Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood: Who is Right?
Mitt Romney vs Barack Obama on the Issue of Planed Parenthood Funding

It is now 2012 and it is an election year full of controversial issues that need to be discussed by each candidate. This campaign is said to have a “cavalier disregard for facts on both sides,” so much so that “the campaign has become bitter and trivial." Who would you vote for if the election was today? How much do you really know about the controversial issues? You, the voter, are in charge. You get to choose who runs your country and how. You have two choices so make your well-informed decision wisely. Mitt Romney is the candidate for the Republican party, who is against the federal funding of the organization based on his beliefs against abortion, and Obama is rerunning for a second term for the Democratic Party, who has a "right to choose" policy and supports funding for the group. Each candidate has their own, very different opinion on how the federal funding should be distributed to women 's group Planned Parenthood due to their own personal beliefs and the beliefs of their political party. Planned Parenthood, also know as Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), is a pro-choice, non-profit organization that provides affordable health care, primarily reproductive health, maternal, and child health services. It also provides sex education, affordable contraception options, HIV and cancer screening, and some branches offer abortion services. The organization receives federal funding but this money cannot be used for abortion services. The Federal Government, in the fiscal year 2009-2010, gave Planned Parenthood nearly $500,000,000 (Napier). The organization currently serves about 3 million people in the United States. Barack Obama, our current president since 2008, believes in a woman 's right to choose. He supports the federal funding of Planned Parenthood and sees the organization for all the positive aspects and not just the abortion side of the group. He took a stand for women in a video several weeks ago and promised to stand up for Planned Parenthood and guaranteed to continue fighting so women never have to worry about having affordable health care. In that video he stated, “For you, and for most Americans, protecting women’s health is a mission that stands above politics. And yet, over the past year, you’ve had to stand up to politicians who want to deny millions of women the care they rely on, and inject themselves into decisions that are best made between a woman and her doctor." (Sweet) Obama is in touch with women 's issues and is able to understand exactly where they stand. He takes women 's prospective into consider, unlike his running mate, Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is against the right to choose. He wants to get rid of Planned Parenthood funding, leaving low-income women without affordable health care. He proposes to outlaw abortion, leaving orphaned children hoping to find homes but unfortunately many go through "the system" unnoticed. The issue is that to many politicians are too concerned about the upcoming election than our next generation. Romney has stated in several interviews that if he is elected, he will strip the federal funding and has already voted against it. Although, because the nation is so divided over this issue, Romney came up with an alternative to outlawing abortions all together. He wishes to over turn the Roe vs Wade ruling, which will give each state the right of choosing their own abortion laws and regulations. Still, without federal funding to Planned Parenthood, many women, even if given the choice, will have trouble finding a place for safe and affordable healthcare. However, he has made it clear that he does support abortion in cases of rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother. Even that statement does not make it right to take away a woman 's choice about herself and her health. Women have been abandoning the Republican party. Obama is ahead on Romney among women, 51%-42%. Only average of 24% of women identify themselves as Republicans (Page). Women make up more than half of the country and should be in charge of their own health decisions. They are our daughters, our mothers, our wives, and our friends. All women should have the same right to health care as men, for they are equal and their opinion does matter. Without Planned Parenthood those 3 million women served would have to go without the necessary screenings, preventive care, and contraception options. Without this organization these women are left to fend for themselves. Even though the election is drawing nearer, the debate of this controversial and life-changing issue is so far from over. The politicians have no right to play their politic games with women 's health. Mitt Romney and his Republican "followers" are a group of sexist men who wish to take away a woman 's right to her own health. President Obama, on the other hand, understands the importance of protecting women 's health and rights. Women 's lives would be better served and protected under the Obama Administration than under the administration of those anti-women conservatives.

Works Cited
Napier, Doug H.. Planned Parenthood: Using Our Money to Oppose Our Freedom. Doug H. Napier, June 6, 2012. Web.

Page, Susan. Swing States Poll: A Shift by Women Puts Obama in Lead. USA Today, April 2, 2012. Web.

Sweet, Lynn. Fact and Fiction: Romney vs Obama. Lynn Sweet. September 12, 2012. Web.

Cited: Napier, Doug H.. Planned Parenthood: Using Our Money to Oppose Our Freedom. Doug H. Napier, June 6, 2012. Web. Page, Susan. Swing States Poll: A Shift by Women Puts Obama in Lead. USA Today, April 2, 2012. Web. Sweet, Lynn. Fact and Fiction: Romney vs Obama. Lynn Sweet. September 12, 2012. Web.