Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
Planned Parenthood brings in a billion dollars a year, much of that by offering abortion services. But it also gets about a third of its budget from you, the taxpayer. And that taxpayer subsidy of $300 million or so is so important that, apparently, the Democrats are willing to shut down the government over it. Or so they claim. The Republicans say that's not the issue, the size of the spending cuts is. You can read more at Politico. I'm not sure how saying that you're willing to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood is a winning campaign spin, but, then again, I'm just a taxpayer who wonders what in the world we're doing funding Planned Parenthood in the first place.
But my favorite spin in this whole mess comes from House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, of Maryland. He sent out a press release yesterday that said:
If Republicans needed any further proof that their partisan one-week CR will shut down the government, the President has announced he will veto it. It’s time they get serious and agree to a compromise.
Got that? Their legislation to keep government open will shut down the government because President Obama will veto it. That is some sound blame game logic right there.
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Nov '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
This logic is often heard in my house:
"Why are you crying?"
"Because he threw a toy at me!"
"You, why did you throw a toy at her?"
"Because she hit me with a stick!"
"Did you hit him with a stick?"
"Yes"
"Why?"
"I don't know."
That's brain damage! And the democrats suffer from it.
May '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
(psst: I know it's just a typo. but the subsidy is $300 million, not billion.)
Nov '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
I hope most taxpayers are not this misinformed but at a dinner a couple of years ago at the house of a board member of Planned Parenthood one of the guests took great umbrage when another guest voiced concerns over taxpayer money funding abortions. The indignant guest claimed PP does not do abortions. No one demurred. Maybe this was an outlier event, but I wonder.
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
Scott,
Thank you -- I fixed it.
Jun '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
“From a fiscal standpoint, why are U.S. taxpayers borrowing money at a record rate to, in part, provide grants to an organization, Planned Parenthood, which raised $388 million more than it spent from 2002 to 2007?” [Chuck Donovan, senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation] asks. “There might even be a rule there for Congress to consider — any nonprofit that applies for federal funds should be required to reveal its reserves and explain why the taxpayers and not the nonprofit should bear the cost of the activity the grant covers. The easiest way to get to this result, of course, is to defund the grant program until the nonprofit can demonstrate real need for its services.” (from: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/264108/planned-parenthood-s-pink-hot-water-kathryn-jean-lopez?page=3 )
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
Great post Mollie. The media reporting on their very weird illogic like it's reasonable has been giving me fits.
Sep '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
I saw at least 5 different Democrats asked on Fox News last night, "Why didn't you guys pass a budget last year?"
The answers ranged from obfuscating nonsense, to mindless blather, to "yeah, but that is all in the past."
This is how the Republicans can win the issue. Drum this point home. The Democrats have no defense for failing to pass a budget last year.
Jun '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
I wish I had a magic keyboard that could print unprintable characters to express unprintable sentiments towards certain members of the political class, that would not run afoul of the CoC.
Reminds me of some classic Bill Cosby. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMSc97UksM
Dec '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
Just posted this over at The Hill:
The Democrats' position is, "if we don't get taxpayer funding for abortion, soldiers fighting for America won't get paid". And they accuse Republicans of being ideological.
Sep '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
I wonder if, like a electrical blackout, the government shutdown will cause a baby boom.
"I was a government shutdown baby"
"Oh, your parents stayed home and did it?'
"No, they ran out of free condoms"
Aug '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
Planned Parenthood may be one of the most inaccurately named organizations in the country.
Murderous so-and-sos come to mind, but code of conduct restrains me.
May '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
From our good friends at the Daily Caller:
"That the House will eventually trade in its policy riders like so many tickets at a Chuck E. Cheese isn't exactly a secret. Less clear is how Boehner is going to sell a potential bait-and-switch to social conservatives, who haven't been this excited since Tipper Gore tried to kill hip hop."
Sep '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
I think Dem's want a shutdown so that they can play out the narritive that Sen. Schumer accidentally admitted to.
