator of the conspiracy in America to target the Black Community. The undercover investigative work of Lila Rose of Live Action validates what Rev. Childress and pro-life advocates have been saying all along about the racist and illegal practices of Planned Parenthood. www.liveaction.org

"People are now beginning to connect the dots for the first time and are finding out the depths of Planned Parenthood's racism and the decimation of the African-American community by abortion," Childress stated. "Due to the high profile of Barack Obama as America's first Black President, revelations of his own radical abortion record, and what abortion is and does, is being discussed on an unprecedented level by many more Americans. Just look at Notre Dame. Would there be all the controversy and public awareness if John McCain were speaking?... "

Last time I looked, John Sidney McCain wasn't a black Democrat.

[D]espite a contrary administration, it is the backdrop God has chosen to perform His, "call to conscience." Not democrat. Not republican. Not partisan. Not bi-partisan. But a 'people of conscience' to address the social ills of society and abortion is one of them. That shift is happening now!

I'm nauseous.

H/t: Cody

Tim Kaine Signs Bill Creating 'Choose Life' License Plate

By GottaLaff

The chairman of the DNC is calling it a freedom of speech issue. Will we see a license plate with a pro-choice message?

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine came under fire Monday for signing a bill to create a "Choose Life" license plate, a move that abortion rights activists say runs afoul of his obligations as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Kaine, a Catholic who personally opposes abortion, said he considers such license plate messages a matter of free speech and added that the move was "in keeping with the commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages."

"If Planned Parenthood . . . or another similar organization ever chooses to seek a specialty license plate in Virginia, I believe the constitution would require the state to approve that plate to protect against any viewpoint discrimination," he said.

Well then. Planned Parenthood? NARAL? Where's your plate design?

But the decision -- and the reaction that followed -- illustrated the challenge Kaine faces in trying to balance elected office with his new national political job.

"It is unfortunate that, even after receiving thousands of messages from Virginians and pro-choice activists across the country, Gov. Kaine has opted to sign a bill that advances a divisive political ideology at the expense of women's health," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, said "the Choose Life plate will provide private-sector funding, not tax dollars, to organizations that support families caught in crisis situations. Everyone should agree that is a good thing for the commonwealth."

After the first 1,000 plates are sold, $15 of the $25 annual fee would go to Heartbeat International, a Christian pregnancy resource organization, which would distribute the money to about 40 centers in the state that meet the group's standards.

Plaza evacuated after suspicious package found at Planned Parenthood

They don't know what's in the package yet, so the only reason I'm posting this is to point you to this diary over at DKos. Go read it.

SOLON, OHIO — A portion of Bainbridge Road has been closed and the area evacuated as the bomb squad investigates a suspicious package found outside Planned Parenthood.

The bomb squad doesn't know what's inside the package found at the health clinic on Bainbridge Road near corner of SOM Center Road, but emergency official are erring on the side of caution, a fire official said.

Planned Parenthood clinics are often picketed by anti-abortion activists, and so the controversial nature of the health center is making officials doubly cautious.

Another Vitter Pill: David Vitter introduces legislation defunding Planned Parenthood

By GottaLaff

From the guy who alerted us to the GOP's being "scared to death" of President Obama's popularity, and is infamous for a few other things...

Earlier this year, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), who was named in the DC Madam prostitution scandal, co-sponsored the Marriage Protection Amendment, which would amend the Constitution to declare that marriage “shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman.”

...he force-feeds us yet another Vitter pill:

The Louisiana senator has introduced an amendment to the omnibus spending bill before the Senate to drastically cut funding for family planning programs. Vitter’s amendment states that “none of the funds appropriated under this Act shall be made available to Planned Parenthood for any purpose under title X of the Public Health Service Act.”

The Rushpublic party has one more page of their political diary for us to go back and read to America at the appropriate time. Dogear this one. It should come in handy.

SUV smashes into Planned Parenthood in St. Paul

Yeah, there's been no domestic terrorism on the fraking "Homeland" since 9/11.

ter⋅ror⋅ism
   /ˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ter-uh-riz-uhm] Show IPA Pronunciation –noun

1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.

2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.

On the 36th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, a man smashed his SUV into the entrance of the Planned Parenthood office in St. Paul this morning.

Although staff members have gotten used to protests, particularly on the anniversary of the ruling, "we certainly don't expect this sort of thing," said Sarah Stoesz, the president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. ""It's never happened before and we don't expect it to happen again."

The 32-year-old man was arrested and is expected to be charged Friday on suspicion of aggravated assault, said police spokesman Peter Panos.

"We think it's intentional because of Roe vs. Wade," Panos said. "He's not saying much. He was praying or chanting when the officers arrived."

Planned Parenthood offers gift vouchers

Brilliant.

Indiana residents in need of a quick stocking stuffer this holiday season have an unusual option: Planned Parenthood gift certificates.

The group's Hoosier State chapter on Wednesday began selling gift certificates redeemable at any of its 35 facilities for any service provided -- from basic health screenings to birth control to abortions.

Betty Cockrum, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood of Indiana, said the program was initiated in response to the state's ailing economy.

"Our patients are principally low-income women, and so, needless to say, those patients are more challenged now than ever," Ms. Cockrum said. "We find that when women are [financially] strapped, they're more worried about putting food on the table and gas in their car, and their health."

Planned Parenthood VS John McCain

According to Ben, it's going to air in the Northern Virginia/D.C. area.

Best last line of a post ever

By GottaLaff

From today's L.A. Times, deeeee-lish! Read the last line, then read it again, and then feel free to savor it for at least 5 minutes:

Artist says GOP misses song context

The John McCain campaign has sounded echoes of Ronald Reagan's 1984 campaign gaffe of adopting Bruce Springsteen's antiwar song "Born in the U.S.A." by using the Martina McBride country hit "Independence Day" to bring his GOP running mate Sarah Palin on stage at a rally following her debate Thursday with Sen. Joe Biden.

