Posted on 04/23/2013 5:04:02 PM PDT by markomalley
President Obama will again embrace Planned Parenthood this week, headlining the group's annual gala even amid a growing national focus on abortion.
Planned Parenthood, a lightning rod in conservative circles, announced Tuesday that Obama would give the keynote speech at its annual Washington event, joining Dr. Ruth Westheimer and actress Lena Dunham as "champions of women's health."
"President Obama has done more than any president in history for women's health and rights," said Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. "He understands that access to birth control and preventive health care are economic issues for women and their families."
But the ceremony comes at an inconvenient time for the White House.
Set against the backdrop of the trial of Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, accused of killing babies after they were delivered at his clinic, the president's courting of the abortion rights group is infuriating conservatives and abortion opponents. Sign Up for the Politics Digest newsletter!
For its part, Planned Parenthood has condemned Gosnell's alleged behavior. Still, pro-life groups on Tuesday were calling on Obama to cancel his speech.
"These accounts by former clinic staff have shell-shocked the nation, and it is incumbent upon the president to reconsider his support for the abortion industry and Planned Parenthood, which last year profited from ... committing over 300,000 abortions," said Lila Rose, head of Live Action, a group opposed to abortion.
The White House has tried to keep Obama out of the Gosnell discussion. When asked about the case recently, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the president could not comment on an ongoing trial.
And when directly questioned about abortion on NBC's "Today" last week, the president simply said: "You know, I think, President Clinton said it pretty well when he said abortion should be safe, legal and rare."
The president leaned heavily on Planned Parenthood during his re-election campaign. He accused Republican Mitt Romney of wanting to cut off funding for the group, using the attack as part of his charge that Romney was orchestrating a so-called war on women.
And Richards appeared with Obama in battleground areas, such as Northern Virginia, hoping to sway moderate suburban women in particular.
Because of those close ties, Democrats privately said that Obama could not turn down the invitation from the nation's largest abortion rights group.
"They'd take it as a slap in the face," said one veteran Democratic operative, of Planned Parenthood. " 'Thanks for all that money; thanks for helping deliver the women's vote — now I don't need you anymore.' "
Republicans put it more bluntly.
"He's a second-term president playing to his base — it's payback time," said GOP consultant Mark Corallo. "He's never been one to shy away from being vociferously pro-abortion. The only thing I chuckle about is that he tries to paint Planned Parenthood as a health organization when it's an abortion factory."
Lena Dunham, the actress and creator of the television series "Girls," also will be honored at the event. She ignited conservative anger after she cut a video for Obama's re-election team suggesting that voting was like "your first time" having sex.
Obama will address Planned Parenthood on Thursday after attending the unveiling of George W. Bush's presidential library in Dallas and a memorial service for victims of the plant explosion in West, Texas.
Both fully evolved and completely enlightened...our dear leader.
Obama and the DNC state press will do all they can to keep the economy off of pages 1 through 10.
Another astonishing case of Obama’s tin ear. You’d think he’d beg off giving speeches or saying anything on the topic. Somebody remind me how this guy got elected AGAIN. Oh, Romney. Thanks.
I wonder if the Chechen bomb squads would ever target a group like this.
Every day it seems more and more that this is playing out like a real-life “The Omen” sequel.
Any awards ceremony to honor the distinguished career of Dr Gosnell?
He is the Murderer-In-Chief. He will reap his reward.
It is common to hear people say that there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans, and I agree that in some areas that is true.
But I don’t ever remember George W. Bush giving a keynote to Planned Parenthood.
Sandra Fluke will be awarding that one
Follow the baby blood-stained money. Obama goes with the green and the liquid red wont hinder him.
Frankly, I see it a whole lot more sinister than all that.
Jeremiah 32:26 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore, thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it. 29 The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs incense has been offered to Baal and drink offerings have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger.30 For the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; the sons of Israel have done nothing but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, says the LORD. 31 This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built to this day, so that I will remove it from my sight 32 because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they did to provoke me to anger -- their kings and their princes, their priests and their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33 They have turned to me their back and not their face; and though I have taught them persistently they have not listened to receive instruction. 34 They set up their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it. 35 They built the high places of Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. 36 "Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, `It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine, and by pestilence
Fortunately, the verses following have some comfort for those who remain faithful to God.
There is video of real late-term abortions. Not the illustration or dolls, either. It should be on every Congressman’s monitor.
All while an abortionist (legal or not) butchered women and children for profit with protection from investigatory, medical, and regulatory agencies. Now the judge throws out some of the murders.
He is king of the infant death mills. One day he will be held accountable for all of his evil acts, I trust the LORD will place him in a very special place....
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