I’ve been disturbed by some of the diaries (sadly including FP) and comments trying to suggest that Bernie is attacking Planned Parenthood and its work in light of comments he made responding to Rachel Maddow’s question about endorsements of Hillary Clinton by HRC and Planned Parenthood. Obviously, Bernie’s comments about their being part of the establishment did not mean he intends to attack or defund them.
But I was just as disturbed or more to see some commenters making negative statements about Planned Parenthood and indicating that they would never give to PP again. Some also raised questions about whether PP really needd their support if they have $20 million to be spent on independent expenditures promoting Hillary and other endorsed candidates.
I work in the nonprofit sector and can assure you: when you make a tax-deductible donation to Planned Parenthood NOT ONE PENNY of those funds can go to supporting Hillary’s candidacy. Those dollars come from Planned Parenthood’s political arm (the Planned Parenthood Action Fund) and rely on an entirely separate pot of non-tax-deductible contributions.
The work Planned Parenthood does for women’s health is critical and shouldn’t fall victim to political gamesmanship. It is clear that establishment politicians want to use Bernie’s Planned Parenthood comments as a wedge to try and separate Bernie and his supporters from important progressive causes and supporters. But Bernie’s own platform states his views clearly:
We are not going to allow the extreme right-wing to defund Planned Parenthood, we are going to expand it. Planned Parenthood provides vital healthcare services for millions of women, who rely on its clinics every year for affordable, quality health care services including cancer prevention, STI and HIV testing and general primary health care services.
So echoing Bernie’s platform, I just made a tax-deductible donation to Planned Parenthood (not the Action Fund), and I marked my contribution in honor of Bernie Sanders. He stands in support of Planned Parenthood, even though their PAC arm did not choose to endorse his candidacy. We should follow his lead.
You can contribute to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, or select your local affiliate (as I did) on this website:
Don’t let establishment voices tear us apart. For the political revolution to succeed, we need to stand together and in support of progressive values including the vital work of Planned Parenthood for women’s health and reproductive services. So please take a moment to make a contribution in honor of Bernie Sanders — let’s send the message that whatever establishments pols and pundits may try to say, and regardless of their Action Fund’s endorsement, we support Planned Parenthood and have their back in the fight for women’s health.