Planned Parenthood CEO gets pushback on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”
On May 30 Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe to tout her group’s launch that day of an anti-Romney ad campaign.
This was the day after Live Action released its first investigative video of a new series, which exposed Planned Parenthood as a facilitator of sex-selection abortion.
The Live Action videos were not mentioned during the Morning Joe segment, so either they were ignored or Richards stipulated she would only come on if they weren’t brought up.
Nevertheless, (somewhat) conservative host Joe Scarborough got in several digs against the abortion giant.
Richards looked tense during the interview, and “frankly” (one of her favorite words) haggard. Her voice, although typically husky, sounded hoarse. She must have done lots of talking (yelling?) the day before. Certainly Richards wasn’t the bubbly persona we recently saw on Jon Stewart’s show.
Planned Parenthood, the Komenator Emulator
Scarborough fired his first salvo beginning at 1:24 on the video:
Scarborough: So, you keep throwing out cancer screenings. Obviously, Planned Parenthood got on the front page of all the papers when one of the largest – actually, the largest, I guess – breast cancer prevention organization decided they didn’t want to be involved with Planned Parenthood anymore. Do they not have a right to try to disengage from a very controversial issue?
Richards: Well, I actually think the Komen Foundation, which, of course, is working with us again, and we’re really grateful for that partnership –
Scarborough: Well, they really had no choice, did they?
Richards: Well, I mean, they made that decision, and I think, honestly, we do the same work….
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Loved that.
Abortion is preventative care?
Richards then knocked out several talking points, and then Scarborough pushed again, beginning at 2:38. Note the underlined sections below were not included in MSNBC’s written recap of the interview, nor was the entire Komen conversation:
Scarborough: Do you understand why some Americans… would not want their tax dollars going to an organization that provides abortion services to probably any other organization on the planet? Just as a matter of morality. If somebody thinks that abortion is murder, they don’t want their tax dollars going – they’re just like I’m sure other Americans wouldn’t want their tax dollars going to the NRA or to pro-life groups.
Richards: Well, of course, tax dollars do go to pro-life groups. But in any case, the important thing here is Planned Parenthood, again, we provide health care to one in five women in America. The vast majority of our healthcare services are preventive health care. And two things you need to know, Joe. One is, actually, all of the money that Mr. Romney wants to get rid of, not only for Planned Parenthood but for all other women’s healthcare providers, is for preventative care, is for basically family planning. And I think most of the people around this table would agree the #1 reason –
Scarborough: Well, do you call abortions preventative care? What’s your definition of preventative care?
Richards: No. More than 90% of our services are cancer screenings, birth control services, well-women checkups….
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There were more good soundbites in the interview, such as when Richards claimed “Planned Parenthood was started by Republicans all across the country.” No, Planned Parenthood was started by socialist, racist, eugenicist Margaret Sanger.
I’ll address a laugher in my next post.

What pro-life groups get tax payer dollars?
Dearest Cecile,
You are losing your grip on reality.
We don’t believe a word you say.
Do you?
Things sound fine when PP and supporters are allowed to be vague.
In that final quote, Richards casts birth control pills as preventive care. Birth control pills taken to prevent a pregnancy are not ‘health care.’ They are not intended to prevent an illness or disorder. A pregnancy is not an illness or disorder. The pill is taken as a matter of lifestyle preference.
This distinction is glossed over a lot as part of the rhetoric. My guess is that PP wants to have the appeal of a ‘health care provider,’ and to keep repeating the line about providing preventive services. Birth control pill prescription is a big part of their business. They want us all to perceive it as “healthcare.” It is not. It is just govt getting involved in lifestyle preference.
This will eventually come to be widely recognized. The light is shining on them, and more and more people will figure it out. The push for birth control to be FULLY funded, no copay, was not a smart move in the long run – it will be their undoing.
Eventually, everyone in the office will realize the game. The guys will realize they are paying for the pill for a woman other than their partner. The women who would or are or have paid for their own BC will figure out they are subsidizing the woman down the hall who is less responsble about intimate affairs. THe more responsible women will see this premium being taken out of their paycheck, and will eventually get tired of supporting the love life of the woman in the next cubicle.
The ‘healthcare/preventive’ rhetoric will become ineffective.
Just like the ‘abortion on demand for any reason, period’ rallying cry is currently bringing down abortion access like crazy as this gendercide issue gets its airtime as daily conversation in everyone’s household.
