Palin Responds To Campaign Seeking Donations To Planned Parenthood During Presidential Election

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 16 Feb 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) at a press conference on Wednesday responded to questions about the e-mail campaign last fall that led to a wave of donations in her name to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, calling the campaign "great theater," the Anchorage Daily News reports. Planned Parenthood was not affiliated with the campaign, which circulated through an e-mail from an unknown source while Palin was running for vice president on the Republican ticket. The e-mail directed people to the Planned Parenthood Web site to make a donation in Palin's name. They could then send a card to Palin announcing the donation. Clover Simon, Alaska vice president of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, said the e-mail generated more than $1 million for the organization nationwide, including about $5,000 for the Alaska branch. When asked about the email campaign, Palin -- who opposes abortion rights -- said, "It's political theater -- it's great theater I guess for some." She added that she and officials at Planned Parenthood "agree on a mission here that we'd like to see fewer and fewer abortions. And I, embracing the culture of life, have perhaps a different approach in how I would like to see that goal reached." Palin's office issued a statement later in the day, "The abortion issue has been with us for decades and has pitted well-meaning people of differing ideologies against each other. Where we can find common ground is in the belief that no one wants a single abortion." The statement continued, "But when there is a clash of values, I always will come down on the side of life. Making donations to Planned Parenthood in my name might be interesting theater in these politically charged times, but it is not going to change my views or the views of many other Alaskans who believe every life is precious."

Simon said that the "bottom line" is that the money from the donations "is going to help women access birth control." She added, "And I think the governor would agree with that. The money is certainly not going to support abortion services." Simon also said, "Our goal is to hopefully work with the governor. We certainly don't want to have any sort of adversarial relationship with her" (Demer, Anchorage Daily News, 2/11).

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