Planned Parenthood is hosting a national gala tonight in Washington, and President Obama had been scheduled to attend in person. The White House announced yesterday, however, that the president would not be able to make it -- forcing opponents of reproductive right to declare "victory."
Mallory Quigley, spokesperson for the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony List, suggested this had something to do with the Kermit Gosnell murder trial -- though Gosnell had no affiliation with the group. "No matter the reason for his backing out, it is certainly a good time to distance oneself from Planned Parenthood," Quigley said in a statement.
The truth is more straightforward.
Actually, White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday the president had delayed his appearance at Planned Parenthood's annual gathering so he could spend more time with victims of last week's explosion in West, Texas. He will speak Friday at the group's national conference.But never let accuracy get in the way of buzz.
Obama isn't "distancing" himself from the health care group; he's doing the opposite.
Indeed, his appearance at Planned Parenthood's national conference on Friday is an extension of his long-time support for the organization, including making support for the group a key issue in his 2012 re-election campaign.