Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Monday, February 06, 2012

Rick Santorum Opines On Susan G. Komen Foundation's Planned Parenthood Decision

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum sounded off on the Susan G. Komen for the Cure decision to cut off funds to Planned Parenthood for breast exams, which it reversed in part Friday.

"I don't believe breast cancer research is advanced by funding an organization that does abortions where you've seen ties to cancer and abortions," said a hoarse Santorum on "Fox News Sunday." In fact, a 2007 study published by the Archives of Internal Medicine studying 105,716 women found no link between breast cancer and abortions. Abortion services account for about three percent of Planned Parenthood's activities, while cancer screening and prevention accounts for 16 percent.

"So I don't think it's a particularly healthy way of contributing money to further the cause of breast cancer, but that's for private organizations like Susan G. Komen to make that decision," continued Santorum.

The Huffington Post's Laura Bassett noted that Komen apologized, repeated that it would continue to fund existing grants and make Planned Parenthood eligible for future grants. Komen did not, however, promise to renew Planned Parenthood grants.

Santorum also criticized a recent Obama administration rule requiring religiously affiliated employers -- but not churches and other places of worship -- to provide contraception under their health plans without charge.

"This is the problem when government tells you that they can give you things. They can take it away, but even worse they can tell you how you're going to exercise this new right that they've given you consistent with their values instead of the values guaranteed in our Constitution," he said.

The former Pennsylvania senator finished last in Saturday's caucuses in Nevada.

Original Article
Source: Huff 
Author: Luke Johnson 

No comments:

Post a Comment