This week, the LA Times reported this week that John Weaver, a strategist for John McCain's presidential campaign, verbally attacked Planned Parenthood, the nation's leading reproductive health care advocate and provider. Weaver called the 90-year old provider of birth control, cancer screenings, sex education and abortion services "one of the most radical pro-abortion groups in the country."
For the record: Ninety seven percent of Planned Parenthood's services are focused on prevention, including family planning, contraception, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Three percent of Planned Parenthood services are abortion care.
In response, Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards today sent a letter to McCain's campaign about Weaver's incendiary remarks.
Richards reminded McCain that "millions of U.S. women, men and teens from the reddest of red states to the bluest of blue states -- including more than 80,000 Arizonans -- rely on Planned Parenthood every year for cancer screening, breast exams, family planning, medically accurate sex education, birth control and abortion services."
And for McCain, this should hit close to home.
The letter continued:
"In light of your most recent attack on Planned Parenthood's vital health care mission — driven by the need to score political points for your campaign — I feel compelled to point out that some of your most generous donors are also some of Planned Parenthood's strongest supporters. In fact, Planned Parenthood in Arizona was founded by Republicans, including Mrs. Barry Goldwater and Mrs. Maie Bartlett Heard."
Planned Parenthood is the nation's leading reproductive health care advocate and provider, and its services go well beyond Arizona's borders. Before the campaign lobs another attack on Planned Parenthood's trusted reproductive health care services, McCain should consider the health and well-being of the millions of individuals and families who support and benefit from Planned Parenthood services every day in communities nationwide.