Debate about Texas women’s health plays out on Twitter

February 6, 2013 Texas Right To Life Off Texas Right To Life.com

Yesterday in a Twitter chat with two pro-abortion Texas state legislators, Planned Parenthood attempted to — once again — play the victim and redefine state defunding efforts against the abortion giant as an attack on women's health.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas welcomed Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) and Representative Donna Howard (D-Austin), to participate in the chat under the hashtag #TXWomensHealth.

Planned Parenthood has been hurting ever since Texas Right to Life successfully redirected $64.3 million in healthcare funds away from the abortion industry to other, more worthy healthcare agencies. So, Planned Parenthood started the discussion with a lie disguised as a question:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>In 2011, <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TX">#TX</a> legislators cut family planning funds by 2/3. How has this affected your districts? <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/leticiavdp">leticiavdp</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a></p>— Planned Parenthood(@PPGreaterTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/PPGreaterTX/status/298899174752124929">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

But here's the truth: after budget cuts around the entire state, family planning revenue streams continue to receive approximately $100 million dollars, down from $160 million.

Planned Parenthood continued on and asked Howard and Van de Putte the following question:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/leticiavdp">leticiavdp</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a> What are the most pressing <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a> issues being discussed during this leg session?</p>— Planned Parenthood(@PPGreaterTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/PPGreaterTX/status/298900379939266560">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Most pressing issue in <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23txlege">#txlege</a> is restoring FP cuts and ensuring adequate providers. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Donna Howard (@DonnaHowardTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonnaHowardTX/status/298900875840200704">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

The fact of the matter is that Planned Parenthood does not use our tax dollars appropriately: to help women. Nationwide, Planned Parenthood’s own numbers indicate that although their federal funding has increased substantially, the number of cancer screenings they offered fell, while the number of abortions they committed rose, which casts a dark shadow on Howard's next tweet:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23txlege">#txlege</a> cut $73M from cancer screenings & contraception. Not one penny of those dollars was used to pay for abortion. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Donna Howard (@DonnaHowardTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonnaHowardTX/status/298902673367904256">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

Pro-Life activists, however, were ready to dispute the claim that taxpayer dollars do not prop up the abortion industry:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>.@<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a> Do disagree w/ stats that show more the taxpayer funding, the more abortions committed? <a href="http://t.co/ucBA5Lhf" title="http://www.texasrighttolife.com/a/984/Watch-shocking-numbers-from-Planned-Parenthood">texasrighttolife.com/a/984/Watch-sh…</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23txwomenshealth">#txwomenshealth</a></p>— Texas Right to Life (@TXRightToLife) <a href="https://twitter.com/TXRightToLife/status/298904655524659201">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Why we seek to defund: Planned Parenthood’s Taxpayer Funding Subsidizes Its Abortions <a href="http://t.co/38CUJYch" title="http://bit.ly/Y8j0rZ">bit.ly/Y8j0rZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Students for Life(@Students4LifeHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Students4LifeHQ/status/298905289741180928">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a> They simply subsidized their overhead, allowing them to focus resources on the real money maker: <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23abortion">#abortion</a></p>— Gwen Spadie (@gwendolynne1) <a href="https://twitter.com/gwendolynne1/status/298903001081446400">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

Many people told us during the chat that abortion is a women’s health issue, but apparently we weren’t allowed to talk about that:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/txrighttolife">txrighttolife</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/ppgreatertx">ppgreatertx</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a> We're talking about <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXwomenshealth">#TXwomenshealth</a> care: mammograms, cardiovascular health, cancer screenings.</p>— Leticia Van De Putte (@leticiavdp) <a href="https://twitter.com/leticiavdp/status/298899957388308480">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

Senator Van de Putte didn’t want any of us getting confused:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a> Reminder: This is about making sure woman who finds lump in breast can get into a doctor's office. Not discussing abortion.</p>— Leticia Van De Putte (@leticiavdp) <a href="https://twitter.com/leticiavdp/status/298900652581609472">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/leticiavdp">leticiavdp</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/txrighttolife">txrighttolife</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/ppgreatertx">ppgreatertx</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a> How many mammograms does PP provide?</p>— Kathy Seastrunk (@KathySeastrunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/KathySeastrunk/status/298900281402474496">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Planned Parenthood does not provide mammograms <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Students for Life(@Students4LifeHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Students4LifeHQ/status/298901381153169408">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

The truth hurts.

