Bachmann supports undercover video of Planned Parenthood
Rep. Michele Bachmann threw her support behind an anti-abortion activist on Thursday who made undercover videos of a Planned Parenthood clinic in New Jersey. Bachmann said the video, and the fact that Planned Parenthood offers abortion as part of its services, should result in a ban on federal grants for the reproductive health chain.
“Planned Parenthood performed 324,000 abortions in 2010. That should be enough reason to ensure that it never receives another taxpayer dollar from our government,” Bachmann said. “But alarming new revelations about Planned Parenthood raise questions about whether the organization is breaking the law.”
Bachmann was referring to a video released by LiveAction, an anti-abortion group that specializes in ambushing Planned Parenthood clinics, that appears to show a Planned Parenthood staffer in New Jersey telling a pimp and his prostitute how to obtain services for girls as young as 14.
“Live Action has turned its video over to law enforcement authorities, including U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder,” Bachmann said in a statement. “I am calling on those authorities to fully investigate this case and to prosecute any offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
But Planned Parenthood beat LiveAction to it. After the group, posing as a pimp and prostitute showed up at a half-dozen clinics across the country, Planned Parenthood called the FBI to report a potential sex-ring involving minors.
And, the group fired the staffer in New Jersey who provided advice on circumventing the law.
“The Planned Parenthood staff member reacted professionally to a highly unusual person posing as a patient,” Planned Parenthood said in a statement. “After the encounter, the staff member immediately notified her supervisor, who subsequently notified members of Planned Parenthood’s national security team, who are working with the FBI, which is investigating these visits.”
As the New Jersey Star Ledger editorial board pointed out, the sting in New Jersey merely found a bad employee, not rampant corruption in the organization.
“„At least a dozen clinics in six states were visited in January by men claiming to be involved in sex trafficking, Planned Parenthood officials said. Each time, employees notified authorities. Planned Parenthood also said it sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Jan. 18 with concerns about sex trafficking and a possible hoax.
“„Ambush journalism makes entertaining YouTube moments, but rarely proves a larger point. ACORN was exonerated. A video targeting the teachers union in New Jersey relied heavily on the words of one tipsy teacher. And Live Action actors found a lousy employee, that’s all.
