One marker of progress that we’ve seen in this budget debate is increased awareness that Planned Parenthood is primarily an abortion business. They’ve been working hard over the last few weeks to avert attention from that reality. For example, over at The Nation, Katha Pollitt weighed in earlier today claiming that “the budget stalemate is not about abortion.” Then she asked, in a tone saturated with condescension: “How can the fight be about abortion, when . . . no federal monies are spent on abortions at Planned Parenthood?” Spare us the sophistry. Planned Parenthood is the world’s largest abortion provider. And 97 percent of its pregnant clients receive an abortion. Meanwhile, it is receiving over $360 million in federal and state monies. In this context, asserting, as Pollitt does, that “[Planned Parenthood’s] abortion services are not funded with taxpayer dollars” is just downright silly.
— Charmaine Yoest is president of Americans United for Life.