When Rachel Maddow asked Bernie Sanders how he felt about Planned Parenthood endorsing Hillary Clinton he responded:
“So, I have friends and supporters in the Human Rights Fund and Planned Parenthood. But, you know what? Hillary Clinton has been around there for a very, very long time. Some of these groups are, in fact, part of the establishment.”
--Bernie Sanders on Planned Parenthood
Of course, Planned Parenthood is a lightning rod for the ultra right, so no progressive wants to become bedfellows with those who hate Planned Parenthood. The enemy of your enemy is your friend, or something.
But when Planned Parenthood, its CEO or it's board of directors enters the political fray with an endorsement, when it says it would prefer to see Hillary Clinton President, then it has taken the same step the Catholic Church takes when it gets involved in secular policy disputes, when it entertains a social agenda. The Church can denounce abortion from a theological point of view, but when it endorses a candidate who opposes abortion, it opens itself to criticism as another other political actor can expect. Likewise, Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood is a wonderful organization which has done good works for decades, which has helped prevent unwanted pregnancies and unwanted children from entering an unwelcoming world. Some authors, namely those of Freakeconmics have gone so far to suggest the fall in the murder rate coincides with the legalization of abortion, suggesting preventing unwanted children from growing up in a world which rejects them was a stabilizing social instrument.
I'm not sure I buy this, but it's an interesting idea.
The fact is, if Planned Parenthood never did another abortion, it would be abandoning only a small fraction of what it does every day--and it would still prevent millions of unwanted pregnancies every year. It continues to do abortions despite the hate. No corporate board would ever tolerate a practice which contributes so little to profit and which creates such problems for the organization. But Planned Parenthood is not about the money. There are precious few organizations in the world about which you can say that.
Whenever I see Ceclile. Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood testify, I cannot help but think about "House of Cards" and Claire Underwood, who found her non governmental organization could swing political power and presented with that power, she wielded it.
I love Planned Parenthood, but when it goes all political, it reaps what it sows.
No comments:
Post a Comment