From http://lifenews.com/nat4220.html
Pro-Life Feminist Group: Planned Parenthood Stole Our Line on Women, Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 27, 2008
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Denver, CO (LifeNews.com) -- If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, perhaps plagiarism is even more genuine. That must be what the pro-life group Feminists for Life of America thought as they listened to Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards use a trademarked slogan in her speech at the Democratic convention.
Richards, who came under fire for saying her mom's proudest moment would come when her daughter casts her first vote for a pro-abortion president, borrowed the FFLA line in her Tuesday address.
After bashing presidential candidate John McCain, Richards told the party activists, "Women deserve better."
Years ago, the pro-life group trademarked the slogan and used it prominently in a national educational campaign.
Brought to her attention, Feminists for Life president Serrin Foster told LifeNews.com that Richards doesn't get it.
Foster says Richards "misses the point" of the FFLA slogan, which points to the lack of pregnancy information and resources for pregnant and parenting students in college and high school campuses.
"Guttmacher Institute, formerly Planned Parenthood's research arm, has documented the long list of reasons that drive women to abortion -- primarily lack of resources and support," Foster explains. "Guttmacher has given us our task list. And they report half of all abortions are performed on college-age women."
Foster's group didn't just rely on information from a pro-abortion group for its mission statement, but went out and did the hard work to verify the information. A FFLA nationwide study found college women really do deserve better help when they're confronted with an unplanned pregnancy or make the decision to keep their baby and continue their education.
As Foster relates to LifeNews.com, "We asked pro-life student leaders across the country to see if they could find the resources pregnant women say they need. Overwhelmingly the answer was 'no.'"
"If pro-life student activists who are not in a crisis can't find resources, how do we expect pregnant students to consider choices like marital parenthood, partnered parenthood, single parenthood, and an array of adoption options? No wonder abortion is highest among college-age women," she said.
If Richards really means what she says, Foster tells LifeNews.com that Planned Parenthood should get behind a noncontroversial bill Feminists for Life is pushing in Congress.
The group has worked with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to introduce a bipartisan bill, the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act.
The measure would help up to 200 U.S. colleges and universities address the underlying needs of pregnant and parenting students including housing, child care, maternity coverage, telecommuting options and more.
"There is nothing in this bill that Planned Parenthood should oppose," Foster said.
"As millions of students go back to school, we invite Planned Parenthood to get behind the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act," she said.
Foster also challenged both presidential candidates -- Barack Obama and McCain -- to get behind the bill as well.
If Richards isn't being disingenuous and women really do deserve better, then Obama should support the measure if he becomes president. But, Foster may not want to hold her breath.
Related web sites:
Feminists for Life of America - http://www.feministsforlife.org
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