April 12th, 2011
07:08 PM ET
Stephen Colbert's 'not factual' hashtaggingIt was a remark seemingly made for late-night TV comics: Sen. Jon Kyl's claim that abortion is "well over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does." When the actual figure turned out to be 3%, his office released a statement clarifying that Kyl's figure was "not intended to be a factual statement." Watch Sen. Jon Kyl's statement about Planned Parenthood Enter Stephen Colbert. The Comedy Central host lampooned the line on last night's show... but it turns out he was just getting started. Colbert, tweeting as @StephenAtHome, began posting some not-so-factual statements about Kyl, beginning with "Jon Kyl is one of Gaddafi's sexy female ninja guards #NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement." Since then, he's launched more than 30 such broadsides, all bearing that exculpatory hashtag, including: Naturally, Colbert's twitter followers quickly took up the meme, offering their own hitherto-unknown "facts" about the Arizona Republican. No response yet from Kyl's Twitter account. #staytuned...
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Only a politician would make such a grossly inaccurate statement using specific figures (90%) and then think that saying, "It wasn't meant to be a factual statement" is a reasonable explanation. Hilarious.
He most Republican lawmakers – IS A LIAR
Its amazing how Kyl was playing people that are watching the Fox news, he knew very well who he was talking to on the Senate flour. Conservatives would never check the facts they never do, they dont care about the truth as long as it sounds good for them (in their imaginary world of socialism around them". Their leaders made brainless idiots out of them and they are happy about it. But I am so appalled about this lie, he standing there gets tones of money for shamelessly lying to me. WE HAVE TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE RESPONSIBLE for their lies, and we dont. SHAME ON YOU KYL.
"Senate flour"? Can you bake bread with that?
No, but you can bake mammograhams!
Mamograhams? New from Nabisco? Its hard to appear educated or be taken seriously without at least trying to sound the word out before spelling it. Anyway, a woman's choice is her own. We live in a FREE society. We will never all agree but one's opinion is not more valid than another.
BTW Jon Kyl is responsible for 97% of global warming. #not intended to be a factual statement.
@John's 1st post.. if 3% = 300,000 then 100% = 10,000,000. If there were 10 MILLION people going to planned parenthood, I HIGHLY doubt they would need federal funding.
I guess your statement was "not intended to be a factual statement."
From the Planned Parenthood website, you will see that they had 11,400,000 service engagements with their clients. Their website further states that 3% were abortions. That is over 300,000 abortions. I am not trying to say good or bad. I'm simply saying they have a lot of business, and abortions are over 300,000 a year.
The 11,400,000 is services provided not individual people. One woman could return several times to refill birth control or for some other service and each visit would count toward that number the same as each abortion.
300,000 does seem like a lot of abortions going on in this country every year, but if Planned Parenthood weren't around there would be a lot more unwanted pregnancies. Thats a societal problem that the politicians won't be able to solve.
Peas in a pod. The guy that claimed that ALL PP clinics do abortions and the Senator that claimed >90% of their business is abortions are twin examples of the culture of gop dishonesty. They could care less what the truth is and will say anything at all that they believe will support their party platform.
to all this talk of 'my tax dollars paying for abortions'. Once the taxes are collected it is no longer yours to control. there are people who are comfortable with the medical procedure called abortion and those are not. just like there are those who are comfortable with military spending and there are those that are not. there are those that are comfortable with and those that are not. Complain about the tax rate but not about how the money is being spent because once it is collected it is not yours. Opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one and they all stink.
Thank you for saying this. I'm always amazed that anti-choice zealots are so offended by the thought that their tax dollars are supporting abortion (despite the fact that they aren't, but they don't want to believe that). No one seems to worry about what MY taxes are paying for that I find objectionable:
1) A war in Iraq based on a lie.
2) Capital punishment. (You know, taking an actual, living person, strapping them onto a gurney, and poisoning them – as opposed to destroying a couple of fertilized eggs in a petri dish). By the way, where are all the "pro-lifers" on this one?
3) Oil subsidies.
4) Ineffective "faith-based" treatment programs.
I could go on, but you get the point.
@Ann
1) What lie? Bad intelligence yes, but a lie, hardly.
2) You forgot the minor detail that "actual living person" took another human's life.
3) Not in favor of Oil subsidies either, what's your point?
4) Agree, the government should fund "faith-based" treatment programs. But I am guessing it is a drop in the bucket compared to other government health care initiatizes advanced by the left.
p.s. don't use [sic] in comments to a blog. We are all typing fast and mistakes abound, it doesn't affect your understanding of what the person is trying to say. Almost as bad pointing out misspelled words.
