Paul Ryan Just Said He’ll Defund Planned Parenthood. Their Response Is Perfect
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan wasted no time in the New Year floating a bill to defund Planned Parenthood, one of the largest healthcare providers to poor and underserved women in the United States. Long used to such efforts by religious extremists to kill the beloved institution, Planned Parenthood was ready and waiting for the latest round of Republican chauvinism aimed in its direction.
Planned Parenthood, which in addition to providing STD care and contraceptive services throughout the United States also provides abortions at some locations, has become a favorite punching bag for wingnuts and radical Christians. Last year’s fabricated “undercover” video scandal gave right-wingers all the ammunition they needed to convince their astonishingly gullible base that the reproductive health centers were in fact selling “baby parts.” Republicans have since tried to defund the institution every year while wasting millions of dollars in taxpayer money on fruitless witch-hunts. It really gets old, like Republicans in congress do, although perhaps not as white.
The agency tweeted out a series of factual reminders about the work they do helping people that Republican openly have no interest helping, like women, minorities, or the poor.
“Defunding” Planned Parenthood is a misnomer. Their true intent is to block millions of people who rely on Medicaid from PP health centers.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
“Defunding” Planned Parenthood is a misnomer. Their true intent is to block millions of people who rely on Medicaid from PP health centers.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
This is critical health care like birth control, cancer screenings, STD tests, & more for people who already face health disparities.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
That’s blocking people like Grecia from critical care — which would hit low-income people, rural communities & people of color the hardest. pic.twitter.com/HiD1ZvGF9C
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
The American Public Health Association says it’s “ludicrous” for politicians to claim providers could just absorb 2.5 million PP patients.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
The charity ended its excellently thought-out twitter tutorial with a simple plea from those who care about women’s health care, stopping sexually transmitted diseases and just helping poor people generally. Call Mr. Ryan, or whatever Republican congress people you know, and tell them to cut out the nonsense. They even included his phone number.
We’ll fight like hell to ensure people have access to care—but we’ll need your help. Call @SpeakerRyan now: 608-752-4050 #IStandWithPP
— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) January 5, 2017
What more can we say. Get calling, and tell these sex-obsessed windbags that a woman has a right to make her own decisions about her own body.