While critics of Planned Parenthood how the nation’s largest abortion provider is going to dig out from a video about cutting through baby faces to sell brains, the Reuters wire service is happy to help dig the abortion advocates out. Their story on Wednesday was headlined “Americans back federal funds for Planned Parenthood health services: poll”.
Planned Parenthood boss Cecile Richards was thrilled to tweet out this story about a new Reuters-Ipsos poll. Reporter Emily Stephenson began with the usual tilt: all the risks here in politics land on the Republicans who question Planned Parenthood.
Americans broadly support providing federal funding for free women's health exams, screenings and contraception services, a Reuters/Ipsos poll has found, suggesting risks for Republicans criticizing Planned Parenthood as part of the 2016 campaigns.
Support for federal funding of Planned Parenthood itself to provide those services was even stronger, according to the Reuters/Ipsos released on Wednesday.
Abortion was left off the Reuters menu of health services, making the whole thing sound like a Planned Parenthood push poll. They asked:
“Would you support or oppose the federal government funding an organization that provides the following services free of charge?
– Cancer screening and prevention
– Women’s health exams
– Health counseling
– Prenatal services
– Sexually transmitted infection/disease testing and treatment
– Family practice services
– Pregnancy testing
– Contraception
Then they used the same menu to ask “Would you support or oppose funding Planned Parenthood in order to help them provide the following services free of charge?”
In her story, Stephenson never mentioned that when asked if they’ve seen the anti-Planned Parenthood videos, 63 percent said no. Only 37 percent said yes. But Stephenson kept pushing the theme of Republicans in danger:
The non-profit's image has taken a hit, the poll found, after an anti-abortion group earlier this year began releasing videos purporting to show Planned Parenthood officials negotiating prices for aborted fetal tissue.
Still, the strong support for federal funds to help Planned Parenthood provide pregnancy tests and other services indicates Republican presidential candidates should tread carefully....
After the videos were released, Republicans in Congress introduced legislation to cut off the more than $500 million in federal funds Planned Parenthood receives each year. That money cannot be used for abortions.
Democrats sided with the non-profit and the measure failed. But some candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 supported the effort.
The Reuters/Ipsos poll shows they should be cautious on women's health issues.
There's not one whisper of a notion that Democrats could face trouble for backing Planned Parenthood. At the end of the story, at paragraph 17, less encouraging poll numbers for Planned Parenthood were briefly mentioned:
But 44 percent of respondents who saw the videos said they now have a more negative view of Planned Parenthood, compared with 34 percent who said their views were unchanged...
After the videos were described to poll respondents, 39 percent said Planned Parenthood should not receive government funding and 34 percent said federal dollars should continue.
Here were two questions at the end that didn’t end well for Planned Parenthood, despite the friendly phrasing of questions. [Emphasis mine.]
9. As you may have heard, an anti-abortion group recently released videos reportedly showing Planned Parenthood staff saying they sell tissue from aborted fetuses. Due to these allegations, Republicans in Congress are attempting to take away all federal funding from Planned Parenthood. In light of this, do you support or oppose the defunding of Planned Parenthood?
The breakdown was 39 percent supported defunding, 34 percent opposed it, and 27 percent said not sure.
This question didn’t make the story at all, complete with bald-faced inaccuracies of Planned Parenthood spin:
10. As As you may have heard, an anti-abortion group recently released videos reportedly showing Planned Parenthood staff saying they sell tissue from aborted fetuses. Planned Parenthood has responded by saying they are engaging in the entirely appropriate activity of allowing women to voluntarily donate fetal tissue for medical research and Planned Parenthood can receive compensation for transport and delivery of this tissue. Based on what you know about this issue, are you more likely to?
The answer didn't make the story either (no wonder the Planned Parenthood boss likes it....)
Agree with critics that Planned Parenthood is acting inappropriately: 43 percent
Agree with Planned Parenthood that their behavior is acceptable: 33 percent
Not sure: 24 percent