@Ann despite the fact that they aren't, but they don't want to believe that
They're not? Planned Parenthood funds abortions and accepts tax dollars from the government. Just because you put them in different columns in a spreadsheet doesn't mean that one is not funding the other. Your tax money is not being used to fund the war, that comes from the Republican side of the coffer. Sounds silly doesn't it?
Poor John Kyl, he discovered that facts have a liberal bias. I'm sure he'll continue to believe that the right to life begins at conception but ends at birth, like a good Republican.
J,
You obviously need to check your facts. The vast, vast majority of Planned Parenhood sites do not conduct abortion. In fact, I live right next to a PP site here in Indiana that couldn't possibly conduct an abortion because it doesn't have the necessary medical facilities. Actually, the only thing they do at that site is cancer screenings and std testing. In fact, of the 32 Planned Parenthood sites in Indiana, only 4 have ever conducted an abortion.
I don't mind that you hold the opinions that you do, but falsifying information is a breach of the social contract and is inherently harmful to Democracy.
Yeah, so next time I run for office, I'm going to promise every American $10,000 if I win. I'm not intending it as a factual statement though.
The 3% is 3% of their budget.
No. Go to their website, you will see that they had 11,400,000 engagements with clients, and 3% were abortions.
Solve Earth's problems once and for all... Free public abortions for all religious pregnancies. If only they could be mandatory.
Colbert and Stewart are great. They have a great way of driving a point home in an interesting and sarcastic way. They are educators of politics in the truest form and both are a national treasure.
Of the supposedly 300,000 abortions, how many were live fetuses? Ask any farmer or maternity ward nurse, some pretty ugly things can happen in the womb, and rather than going to term or risking the mothers death they have to be removed.
You tell me.
Thanks, Stephen Colbert, for showing these politicians to be the horses behinds that they are! "Intended to be a factual statement." And to all of you who find that 3% going to PP – I don't want my tax dollars making the fat cats in the banking, oil, pharmeceutical and insurance industries rich – but there they go anyway! It's a LOT more $$ than that which goes to PP. Get a clue from the clue bag!
What a backward system where comedians are the only people that hold politicians to their word. Go Colbert!
So long as abortion is a legal medical procedure, who CARES if the federal government funds it? Either make it illegal or treat it like any other medical procedure. Better yet, how about universal health care that would make Planned Parenthood unnecessary and put these decisions in the hands of women and their personal physicians?
When has the government ever given money to a procedure without stipulation? And a highly controversial procedure none the less
Reps and Dems blame each other while the country implodes. Get your facts straight before you open your mouth!
Facts? We don't need no stinkin' facts! Typical right-leaning double standard. Have you heard the one about the preacher that lambasts gays and then admits .........
He just rounded up to the nearest 90%........Stephen Colbert is a genius. John Kyl, what is going on in Arizona?
This reminds me of the famous SNL Chevy Chase skit when he impersonated Gerald Ford during a debate when he said "it was my understanding, that there would be no math". Republicans can't count – this is just another example.
KYLs mom is a B!TCH ! Cartman told me !
3% seems like a small number. It represents over 300,000 abortions provided by Planned Parenthood. You see, they provided a total of 11,400,000 services. 3% of 11,400,000 = 342,000 abortions. And some say that government funding of abortions is prohibited, and that Planned Parenthood does not allow the federal funding to be used for abortions. If you believe that, well.............................
I support abortion up to the 12th trimester. This world is getting overpopulated and the only people that have abortions are unintelligent, unprepared, poor, drug users, or had a failed contraceptive. The 12th trimester would be up to 3 years old for those of you who don't understand math.
It would actually be up to 2 years and 3 months, since the first 3 trimesters are in utero.
I think we need a Stewart/Colbert ticket for the 2012 race. They have more common sense than all of the Washington politicians combined!
Definitely better qualified than some of the other jokers talking about running...!
It's not really fair to keep asking the question, which I see all over this board and every board discussing abortion, "Why do the same people who oppose abortion not care about children after they are born?" This is essentially a "straw man" argument. For example, I oppose abortion and I also care a great deal about children after they are born. In fact, if you get to know people who oppose abortion, you will find that many of them do so out of a strong sense of reverence for all life. Focusing on a few people who are easy to attack completely ducks the real, hard questions in this debate.
I agree that's it's a strawman argument and not fair to levy against abortion opponents. However, a similarly false argument is made against abortion supporters, that they don't care about the aborted fetuses. It's not a matter of not caring or not. It's a matter of caring about the choices of pregnant women to direct the course of their own lives.
