I know, I know the choices are not mutually exclusive. But at the very least, one or the other must be true, in light of the following statement from the Boy Governor:
"Patients should not have to go to an abortion clinic to access life-saving
tests"
This statement was issued in defense of his ending a long-standing relationship with Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri to provide free breast and cervical cancer screenings through the state's "Show Me Healthy Women" program. In a callous move to make the severance acceptable, Blunt has promised to seek an extra half-million dollars for the "Show Me" fund. As the program was previously operating with a budget of only $70,000, the extra funds are desperately need for women with low income or those without insurance. But, this leads us back to the previous statement:
"Patients should not have to go to an abortion clinic to access life-saving
tests."
Governor, the Planned Parenthood clinics in Springfield and Joplin do not offer abortion services; they never have. Blunt is either incredibly ignorant of an important service organization in his home district, or he is viciously lying in order to further anti-abortion sentiment and shore up support on his right flank, support he'll definitely need as he stands for re-election next year. And just in case one might believe that the governor simply misspoke, or was taken out of context, he elaborates:
“Today I put an end to taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood in
Springfield and Joplin through the Show Me Healthy Women Program. This ensures women may access important preventative care without contributing to abortion providers’ goal of facilitating the destruction of innocent life."
Oh, so noble sentiments, Governor. And again, not an ounce of truth therein. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Missouri has participated in the "Show Me Healthy Women" program for 15 years (right about the time that the Boy Governor was old enough to legally drink) and has provided free breast & cervical cancer screenings through the program to over 1,500 needy women over the past five years, on essentially shoestring funds. Governor, if you'd like to truly support needy women of this state with needed preventative cancer screenings, why not donate the funds used for your daily Suburban Jefferson City-to-Springfield caravan? Oh right, there's no political hay to be harvested from your right wing if you were to do the right thing.
Cross-posted at Welcome to the Revolution
