Breaking news: Reuters reports that Senator Rand Paul is trying to force a vote to block federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
Dear MoveOn member, Breaking news: Reuters reports that Senator Rand Paul is trying to force a vote to block federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has started a "fast-track process" to bring Paul's legislation to the floor for a vote soon.1
This is just the latest attack against Planned Parenthood since a heavily edited, blatantly misleading video was released attacking Planned Parenthood two weeks ago.2
"The folks behind it are part of the most militant anti-abortion movement," said Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards today. "This entire effort is a political smear campaign."3
We're launching an emergency effort to defend Planned Parenthood, and we have to get going immediately. Will you make a contribution now to help us defend Planned Parenthood?
Yes, I'll chip in to help defend Planned Parenthood and stop the attacks on abortion rights.
Within days of the video's release, Republicans in Congress started scheduling votes to defund Planned Parenthood—and preparing even broader attacks on abortion rights.4
Then, another deceiving, doctored video was released, continuing the smear campaign against the largest reproductive health care provider in America.5
And now—today—Sen. Paul announced he's trying to force a vote to eliminate Planned Parenthood's federal funding.6
It's clear we're facing a highly coordinated attack on reproductive rights. To fight back, we're recruiting local voices all over the country to speak out in defense of Planned Parenthood—including doctors, women and men who have visited Planned Parenthood clinics, and others.
Planned Parenthood urgently needs people to stand with them now. Will you show your support?
Yes, I'll chip in to help defend Planned Parenthood and stop the attacks on abortion rights.
The mainstream news media has done a miserable job fact-checking this story, so let's set the record straight: The claim that Planned Parenthood profits from the sale of fetal tissue is a disgusting lie.
Here's the truth: When a woman chooses to terminate a pregnancy and donate tissue for medical research, Planned Parenthood honors those wishes. These donations are hugely valuable for research into diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.7
This is 100-percent legal, consistent with medical ethics, and no different than what happens in thousands of other medical situations every day.
Here's something else you might not have heard in the media: The anti-choice activists behind the video probably broke the law with their secret recording.8 And one of their leaders runs an organization whose members have bombed abortion clinics and assassinated an abortion provider.9
We don't have much time to fight back—Republicans in Congress are pushing to schedule votes to defund Planned Parenthood as soon as possible.
With your help, we'll flood Capitol Hill with phone calls and mobilize grassroots voices all over the country to defend Planned Parenthood. Will you chip in $3?
Yes, I'll chip in to help defend Planned Parenthood and stop the attacks on abortion rights.
Thanks for all you do.
–Victoria, Maria, Matt, Nick, and the rest of the team
P.S. Planned Parenthood is under attack because of its strong advocacy for reproductive rights and abortion services. But the organization is also a health care provider more generally. Over 2.7 million people turn to Planned Parenthood's nonprofit clinics in the U.S. each year for affordable health care services—including cancer-prevention tests, well-woman visits, and access to birth control.10
This is it. If Sen. Paul's bill passes and gets sent to President Obama's desk—or the vote is even close—it'll lead to even more vicious attacks on Planned Parenthood over the coming months and years. Will you chip in $3 and stand with Planned Parenthood right now in the face of this outrageous smear campaign?
Click here to chip in, help us defend Planned Parenthood, and stop these vicious attacks.
Sources:
1. "Rand Paul plans to keep pushing to defund Planned Parenthood," Reuters, July 26, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305585&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=1
2. "Planned Parenthood: Video latest in 10 years' harassment," KSBY, accessed July 23, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305573&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=2
3. "Rand Paul pushes to defund Planned Parenthood as group cites 'smear' effort," The Guardian, July 26, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305584&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=3
4. "Republicans plan new abortion push," Politico, July 16, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305574&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=4 5. "Second Heavily Edited Planned Parenthood Attack Video Is Also a Big Bust," Slate, July 21, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305575&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=5
6. "Rand Paul pushes to defund Planned Parenthood as group cites 'smear' effort," The Guardian, July 26, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305584&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=6
7. "Why We Still Need Fetal-Tissue Research," Time, July 21, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305576&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=7
8. "Lawmakers Ask Attorney General to Investigate Sham Group Attacking Planned Parenthood," RH Reality Check, July 22, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305577&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=8
9. "The Extreme And Violent Background Of The Group Consulting On The Anti-Planned Parenthood Videos," Media Matters for America, July 21, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305578&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=9
10. "Who We Are," PlannedParenthood.org, accessed July 26, 2015
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=305587&id=126125-10220574-ZmqYQbx&t=10
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