A Jorge Ramos interview with self-styled socialist and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders was the occasion for Univision’s first broaching of the still-developing scandal of Planned Parenthood’s practices in trafficking the body parts of aborted babies, as revealed in a series of undercover videos produced by the Center for Medical Progress.
As is customary among leaders of the Left, Sanders, who admitted he had not seen any of the referenced videos, made a blind defense of Planned Parenthood, denying the organization’s patently evident involvement in the sale of fetal body parts. The exchange took place on Univision’s Sunday public affairs program, Al Punto.
JORGE RAMOS, HOST: What do you make of the recent videos from Planned Parenthood? Do you think – is it legal and ethical to sell fetuses for scientific reasons?
BERNIE SANDERS: Well, they’re not selling fetuses. And this is something, I think the tone of that discussion was unfortunate. But if the question is, do I support Planned Parenthood? I absolutely do
Sanders made the comments in the midst of a wide-ranging interview about the budding momentum of his presidential campaign, U.S. immigration policy, U.S.-Cuba relations (he refuses to refer to the Castro brothers as dictators) and marijuana legalization.
Sanders clearly shares the sentiments of most of his fellow Democrats on these and other issues, as evidenced in the failure of the Senate vote to defund Planned Parenthood.
The transcript of the referenced exchange on Univision’s Al Punto program appears below.
Univision
Al Punto, 08/02/2015, 10:00 amJORGE RAMOS, HOST: What do you make of the recent videos from Planned Parenthood? Do you think – is it legal and ethical to sell fetuses for scientific reasons?
BERNIE SANDERS: Well, they’re not selling fetuses. And this is something, I think the tone of that discussion was unfortunate. But if the question is, do I support Planned Parenthood? I absolutely do. And Planned Parenthood is now providing vitally important healthcare, cancer screening, other types of healthcare services to some of the poorest people in America. And I will defend Planned Parenthood. I think a lot of this attack, to be honest with you, comes from people who simply do not believe that a woman should have a right to control her own body. That’s the motive.
JORGE RAMOS: Have you seen the videos?
BERNIE SANDERS: I have not seen the videos. I’ve read about them.
