Should Planned Parenthood be defunded? Your Say

Two videos recently released by anti-abortion activists claim to show Planned Parenthood sells fetal tissue. Letter to the editor:

Nice sermon, Rev. Powers (“Kirsten Powers: Crush Planned Parenthood”).

In the spirit of prejudice born of ignorance, columnist Kirsten Powers has much to learn about my favorite charity, Planned Parenthood.

Despite these heavily edited videos, the organization does not sell body parts. It is simply reimbursed for costs related to tissue donation. Anatomical donations can be arranged via client consent.

The innermost workings of the abortion process is not the topic. The overview question is, who decides? Planned Parenthood, as well as the monumental Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, have helped ensure the safety and legality of the procedure.

Meanwhile, if Powers opposes abortion, she should simply not have one.

David N. Hooper; Conroe, Texas

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

I consider myself a Republican, but Kirsten Powers is my favorite Democrat who tells it like it is.

Planned Parenthood should be charged with crimes and denied taxpayer money from now on. Thank you, Kirsten, for giving a voice to those unborn babies.

— Eileen Bakas

Powers should just say she is anti-abortion and save the 450 words. There’s nothing new in her commentary. Abortion is a legal medical procedure, and while some may not like it, using the fetal tissue for medical research instead of disposing of it has value. As long as no laws are broken (there has yet to be proof) and no profit is made.

— Branden Makana

The words of the senior director of medical research recorded in the video make me sick to my stomach. I’m so saddened that supposedly responsible people can talk about babies with no regard. No heart! God help them!

— Martha Taylor Gillispie

I hope that Planned Parenthood’s procurement methods get investigated.

What do they tell their patients, and are they ever coercive? The video offers great insight into how callous and ghoulish these people are.

— Mark Ryan

Planned Parenthood has done more to reduce abortion in this country than Powers and many others.

If you want to find the people on the front lines who are trying to reduce abortions and help people make their own decisions about their lives, go to Planned Parenthood.

— Brad Charles

I am 100% pro-choice, but there is no longer a reason to give Planned Parenthood millions of dollars in government funding every year.

We are all required now to have medical insurance that covers preventive women’s health. If women want to use Planned Parenthood as their OB/GYN, great. But taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund it.

— Roxanne Chester