It's no secret that Republicans want to defund Planned Parenthood. Those who are against abortion say that Planned Parenthood is "Killing Babies." Some believe that life begins the minute the egg is fertilized by the sperm, and to perform an abortion is to destroy that "life."
Republicans are fighting HARD to defund Planned Parenthood. Currently five conservative states have made moves to defund Planned Parenthood, or end participation in the funneling of federal money to Planned Parenthood. Thirteen states have launched investigations into Planned Parenthood's operation since the release of the highly publicized, highly deceptive videos released by a far-right-wing anti abortion group, The Center for Medical Progress (CMP). So far, five states have released the findings of their investigations. All have found no wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood. Here's the fact. Planned Parenthood is NOT SELLING BABY PARTS.
Only three states, California, Washington and Oregon, participated in the program that allows patients to have the CHOICE to donate fetal tissue to medical research. Planned Parenthood only recoups the costs associated with the donations. They do NOT "sell" tissue for a profit.
U.S. scientists have been using such cells for decades to develop vaccines and seek treatments for a host of ailments, from vision loss to cancer and AIDS. You can read more about the incredible scientific advancements from fetal tissue research in this article from U.S. News.
Fighting to defund Planned Parenthood is NOT the answer. Let's review what Planned Parenthood actually does.
- 38% STD Testing and Treatment for BOTH men and women.
- 34% Birth Control. (Remember, this is what PREVENTS abortions from being necessary in the first place!!!)
- 15% Cancer Screenings and Prevention
- 9% General Women's Health and Prenatal Services
- 3% Abortion Services (which receives ZERO government funding)
- 1% Other Health Services (including adoption referrals and family practice)
Bottom line - attempts by Republicans to defund the organization as a whole is a DIRECT attack on women's health care. Planned Parenthood provides essential services to women all over the United States at extremely reasonable costs. Without Planned Parenthood, many women would have no other place to go for these essential services.
Now let's get to the EXTREME Hypocrisy of Republicans with regards to Fetal Tissue Research.
Recently, Republican Presidential Candidate Dr. Ben Carson told Fox's Megyn Kelley "There's nothing that can't be done without fetal tissue" and that the benefits of fetal tissue have been over promised and the results have "very much under-delivered."
Carson also said, "At 17 weeks, you've got a nice little nose and little fingers and hands and the heart's beating. It can respond to environmental stimulus. How can you believe that that's just a[n] irrelevant mass of cells? That's what they want you to believe, when in fact it is a human being."
Turns out, Dr. Ben Carson himself did research on 17 week fetal tissue!
Here's another example of extreme hypocrisy by Republicans.
Fertility clinics all over this country routinely discard or donate unused embryos to medical research. Many conservatives argue that "life" begins at conception. This means, the moment the egg is fertilized by the sperm. Why is it OK for fertility clinics to destroy these "lives" and it's not okay for a woman to have the right to chose not to carry the same to term? Why aren't conservatives picketing and screaming at fertility clinics for "killing babies?" Both could become a baby if carried to term, right?
So what gives, conservatives?!?! It's a life, or it isn't. You can't have it both ways. And how do you defend Dr. Ben Carson?? He can't be "against" something that HE HIMSELF DID!!! It just doesn't work that way!
In the USA, it is legal for a woman to have the right to chose what to do with her body. She gets the right to choose when (or if) she wants to start a family. It's important for women to be able to SAFELY make that choice, and it's disgusting how hypocritical conservatives are on this issue. If you really want to reduce the number of abortions that happen in this country, you should be fighting your ass off to protect Planned Parenthood.
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This Article Originally Appeared on Let's Talk Nation