Abortion: A pro-choicer converts
The controversy surrounding a Planned Parenthood worker who quit and joined anti-abortion protesters
A three dimensional ultrasound scan of a fetus at twelve weeks gestation.
(Mediscan/Corbis)
A Planned Parenthood worker in a conservative Texas town shocked co-workers when she quit her job and changed sides in the battle over abortion. Abby Johnson, 29, said she had a "change of heart" after watching an ultrasound of an abortion, and after her bosses started pushing her clinic to perform more abortions and focus less on distributing contraceptives. Will Johnson's conversion make her the anti-abortion movement's new poster child? (Watch Abby Johnson discuss quitting Planned Parenthood)
Abby Johnson saw the light: Planned Parenthood is "in the mass-production abortion business, plain and simple," says Ed Morrissey in Hot Air. Abby Johnson quit when she realized the truth. Planned Parenthood was probably pushing its offices to perform more abortions because "that’s their core business," and it needs to get more money "flowing into the abortion mills."
"Planned Parenthood director quits after watching abortion ultrasound"
This story smacks of right-wing propaganda: Abby Johnson knows that abortion accounts for just 3 percent of Planned Parenthood's services, says Tracy Clark-Flory in Salon. Her "stunning about-face" might have a simple explanation: She abruptly left and became a tool of local anti-abortion protesters -- the same ones who used to threaten and intimidate her and her clients -- right after her bosses told her to do a better job.
"The conversion of a pro-choice warrior"
This so-called "conversion" doesn't mean anything: For anti-abortion activists, says Lynn Harris, also in Salon, Abby Johnson's "allegedly abrupt anti-abortion 'conversion'" is "the jackpot woman-bites-dog story of the century, or at least the week." But clinic workers who see ultrasounds and provide abortions almost never have sudden spiritual "conversions." Plenty of women do "convert" -- but most of them switch from anti-abortion rights to pro-choice, when they face the reality of an unwanted pregnancy.
"I used to call myself pro-life"
Johnson deserves credit: "Regardless of your position on the subject of abortion," says Marc Moore in PoliGazette, "you have to give Abby Johnson credit for following her own conscience." These days "we too often align ourselves socially and politically without thinking -- and without changing." Johnson had the courage to do both.
"Planned parenthood director reverses course, embraces life"
Show: Oldest | Newest
23 Comments
Posted by Casey, Thursday, November 5, 2009, 10:21 am I don't see that this is newsworthy.However, I do think that the 3 figure noted by Lynn Harris is missing the point. While only 3 of Paned Parenthoods services are abortions, the issue that Abby Johnson is raising has more to do with what percentage of Planned Parenthoods revenue comes from abortions. perhaps I am naive but I believe that an abortion would cost more than providing condoms or the pill.
Posted by Casey, Thursday, November 5, 2009, 10:22 am those should read 3 percent, not 3 ...apparently the percent symbol isn't supported in these comment
Posted by max, Thursday, November 5, 2009, 10:23 am Wait, change that pic! No one is aborting in the 6th month!
Posted by NewsWorthy, Thursday, November 5, 2009, 11:46 am So she changed her mind! Is this seriously drawing media attention? I recently switched to Geico and now I'm saving hundreds on car insurance, where's my freakin' press conference?...
Posted by Mike Razak, Thursday, November 5, 2009, 12:15 pm I think it's interesting that she shifted her ideology. It seems like her motive was not a difference of opinion, but an objection to how the specific clinic at which she worked was being run. Though I am prochoice, I think pushing for more abortions is somewhat shocking. It makes it seem like there are actually fans of abortion. Abortion should be an option to all women, but it should never be something that is championed by agencies like Planned Parenthood. It's a regrettable decision in almost every case.
Posted by nkdpagan , Thursday, November 5, 2009, 2:15 pm The 'abortion for profit' idea never made sense to me. PP provides a lot of services, including prenatal care. If you really want someone to spend money, its better to encourage them to HAVE children than get rid of them.
Posted by Lady in LA, Thursday, November 5, 2009, 2:46 pm I am compassionately prolife and I applaud Abby Johnson for having the courage of her convictions. Our society has failed women and unborn children on this issue. Both sides have been so historically entrenched in their positions over the decades, that someone who was a director of a clinic that provides abortions quitting over a change of heart is indeed news. If our media is to be believed, it happens rarely. Yet several women randomly confided in me how emotionally devastating their abortion was. Time for a new conversation...
Posted by BobDog, Thursday, November 5, 2009, 3:38 pm Say what you will about Johnson conversion, and I believe her when she says this was spiritual. We can talk and discuss all over the place, about the rights of people, the fact is the holocaust of abortion has murdered over 40,000,000 innocent children since 1973. Now that my friends is sad, stupid and dumb.
Post a Comment