The title and most of the chorus sound cheery, patriotic and upbeat -- perfect for a rally: Let freedom ring/ Let the white dove sing/ Let the whole world know that today is the day of a reckoning. . . . It's Independence Day.

But the full story in the song, written by Nashville veteran Gretchen Peters, follows the mother of an 8-year-old daughter who finally escapes an abusive husband by torching their house, with him still inside.

"The fact that the McCain-Palin campaign is using a song about an abused woman as a rallying cry for their vice presidential candidate, a woman who would ban abortion even in cases of rape and incest, is beyond irony," Peters said. "They are co-opting the song, completely overlooking the context and message, and using it to promote a candidate who would set women's rights back decades."

Peters says she'll be donating her songwriting royalties from the song to Planned Parenthood -- in Palin's name.

Why, she must read TPC!

New Planned Parenthood Ad- "The Rape Kit"

YES!

The script:
Gretchen: I just didn’t think it would happen to me. I was drugged and raped.

Announcer: Under Mayor Sarah Palin, women like Gretchen were forced to pay up to $1,200 for the emergency exams used to prosecute their attackers.
In the Senate, John McCain voted against legislation to protect women from these same heartless policies.

Gretchen: That is something to me that’s unthinkable. It scares me to death.

VO: Planned Parenthood Action Fund is responsible for the content of this advertising and urges you to get the facts.

Planned Parenthood says it will run in the markets of St. Louis (MO), Madison (WI), and DC/Northern Virginia (VA).

Planned Parenthood receives donations from grassroots e-mail campaign

Love it. Original post about this here.

A grassroots e-mail campaign is asking Obama supporters to stop complaining about Republican GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and to donate $10 to Planned Parenthood in her name instead. Subsequently, the non-profit has received tens of thousands of dollars in donations the past week. Furthermore, for each donation they receive in Palin's name, a hand written thank you note will be sent to the McCain headquarters in Virginia.

Palin Payback: Give to Planned Parenthood in Sarah's name

By GottaLaff

As you may have heard here and elsewhere, Sarah Palin made rape victim's pay for their own forensic rape kits. What a compassionate woman, always thinking of her fellow females. We here at TPC are a tad more accommodating than that, although it's hard to top Palin. We're spreading the word about a brand spankin' new idea that will actually benefit women and help protect their health.

First, a little backstory:

When Eric Croft, a Democrat Legislator from Anchorage, learned of Wasilla’s policy, he drafted HB 270, which Governor Tony Knowles signed into law. The new law made it illegal for any law enforcement agency to bill victims or victims’ insurance companies for the costs of examinations to collect evidence of a sexual assault or determine if a sexual assault actually occurred. Upon signing the law, Governor Knowles said, “We would never bill the victim of a burglary for the cost of gathering evidence, nor should we bill rape victims just because the crime scene happens to be their bodies.”

Wasilla Police Chief Fannon protested the new law stating it would require the city and communities to come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams. Really? Are the true costs of sexual assault and forcible rape in a community only measured and reflected in the dollars spent on the forensic rape kit?

Now the solution:

Per an email I received last night (and also noted here):

Instead of us all sending around more emails about how horrible Sarah Palin is, let's all make a donation to Planned Parenthood.

In Sarah Palin's name.

And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor.

Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood website

You'll need to fill in the address to let PP know where to send the "in Sarah Palin's honor" card. I suggest you use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters, which is:

McCain for President
1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington , VA 22202

PS make sure you use that link above or choose the pulldown of Donate--Honorary or Memorial Donations, not the regular "Donate Online"

The minimum donation is $5 ...and did I mention that it's tax deductible?

Go. Do. Now.

What are you waiting for? Pay it forward.

New Planned Parenthood Ad Attacks McCain

When conservative campaigns malign PP as "babykillers" they are totally forgetting the millions of women who use PP as primary care for gynecological issues.

"Every eight minutes a child is sexually abused. That’s why Barack Obama supported legislation to teach children how to protect themselves," a female narrator says in it. "Now John McCain is twisting the facts and attacking Sen. Obama. Doesn’t McCain want our children to protect themselves from sex offenders? Or after 26 years in Washington is he just another politician who’ll say anything to get elected?"

Planned Parenthood spokesman Tait Sye justifies the response ad, saying: "It was important to set the record straight. [The McCain ad] clearly distorts both Obama's record and the bill."

Indeed, non-partisan fact-checkers have criticized the McCain ad, noting that the legislation didn't teach the birds and bees to kindergartners -- instead it taught "age-appropriate" sex education to help warn children about inappropriate touching and sexual predators. Moreover, although Obama voted for this legislation, he didn't sponsor it and it didn't pass, as the ad implies.

Planned Parenthood highlights the Viagra moment

By Paddy



I'm telling you, they want to outlaw birth control completely. Go read this if you don't believe me. About the ad, the first thing that came to mind was "hoisted on your own petard there, my friend".

(CNN) — Planned Parenthood Action Fund is launching a new ad Wednesday in crucial battleground states set to highlight a campaign trail moment John McCain would rather soon forget.

The 30-second spot aimed at women voters shows McCain's apparent unease when a reporter asked him last week whether it was unfair that some insurance plans covered Viagra and not birth control.

"Ever use birth control? Than you'll want to hear this," the ad's narrator states before a flustered McCain is shown saying, "I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer."

Planned Parenthood spokesman Tait Sye says the ad will run in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. during television programs popular with women — including Wednesday's season premier of "Project Runway" and "Army Wives" on Lifetime. It will also air during Oprah in some markets.