@Jason
Actually that's not a strawman arguement. It's a factual statement. Many of the anti-abortion people I have met are also against the social services that are needed after the child is born. The truth is, once the fetus actaully becomes a human being, the majority of the anti-abortion crowd stops caring. If they were really pro-life they would be acting differently. They would be against defunding the EPA and schools and organizations that help people – actual people – be healthier and happier. Instead, it's all about their selfish needs without any kind of responsibility for what happens later.
I'm an Idiot and I know everything!
Well, you're half right...
As Colbert and Stewart show day after day, more bravely than any pol out there,
Our New Republican Emperors indeed have No Clothes.
Let's remember, Bible Thumpers, who was the most famous person who fearlessly spoke Truth to Power – his initials were JC. You guys quote him a lot, but you treat these two guys a lot like his persecutors treated him. I guess that makes Fox 'News' the sycophants to Herod and his ilk...
When a lie must be employed, it is necessarily because the truth won't work.
Kyl, to nobody's surprise, is from Arizona (as is perennial presidential candidate "Jowls" McCain). Kyl has served as Arizona's "junior" U.S. Senator for a long time. Now you know why Kyl's home state is competing with Mississippi in terms of having the nation's worst poverty level, public education system, services for children, the elderly, and individuals with mental illness, and unfriendly business environment. By the way, that is factual, unlike Kyl's public declarations.
Mr. Chavez would have been asked for his papers in Arizona today. And before you idiots say he should be, he was a third generation Arizona citizen.
john kyl is a liar and that is a fact
Now that would be a great great ruse to offer in court. "My admission of guilt in a signed statement" was 'not intended to be a factual statement.' When asked what sort of statement is was 'intended to be', my response would be.....?
I find it strange that a legislator, in utter disdain for rules of order and civility, will stand up during a President's (any President's speech, call him a liar, and have anyone with any pretense of credibility, defend the action. The same goes for Kyl's comment. He told a flat-out lie to further his point of view, with no apparent remorse, and there are people here and elsewhere that defend his actions. Does that mean I can commit a crime in front of millions of witnesses, and there will be those that swear to my innocence? The end of the Age of Reason?
What sort of statement, then, was it intended to be? Credibility is something that has seemed to escape his best attempts during his career. Small wonder – much like any other troll, his data supports his arguments, and precious little else.
@David: "There are other options." such as? Because I haven't seen one other thing that the terrorsist have responded to to get them to change their ways. "that political leader is an evil person" were the reason to go to war": I didn't say it was.
Colbert and Stewart both need to decide if they are journalists or comedians and then stick to it. Right now they are both a joke.
They're comedians....the only people that think they're journalists are Republicans that are threatened by the fact that GOP supporters lack the wit required to retort, so they try to paint them as journalists in order to mock their "journalistic integrity," when Dems know there isn't meant to be any in the first place. – So, the joke's on you!
KYL needs to decide if he is a Senator or a comedian and stick to it. We all already know that he is a liar. You betcha !
It's called political satire...and the point IS to make jokes. It isn't new, pick up something by Jonathan Swift, Nietzsche, or even Voltaire -you'll figure it out.
Why? Is it not possible to be both? If not, why not?
Why, do they confuse you?
Yeah, Jonathan Swift, Nietzsche, or even (especially) Voltaire – I can't figure out whether those guys were writers or comedians (Wait, who? Are those guys American...?)
i know this may be incredibly difficult for you to figure out, but both of their shows are on Comedy Central. What do you think that implies?
Actually, Mr. Ed, they are neither. Mr Stewart and Mr Colbert are satirists. They are capable of telling the truth, unlike certain politicians. And thankfully, these 2 men tell more truth on their shows than most network news programs. Why? Because they operate independently of the machine that feeds the networks. We appreciate their efforts – like Mr Stewart's support for 9/11 workers that resulted in new legislation to support their healthcare funding. And Mr Colbert's continuing exposure of the lies of Kyle. Thankfully, we have a democracy that supports the work of these 2 guys, AMEN.
If Kyl didn't mean it to be a factual statement that would imply that he meant it to be a lie.
How do Republicans defend thier liars ?
They vote for them.
Funny, I still find Kyl remark closer to the truth than Obama discussing how to tackle the national debt.
You find a completely fabricated statement to be "closer to the truth"?
Attention Shoppers:
Please see the comment by Mel (Above)
This is what is wrong with our country.
Republicans who willfully swallow lies because they hate Democrats.
Your brainwashing is complete, step aside.
