We Have To Talk About the Planned Parenthood Video

Planned Parenthood is in deep trouble. A video published today shows one of their top doctors, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, discussing the sale of organs and tissue procured during abortions. The video is very disturbing (which is why I won't quote Nucatola here) - but the horrifying content is exactly why we have to talk about it.

The media has adopted a stance of Don't Talk About It. Reuters and The Hill, among others, covered the "Republican backlash" to the video, as if the collective freak-out is somehow worse than the disgusting action which prompted it. Other media outlets (Jezebel, I'm calling you out) have covered Planned Parenthood's response - but were notoriously skimpy in coverage of the actual video. The press will talk about issues surrounding the video, sure - usually in an attempt to discredit it. But they won't talk about the video, because it makes their precious Planned Parenthood look nothing short of evil. The talking points have spilled out, and we have to respond, because what's in the video is just too important. The excuses are weak:

1. How could people believe this "shock video"? Because a top doctor at Planned Parenthood is on camera, saying it, in her own words, clearly, and in a public place.

2. Those people lied about who they were! Yep, they did. They pretended to be buyers - and Dr. Nucatola was more than willing to sell. People misrepresent themselves to catch criminals all the time, from drug sting operations to "To Catch a Predator."

3. Who knows who made this video?! I don't, you don't, and it doesn't matter. They exposed a terrible practice. Don't shoot the messenger.

4. This video existed for a year before its release. That may be true. It still doesn't change what's in the video, or make it any less deserving of attention.

5. The video was selectively edited. That's true, of the shortened version. All editing involves selection. But was it a hack job? The full two hours of tape were also released, and that additional footage only makes Planned Parenthood look worse.

6. Organ and tissue donation is common, and hospitals get reimbursed for expenses incurred. This was what Planned Parenthood had to say for themselves. But HotAir has a good explanation of how Nucatola was clearly talking about supply and demand. How some organs fetch higher prices than others - even though the costs involved are pretty much the same.

7. Abortion is legal in the United States. Partial birth abortion, as Nucatola describes in the video, has been banned since 2003. Trafficking in any human organs is also a federal crime.

The excuses just don't cut it.
Nucatola said these things in her own words.
Plannned Parenthood didn't deny the practices, only tried to explain them away.

The video is about a Planned Parenthood doctor's callous belief that the value in an unborn child lies in whatever parts of its body can be sold. That is a horrific, evil belief.

And it's something we have to talk about.