Planned Parenthood would not be a political albatross in a country with a sane politics. In ours, this source of health care for legions of women has long been the butt of many a misinformed political attack and defunding attempt from the right. Not even a murderous terrorist attack on one of their clinics in November deterred its opponents.
The Democratic presidential frontrunner doesn’t seem to care. Not only did she accept their endorsement one week ago, but in an interview with Fusion, she argued that it should receive more funding.
“I’m obviously not only against defunding Planned Parenthood, but I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding,” Clinton said, “because oftentimes it is both the first and the last resort for healthcare.”
Perhaps even more bold is Clinton’s explicit call to abolish the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortion procedures and care. (Hence why it’s weird Congress keeps voting to defund it.) Clinton announced at a New Hampshire rally earlier this month that Hyde makes it “harder for low-income women to exercise their full rights,” which is putting it lightly. It’s a big deal for a presidential candidate to say this in a political environment that may be more restrictive on reproductive rights than any other constitutionally-guaranteed right. The other candidates on the stage with Clinton tonight would be wise to follow her lead, dis Hyde, and agree with her that abortion is a “fundamental human right.”
