Planned Parenthood’s ability to spin its way out of a scandal, coupled with the mainstream media's agenda, is more effective than we thought. Even after the Center for Medical Progress captured hours of inhumane footage behind Planned Parenthood's closed doors, a majority of Americans still support the abortion giant.
CMP’s 3-year investigation into Planned Parenthood revealed that officials like to joke about selling fetal body parts and sip their wine while discussing the price tag. The campaign outraged pro-lifers, who demanded the organization, at the very least, be stripped of its taxpayer funding.
Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards offered an unconvincing defense of her organization’s actions when she faced the House Oversight Committee last week in Washington, D.C. Instead of offering an explanation for the recorded content, she dismissed the video investigation as a “deceptively edited” smear campaign by a radical anti-abortion group.
As for the media, they have many times ignored or reported on the investigation in a way that suggests they are trying to protect Planned Parenthood's reputation.
Unfortunately, it all seems to be working. A new Rasmussen Reports phone survey of 1,000 likely voters determined a majority of Americans still view the organization positively.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters have a favorable opinion of Planned Parenthood, including 29% with a Very Favorable one. Forty-two percent (42%) view the reproductive health organization unfavorably, with 30% who hold a Very Unfavorable view of it.
These results suggest Americans still perceive Planned Parenthood as a well-meaning women’s health organization. Too many, for instance, are under the impression that the organization provides mammograms. Yet, Richards even admitted they do not. What's more, a statistic Planned Parenthood supporters like to dangle in front of the opposition is that abortion only accounts for 3 percent of its services. Americans United for Life explains just how misleading that number is, considering abortion accounts for a huge chunk of Planned Parenthood's revenue. What pro-life lawmakers hope is that the federal funding saved for Planned Parenthood can be redirected to other women’s health centers that only offer lifesaving services.
For those who don't believe everything Planned Parenthood says, this Saturday will mark the second National Day of Protest against the organization. A list of locations can be found here.