Appearing as a guest on Friday's New Day on CNN, GOP presidential candidate George Pataki -- who is known for generally supporting the legality of abortion -- charged that Planned Parenthood has shown a "callous disregard for humanity and people's sensibilities," as he responded to the undercover videos showing employees discussing the sale of body parts from aborted babies. The former New York governor called for the federal government to stop funding the abortion provider with taxpayer dollars.
After CNN co-host Alisyn Camerota brought up the issue, calling the videos "disturbing," Pataki responded:
I saw those videos, and disturbing is too kind a word. Horrific is the word that I would use. I think they're doing something with callous disregard for humanity and people's sensibilities. And I think that it's horrible. And I don't think they should be funded by the federal government. I think we should take those funds and provide them woman's health care services through different organizations.
When Camerota pushed back by raising the Planned Parenthood point of view that, by defunding the abortion provider, "you also deprive women who want birth control, and there will be more unwanted pregnancies," Pataki argued that it would be better for other groups to receive funding for women's health care instead of Planned Parenthood.
CNN co-host John Berman ended up fretting about abortions being too difficult to obtain:
Do women have enough options right now? I mean, they're losing options in some states. They're taking away many of the clinics that they've had in place for years and years to go for abortions.
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Friday, July 31, New Day on CNN, from about 7:25 a.m.:
ALISYN CAMEROTA: Let's talk about an issue that has cropped up in Congress this week, as it has done perennially, and that is funding of Planned Parenthood because of these controversial undercover videos that have been revealed that of course are disturbing to watch. Some Republicans in Congress have decided they want to try to sponsor legislation to defund the $520 million that is given to Planned Parenthood. Where do you stand on that?
FORMER GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI, (R-NY): I saw those videos, and disturbing is too kind a word. Horrific is the word that I would use.
CAMEROTA: But illegal? Do you believe that Planned Parenthood is doing something illegal?
PATAKI: I think they're doing something with callous disregard for humanity and people's sensibilities. And I think that it's horrible. And I don't think they should be funded by the federal government. I think we should take those funds and provide them woman's health care services through different organizations. I'm the only candidate out there who says, "Let's not try to repeal Roe V. Wade"-
CAMEROTA: You're pro-choice.
PATAKI: -on my side. I don't think we should try to repeal Roe V. Wade. But I also don't think the federal government should be having tax dollars going to organizations that perform abortions. I don't think that's right. Leave it to the people.
CAMEROTA: I mean, of course, the argument that Planned Parenthood would make is that if you defund them, then you also deprive women who want birth control, and there will be more unwanted pregnancies.
PATAKI: There are alternative systems, and you shouldn't take those funds away from women's health care for things like birth control. But I think Planned Parenthood, after those horrific videos, should not be funded with federal tax dollars.
JOHN BERMAN: Do women have enough options right now? I mean, they're losing options in some states. They're taking away many of the clinics that they've had in place for years and years to go for abortions.
PATAKI: That's states' prerogatives. I'm not in favor of overturning Roe V. Wade, but, consistent with that law, states should have the ability to set the policies that the people -- the elected representatives in those states choose.