It's just plain nutty what these people are saying and doing. Kyl, Bachmann...and the dems are not much better. I have absolutely zero faith that our government can come together and do anything to help us out of this mess. All anybody wants to do is that which hurts the other guy most. That's all that matters anymore. Sickens me.
Most of the agreement is happening behind closed doors. Too many people think agreement is a weakness (or would be interpreted by voters as such), so statements in public remain hostile and divisive. Pay close attention to the "Gang of Six"; they are the compromisers we aren't hearing often enough.
So...you're saying they are better...
Colbert = brilliant
Kyl = owned
John! Yo! Did you know that 4/5ths of the population of the United States is 80%...
LOL. For the 2008 primaries I wrote in Colberts name for president. I wonder how many of his fans did the same.
So, if it's "not intended to be a factual statement," it IS intended to be a FICTIONAL statement, right? i.e., a lie?
And on the floor of the U.S. Senate no less.
Just make stuff up kids. And if you ever get called on it, just say it wasn't meant to be factual. Call it a joke, or say you were just kidding. But only if you get called on it.
lol! gotta love the line about the egg sacks or the two children in a convincing john kyl suit. really good!
The line keeps repeating.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTjjVWmCenM
Sorry, I apologize, I forgot that Colbert thinks he's funny. I remember when he thought he was a serious actor (Law & Order). He'll figure it out sometime.
colbert is spot on with his observations. spot on
kyl is a lair.
So comedians can't take up acting roles? I believe they call it the arts. His role in one LO:SVU really makes him a wishy washy person? I'm sure u wouldn't turn down an acting gig along with your whatever you do.
Comedians can't take up acting roles? What about Ronald Reagan?
Comedians (Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Keaton... where do I stop?) can become serious actors but serious actors cannot become comedians? Wha? I thought this was America where the individual rules and can be anything he or she strives to be? so anyway: Jon Kyl likes wearing Sheriff Arpaio's famous pink undies and says they are fabulous, but limits this indulgence to only 3 nights per week. #NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement
Colbert is an actor. He readily admits its that he is only playing a character on The Colbert Report. This is also told to the show's audience when he is seen live. Apparently he's pretty good at it if this needs to be explained.
I suppose I'll have to figure out which entertainment I like – crime drama or comedy... but wait – I like sports too.... ah man!!!
But my real comment is... Richard Belzer – been on the cast of L&O:SVU for 12+ years, started as a stand up comedian and still performs as a comedian.... I guess he should retire & give away all the money he's made because he couldn't figure out which specific genre he wanted to fit in....?
Colbert "thinks" he's funny?? I think several million people would agree with him... This story is freaking funny & without Stewart & Colbert it could have slipped under the radar. This man and his ilk deserve to be mocked for telling baldfaced lies and giving bs excuses! Stewart & Colbert are performing a public service! Most of the time they are also dam funny while doing it!
Well, he's paid well and his show makes money. So apparently the free market thinks he's funny.
Why do you hate capitalism? Are you a Communist?
You mean Colbert, the successful comedian millionaire with millions of adoring fans, doing what he loves in life. I'm sure you have that beat.
Our priority is job creation.
#NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement
HOW DARE yoU COLBERT !!!
If heated to a certain temperature, John Kyl returns to his natural gaseous state. Strange, but true..............or is it?
LOL – best yet!
It's too bad Colbert weighed in on such a serious issue, he just trivializes the topic. A U.S. Senator that doesn't know what the hell he is talking about is the issue. Who the hell elects these idiots?
he knows,
he's just a blatant lair.
Sen. Kyl was elected by the same dopes who elected that horrible Gov. Brewer.
It's not like any other news organization was actually running with this, at least now a lot more people will know what happened.
Amen.
@Austin Texas: I admit, I live in Arizona, but.......don't look at me. In my opinion, Kyl and Brewer are perfect examples of what is wrong with this state and this country.
@bobo – Stephen Colbert is a comedian with a variety show on Comedy Central. Please get over yourself.
you're reading the entertainment section of the news...why so serious, son? Trivialize, no. Satirize -YES.
I don't think Colbert trivialized the issue, at all. In fact, he did segments on this issue two nights in a row, and pointed his audience to the Twitter campaign that's turning the whole thing into a meme. I believe this story won't soon be forgotten, and that's thanks in no small part to Colbert making a few jokes.
Jane, 3 percent does not necessarily translate to 3 percent of it's funds. But of course what you said was "not intended to be a factual statement."
Kyl didn't say 90% of PlannedParenthood funds go to abortions. He said 90% of what they do is abortions.
