In a discussion on Planned Parenthood today on Morning Joe, regular MSNBC contributor Mark Halperin championed the popularity of the ‘family planning’ organization. Halperin asserted that “Planned Parenthood in general and what they do – as we saw with Mitt Romney – is pretty popular with a lot of people who will vote in this presidential election.”
Earlier in his statement, the Morning Joe panelist claimed Hillary and Bill Clinton “understand that this is the first time Democrats have been on the defensive on these issues in quite some time because of these videos.” He noted the likelihood that the former First Lady will have to “weigh in” on Planned Parenthood in the coming months.
Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough found it surprising that Mrs. Clinton would come out so strongly in defense of Planned Parenthood. He explained: “Surprising because anybody that’s seen this video and I'm sure you have and others have, it is really stunning, the graphic nature of what is said, how insensitive the Planned Parenthood leader sounds, how graphic and truly disturbing it is.”
The former Republican congressman thought that whether a law was broken or not, this represents “a bleak moment for Planned Parenthood.” Halperin stated his lack of surprise for Hillary’s support of Planned Parenthood: “And make no mistake, despite the video, Planned Parenthood is still extraordinarily popular with the people Hillary Clinton needs to vote for her for president.”
The relevant portion of the transcript is below.
MSNBC
Morning Joe
July 24, 2015MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Right. Let me read from the Washington Post. Here’s what Charles Krauthammer writes. The Price of Fetal Parts: ‘Just as ultrasound altered feelings about abortion by showing the image, the movement, the vibrant livingness of the developing infant in utero, so, too, I suspect will these Planned Parenthood revelations’, I’m sure you all have seen this, ‘by throwing open the door to the back room of the clinic where that being is destroyed. The effect on the public is a two step change in sensibilities. First, when ultrasound reveals how human the living the human fetus appears. Next, when people learn, as in these inadvertent admissions, what killing the fetus involves. The role of Democratic politics is to turn such moral
sensibilities into law. This is a moment to press relentlessly for a national ban on late-term abortions.’ Joe?
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Mark Halperin, Hillary Clinton yesterday came out in support of Planned Parenthood. It was surprising. Surprising because anybody that’s seen this video and I'm sure you have and others have, it is really stunning, the graphic nature of what is said, how insensitive the Planned Parenthood leader sounds, how graphic and truly disturbing it is. Whether a law was broken or not, it is – I think a bleak moment for Planned Parenthood. Were you surprised Hillary Clinton jumped out in defense of Planned Parenthood so aggressively yesterday?
MARK HALPERIN: Well look, there are moral and ethical issues here that should be front and center. On the politics of it for Hillary Clinton, she did come out in support for them. And make no mistake, despite the video, Planned Parenthood is still extraordinarily popular with the people Hillary Clinton needs to vote for her for president. But she also cited the fact that the head of the Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, has said publicly that the comments were insensitive and Hillary Clinton said that as well. And she also said they're going to have to keep answering questions for Congress. So it's clear to me that the Clintons, Hillary Clinton and I bet Bill Clinton understand that this is the first time Democrats have been on the defensive on these issues in quite some time because of the videos. And the group that did the videos made it clear there are more to come. And I think Hillary Clinton is smart to be braced to the fact that this is not the last time she'll have to weigh in on this question. But I’ll say again, Planned Parenthood in general and what they do – as we saw with Mitt Romney – is pretty popular with a lot of people who will vote in this presidential election.
