In an effort to rally opposition to congressional efforts to end funding for Planned Parenthood, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America has implemented a nationwide bus tour, dubbed the “Truth Tour.” Ironically, the tour fails to report the truth on the number of abortions performed by the organization, or on the truth of Planned Parenthood’s eugenic roots.
Traveling in a bright pink bus advertising various statistics and health data related to Planned Parenthood:
“4,000,000 STD Tests”
“1,800,000 Cancer Screenings”
“2,500,000 Birth Control Patients”
“830,000 Breast Exams”
However, the bus fails to promote the startling statistic that 3,332,278 abortions were performed at Planned Parenthood clinics in 2009. Likewise, the bus does not advertise the $363 million in government grants and contracts, including federal taxpayer dollars that Planned Parenthood received in fiscal year 2008-2009 alone.
CNS News reports of taxpayer contributions to the organization under Title X family planning provisions:
Although federal law does not allow for taxpayer dollars to directly pay for abortion, critics of Planned Parenthood, which is the largest provider of abortions in the United States, say the millions of dollars it gets annually help it support other programs, thus freeing up funds that can be used to promote or perform abortions.
It also fails to mention that Planned Parenthood’s revenues, as indicated by their latest annual report, are $1.1 billion.
Strangely, the in an effort to get out the “truth”, the bus fails to reference the eugenicist roots of Planned Parenthood, as Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger had hoped to utilize the organization to eliminate the African American population and rid society of “undesirables.”
The “Truth Tour” comes in response to efforts from Congressional Republicans to prohibit federal funding of Planned Parenthood for the remainder of the fiscal year. On February 17, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment sponsored by Mike Pence that did just that, but the Senate failed to take up the measure.
CNS notes, however, that legislative efforts have not dwindled:
“Legislative action to defund Planned Parenthood is working its way through Congress. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) sponsored a bill to ensure that no federal tax dollars, across the board, will be used for abortion. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) has introduced legislation to specifically defund Planned Parenthood.”
As Republicans continue to push for cutting federal funding to Planned Parenthood, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America is coordinating efforts to garner support. In addition to the bus tour, Planned Parenthood has launched an email and advertisement campaign requesting support to fight the congressional efforts to cut funding to Planned Parenthood.
According to an action alert email from Planned Parenthood, “They’re spreading lies about Planned Parenthood health centers online, on the airwaves, and in the halls of Congress.”
The email also responds to a nationwide bus tour by pro-life group Susan B. Anthony’s List called “Women Speak Out: Defund Planned Parenthood”-which promotes the defunding of Planned Parenthood. That tour is making 11 stops and will be touring 13 districts from which members of Congress who voted against Pence’s amendment are.
The Planned Parenthood email refers to the members of that tour as “anti-choice extremists”:
“The anti-choice extremists behind the effort to bar Planned Parenthood health centers from federal funding are on a tour to push lies and misinformation about who we are and what we do.”
Regardless of the misleading tactics employed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Susan B. Anthony’s List project director, Marilyn Musgrave, asserts, “The message is clear: not with our tax dollars. We will accept nothing less than the total de-funding of Planned Parenthood.”
Photo: Demonstrators in New York attend a rally on Feb. 26, 2011 to protest the U.S. House vote on Feb. 18 to block federal funding for Planned Parenthood: AP Images