“Dearest Cecile,
You are losing your grip on reality.”
She ever had a grip on reality?
Yeah, I’d like to know what pro-life groups get taxpayer dollars, too.
Since PP takes in more revenue than expenses every year why is there even a need for tax payers to fund any part of the organization??
JDC,
Maybe she once had a grip on reality.
A thin shred.
Wow. She really does look tired. She should take a break. Go on a vacation or something. ;)
@TheLastDemocrat
“Birth control pills taken to prevent a pregnancy are not ‘health care.’ They are not intended to prevent an illness or disorder. A pregnancy is not an illness or disorder. The pill is taken as a matter of lifestyle preference.”
__________
But to the Left pregnancy IS a disease.
Cecile–
We got Lila.
Start writing your resignation speech now. Make sure you include the words “frankly” and “haggard.”
Hi Alice 10:44am
I’m sure if my employees and organization were caught time and again in stings that showed them pimping, protecting sex offenders, and promoting the destruction of life on the basis of race and gender, I’d look a little worse for wear too!
Wow, she sounds REALLY hoarse.
That’s because she’s been screaming at her field generals all week.
BETTER TRAINING!!!!
I would like to know the exact number of abortions that have been prevented. Is the number as astronomical as the exact number of abortions performed??
Thank you, Cecile.
Courtnay,
PROTOCOL PROTOCOL PROTOCOL!!
Still waiting for my government check…
I also would like to know which prolife groups are getting government funds, because it sure ain’t they CPC’s.
Also, if a woman is an intimate relationship with a man, shouldnt he pay part of the expenses for her pills or whatever she’s using?
TheLastDemocrat: “The push for birth control to be FULLY funded, no copay, was not a smart move in the long run – it will be their undoing.”
Well said! They got overconfident. Shoulda kept quiet and content that the govt at large and general population tolerated killing babies. Pretty sure one does not want to draw attention to themselves when they are getting away with murder. It is a beautiful thing – sad for them as individuals – when someone’s tainted view of the world destroys their ability to function in the real one.
Carla, even if we take their numbers at face value (for the sake of the argument), the number of abortions they perform in a year exceeds the number prevented:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_parenthood#Abortion
Handing someone a handful of condoms or giving her a prescription for birth control pills isn’t going to bring in the same revenue as an abortion. Abortion is the major provider of revenue (other than tax payer funds) for PP. Steering someone towards condoms, The Pill, or adoption isn’t going to generate income for the organization. Preventing pregnancy isn’t a concern for PP. They need the women to already be pregnant. There’s the money.
So that’s what she looks like when the botox wears off… I’ve been really lucky in the wrinkle department (thank you grandma’s DNA!) but the too-smooth faces of many people looks a little creepy. She looks more normal like this.
Hey Cecile! Why don’t you do Nancy Keenan one better and CONVERT to our side! I will even stop making fun of your gold lapel pins, I promise!
She needs a nap in the worst way. She can barely muster that fake smile of hers anymore.
You don’t speak for the whole country, Cecile. And you aren’t doing a very good job of speaking for yourself.
I’m sure everyone supporting PP is wondering: Where is Fay Wattleton when we need her?
I’m sure Faye is thinking: Sure glad I bailed when I did!
Scarborough: “…Americans wouldn’t want their tax dollars going to the NRA or to pro-life groups.”
(sarcasm)
Richards: “You’re right Joe – Americans don’t want their tax dollars going to the NRA where members hunt down poor innocent cuddly animals. They prefer their tax dollars going to Planned Parenthood abortionists – where the real sport is in the marketing – not in the killing of innocent children. Why shredding innocent children is like shooting fish in a barrel! It’s boring – there’s not much challenge, but someone has to do it. Remember Joe – we suffer for these services we provide at great emotional expense. Why, just look at me – I’m a wreck.”
(/sarcasm)
Poor Cecile – Obama could teach her a thing or two about redirecting the message to be about herself.
I seriously cannot believe they still claim they offer breast cancer screenings. Giving someone the name of another doctor’s office that gives screenings is not providing screenings. Planned Parenthood continues in lies even after they’ve been exposed. Unbelievable.
Didn’t Charlize Theron play her in a movie recently? Oh, no. That was another Evil Queen. ;)
I did like Cecile in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.