Former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina seized her opportunity to debate Republican presidential front runners Wednesday night, Sept. 16, by blasting the continued federal funding of Planned Parenthood in the wake of evidence that the organization helps fund its activities by selling body parts of aborted fetuses.
Fiorina left no doubt that she was taking up the mantle to protect the unborn from mercenary abortionists during the 11-candidate debate. Regardless of whether she actually wins the nomination, Fiorina grabbed the moral high ground and singled out top Democrats such as President Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton for failing to condemn the practice of harvesting and selling brains and other body parts from fetuses that have beating hearts.
“I dare Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama to watch these tapes,” Fiorina said during the debate. “Watch a fully formed fetus on the table. Its heart beating. Its legs kicking while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain. This is about the character of our nation. And if we will not stand up and force President Obama to veto this bill [to provide federal funding for Planned Parenthood], shame on us.”
Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, introduced S. 1881 on July 28 that is aimed at prohibiting federal funding of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, offered a motion on Aug. 3 to reconsider a cloture vote that failed, 53-46, to obtain the minimum support of three-fifths, or 60, of the 100 senators to allow a measure to proceed rather than end up blocked by the opposition. Before 1975, two-thirds, or 67, of the 200 senators needed to vote in favor of the legislation proceeding.
A graphic undercover video from the Center for Medical Progress showed technicians using tweezers to pick through aborted fetal tissue that could be sold for baby parts. A technician who said she worked for a company that partnered with Planned Parenthood to harvest fetal tissue confirmed there is an “incentive” to retrieve “difficult body parts” to produce more money, according to the video.
Federal law prohibits the commercial sale of fetal tissue. However, it allows not-for-profit donation of tissue if the women who have abortions offer their consent. Planned Parenthood representatives explain the payments discussed in the undercover videos are to reimburse the organization for the costs of procuring the tissue, which the group says is legal.
Specifically, Eric Ferrero, vice president of communications at Planned Parenthood, claimed in a statement that there is “no financial benefit” for tissue donation for either the patient or for his organization.
“In some instances, actual costs, such as the cost to transport tissue to leading research centers, are reimbursed, which is standard across the medical field, according to Planned Parenthood’s statement.
With Fiorina’s staunch defense of the unborn during the Sept. 16 debate, she positions herself as a potential champion of pro-life conservatives.