Unfortunately many Republicans want a shut down as well. I heard a guy on the radio this am say "I am for a government shutdown if that what it takes to clear up this deficit mess". Well my point is that nothing about this particular impasse will clean up the mess.
Planned Parenthood is an abomination, but the average non-affiliated voter (who will decide the next election BTW) does not follow this too closely and will have his/her opinion formed by what is on the network news. And that will be families being turned away at Yosimite and Yellowstone Parks and all the rest of it and BTW they will blame Republicans and especially the tea party.
I know it sounds bad but we need to play politics on this one and preserve our political capital for the big fight over next year's budget.
Sep '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
From ABC news, Representative Jackie Spier (D-CA) copped to having her own abortion at age 17 and further went on to say...
"There is a vendetta against Planned Parenthood, and it was played out in this room tonight," Speier continued. "Planned Parenthood has a right to operate. Planned Parenthood has a right to provide services for family planning. Planned Parenthood has a right to offer abortions. Last time you checked abortions were legal in this country."
"Now you may not like Planned Parenthood, so be it. There's many on our side of the aisle that don't like Halliburton...But do you see us over here filing amendments to wipe out funding for Halliburton? No, because frankly that would be irresponsible. I would suggest to you it would serve us all very well if we moved on with this process and started focusing on creating jobs for the Americans who desperately want them."
You may be able to see through the non-sequiturs here but I can assure you that this will appear reasonable to the average non-affiliated voter. Republicans will be on defense from hour one of this shutdown.
Jan '11
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
In other news, Hoyer announced that Republican attacks on the EPA would result in unchecked increases of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing a food surplus that would create a worldwide economic crash as grain prices dive. Also, the entire city of Atlanta would be covered by kudzu.
In other news, Hoyer announced that if Republicans attempt to shift NASA's focus from Muslim outreach to space exploration, Muslims worldwide will throw murderous temper tantrums and Republicans will be responsible for uncountable deaths. Also, the administration will be forced to cut the funding currently keeping those creepy space aliens hidden in Area 51 and then only Claire, with her connections to the museum of aliens in Istanbul, will be able to save humanity.
Sep '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
Ross Conatser: I think Dem's want a shutdown so that they can play out the narritive that Sen. Schumer accidentally admitted to.
... the average non-affiliated voter....will have his/her opinion formed by what is on the network news. And that will be families being turned away at Yosimite and Yellowstone Parks and all the rest of it and they will blame Republicans ...
I know it sounds bad but we need to play politics on this one and preserve our political capital for the big fight over next year's budget.
The trouble with this tactic is the Democrats win every issue. You can use this logic for every occasion. Let them scream and wail.
I think they will overplay this. And you know what? It makes me want to puke that people on our side will so easily allow this type of voter - someone so shallow that he would against Republicans simply because he was personally affected by a National Park closure - determine their political strategies.
Anyone who is this selfish will forever vote for Democrats anyway and look for any excuse to justify it. Trouble is you believe them when they give out their "reasons".
Nov '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
But if they went on offense first ...
Sep '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
30 B in cuts on last year's budget would be a victory for us. Consider the idea that they (Dems) don't get everything the want because what they want is to increase spending to their political supporters.
Our best political move is the make sure this is about spending and the deficit and future generations. Dems are making it about abortion and CO2 and extremism and that is what the riders allow them to do.
Oct '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
From Wikipedia: The organization has its roots in Brooklyn, New York where Margaret Sanger opened the country's first birth control clinic. Sanger founded the American Birth Control League in 1921, which in 1942 became part of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc
Harry Reid says he is personally offended that Republicans would put women's health at risk. I am personally offended that an organization that was founded expressly for and has been dedicated to the destruction of the unborn is referred to as a "health" organization
Nov '10
Re: Government Shutdown Over Planned Parenthood?
Deroy Murdock has an idea for how Republicans can avoid blame for the shutdown...