How Planned Parenthood can prove it really respects women

[Commentary] The race for the DFL endorsement for U.S. Senate is nearly over, and allegations against comedian-turned-candidate Al Franken have now reached a level of absurdity.

In the wake of discovering that Franken wrote articles for Playboy magazine eight years ago, Planned Parenthood has now weighed in and stated that it may find it difficult to allow its political arm to endorse the candidate.

Legislative Director Connie Perpich states in a letter that the group is “very concerned by the misogynist remarks of some of these statements and find them degrading to women.” Sarah Stoesz, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund in Minnesota, says, “Minnesotans deserve, and in November will demand, candidates for state and federal office who reflect our values.”

Regardless of the fact that Franken has been an active Planned Parenthood fundraiser and is listed as one of its “high-profile supporters,” it seems that the support only goes in only one direction.

Continued: Click “Read more”Sen. Norm Coleman has never written locker-room humor for a men’s magazine but he has voted against the interest of Planned Parenthood regularly.

In 2005 Coleman voted against $100 million in funding to reduce teen pregnancy through education and contraception. As of 2006, he has received a rating of 100 percent from the National Right to Life Committee. And in his latest speech at the state Republican Party convention last weekend, he stated that all life should be supported “from conception to natural death.”

For Planned Parenthood to state that it may consider withholding endorsement from anyone who could remove this type of anti-choice legislator is nothing short of cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Sophomoric articles in men’s magazines don’t hurt women half as much as legislation that erodes access to birth control and sexual health education.