Here's another lie from Planned Parenthood. This time it's about the Women's Health Program, from which Planned Parenthood and other abortion committers were legally excluded in 2011. That was in addition to the $64.2 million blow the abortion industry received through the amended Texas budget.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TX">#TX</a> rejected $40M in fed funds in order to ban PP from the Women’s Health Program. Response @<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/leticiavdp">leticiavdp</a>? <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23WHP">#WHP</a></p>— Planned Parenthood(@PPGreaterTX) <a href="https://twitter.com/PPGreaterTX/status/298905744428900353">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

And here's the truth: Texas did not reject funds from the federal government. The Obama Administration refused to fund the Women's Health Program because his favorite abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, was legally disqualified by the Texas Legislature in 2011. As a result, Texas has revamped the funding of the program so that Texas can continue to offer essential healthcare to low-income women, without subsidizing the abortion industry.

The Obama administration's move to cut off funding to the Women's Health Program begs the question…

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>WHP funding cut off by feds bc it disqualified PP. Is that having women's best interest in mind? <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomenHealth">#TXWomenHealth</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/donnahowardtx">donnahowardtx</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/ppgreatertx">ppgreatertx</a></p>— Texas Right to Life (@TXRightToLife) <a href="https://twitter.com/TXRightToLife/status/298907247185104896">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Can we make a note that TX didn't pull women's health $? Just abortion $. @<a href="https://twitter.com/barackobama">barackobama</a> pulled the women's HC $ in response. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Rey Guevara (@ReyGuevara) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReyGuevara/status/298907777470963714">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

Of course, when Texas Right to Life and other Pro-Life groups asked a question, all we heard from the abortion camp were crickets:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/governorperry">governorperry</a> says state identified adequate # of providers w/o PP. <a href="http://t.co/mOjW9r4e" title="http://governor.state.tx.us/initiatives/womens_health/">governor.state.tx.us/initiatives/wo…</a> Are you saying this is false? <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Texas Right to Life (@TXRightToLife) <a href="https://twitter.com/TXRightToLife/status/298902053294575616">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>DId you know: There 2,500 eligible Women’s Health Program providers with 4,600 locations. Only 69 PPs. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Students for Life(@Students4LifeHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Students4LifeHQ/status/298898033523953665">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

Texas Right to Life will continue to combat the lies of the abortion industry and their ilk. Thank you, Students for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, Jill Stanek, Father Frank Pavone, Bryan Kemper, and countless other Pro-Life activists for standing for Life. We appreciate you defending Texas and Texas Right to Life’s work as we work to make Texas a leading Pro-Life state!

Here are a couple highlights:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Join the <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23PPH">#PPH</a> Tweetfest today at 4pm ET with Rep. Donna Howard and Sen. Leticia Van De Putte. Express your <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23prolife">#prolife</a> views. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Frank Pavone (@frfrankpavone) <a href="https://twitter.com/frfrankpavone/status/298865687265439746">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Instead of shilling for the biggest abortion provider, why don't you help women find the other 2,400 qualified providers <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) <a href="https://twitter.com/KristanHawkins/status/298901092866093056">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Prolife">#Prolife</a> Tweet Mob alert! Join <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23prochoice">#prochoice</a> conversation NOW at <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a> sponsored by Planned Parenthood of Greater TX!</p>— Jill Stanek (@JillStanek) <a href="https://twitter.com/JillStanek/status/298899340343275521">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>So grateful 4 @<a href="https://twitter.com/governorperry">governorperry</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/txrighttolife">txrighttolife</a> & TX legislature 4 showing true <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23prolife">#prolife</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23prowoman">#prowoman</a> values <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a> <a href="http://t.co/OCvQqt2Q" title="http://www.sba-list.org/newsroom/press-releases/court-affirms-texas%E2%80%99-right-defund-planned-parenthood">sba-list.org/newsroom/press…</a></p>— Susan B Anthony List (@SBAList) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBAList/status/298899789167341568">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Planned Parenthood Charging Women for Free Services in Govt Program <a href="http://t.co/sELn9bX4" title="http://bit.ly/YBcoVg">bit.ly/YBcoVg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Students for Life(@Students4LifeHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Students4LifeHQ/status/298907591055118336">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Activist Admits Texas Ultrasound Saving Babies From Abortion <a href="http://t.co/44Hq5NpN" title="http://bit.ly/14PLKfC">bit.ly/14PLKfC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TXWomensHealth">#TXWomensHealth</a></p>— Students for Life(@Students4LifeHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/Students4LifeHQ/status/298880249649852418">February 5, 2013</a></blockquote>

Tags: legislation, media, planned parenthood, technology, twitter

Related posts

About The Author

Texas Right To Life