Btw, I shot the sheriff AND the deputy!*
*not intended to be a factual statement
John Kyl has Fox News do his fact checking.
Did this story post on Fox?- The fair and balanced news network? Never met to be factual is the MOTTO of Fox News!!!
@AZYankee – I can agree that Faux presents stories that no one does and sometimes they have great facts on the smaller town stories. I give you that. Faux News has just been linked to David Cameroons campaign and access to Britians politics through the Mirror in the UK. Robert Murdoch is a right wing nut he is trying to get Faux in Canada but they won't let him because they expect REAL facts. So what does Murdoch do? They are currently spending thousands of dollars to lobby the Canadian parliment to change the law. NPR is the best fair and balanced news source in the U.S. then the BBC. (which is not in the US) CNN is alright but like Faux takes too many stories and presents them with out credible backing. But sir Faux News is the Worst when it comes to politics and telling the truth.
ZonaYankee, you lost all credibility in stating that faux news was one of the only creditable news organizations remaining. Faux News is primarily responsible for the failings of American news media and the sensationalism with which we have to live. If it was a paper it would should be called a rag. Since it is on air, I guess it's just noise. Faux News is a joke, a really, really bad joke that uses emotion, typically anger, to earn ratings. Sadly, CNN and others have seen the profit in the Faux News way and have headed in a similar, though not as drastic, direction.
They were to busy saying Walgreens preforms pap smears. http://www.businessinsider.com/fox-and-friends-breast-exams-pap-smears-walgreens-2011-4
How is it that CNN's news page didn't pick up on the original story, but has to recap it through Colbert and Stewart? Whatever happened to doing fact-checking yourself???
What fact-checking? Which fact do you doubt? That Kyl said it? That Planned Parenthood uses 3% of its funds for abortion? Those are very quickly and easily checked (you can do it yourself using a browser, the New York Times, other creditable sources). I don't think CNN is relying on Colbert for any of the important facts here, they are just reporting on his satire.
CNN is a news organization
I'm sorry, just to make sure is ArizonaYankee being serious or making a joke?
CNN actually did get this story before Colbert. The quote ("Not intended to be a factual statement") that has become the meme was a defense by Kyl's office given to CNN when CNN asked for an explanation regarding Kyl's, "90% of what Planned Parenthood does" comment. A clip of the televised CNN interview with Judy Tabar (President and CEO of Planned Parenthood) was used by Colbert on his TV show. We should all be careful of stating things without evidence (and I mean actual non-ideological evidence - not that you are guilty of the opposite). Otherwise we are guilty of exactly what Senator Kyl did.
I think Yankee is being serious, DMG. It's convenient to ignore facts with which you disagree when you label those facts as propaganda. Convenient, but ignorant by definition.
Feeble attempts at clouding the issue won't change the facts. He lied and he got caught. Neither he nor his office has shown any signs of remorse.
@arizona yankeey you forgot to say "not meant as a factual statement"
CNN is little more than an aggregator these days. And home to talk show nuts like Nancy Grace.
We need to be clear on our own facts if we're going to make fun of Kyle for being off on his. Jane is incorrect that "Planned Parenthood uses 3% of its funds for abortion" and yet she claims we can all just look that up. She obviously hasn't. 3% of their their activities are abortions. Which means if one person comes in for a pap smear, birth control refill, and STD test, that is 3 activities, but someone spends 6 hours going through the abortion process, that's just 1. Planned parenthood's web site says they do 1 abortion for every 10 birth control refills. That is a staggeringly high percentage. And their revenue (apart from donations and government subsidies) is more than 60% from abortions. That's clearly not 90% of their business, but it's also not 3%. Both sides need to try being a bit more honest here.
@Greg, You are right about Jane getting the facts wrong. But 3% is still just 3%. It does not increase just because some of their clientelle may use multiple services. Walmart, for example, would not artificially alter the percentage of its business that televisions sales make up by lumping groceries sales together. 1 abortion for every 10 contraception refill works out to 9% and this does not account for the 'other' services you mentioned. Hence, 3% is very believable. Further, you are twisting facts when you mention 60% of revenue that is not government subsidized comes from abortions. The goverment subsidized the other services, eliminating the private revenue stream that would come from those services. Thus this magical 60% has absolutely nothing to do with the conversation. 60% of their services are not abortions. 60% of their true and complete revenue is NOT from abortions. Even if Kyl was erroneously using 60% as his basis, he is still 30% off from a misleading number to begin with. The point of the article, however, and the reason for the ribbing is his defense of his mistake. 'Not intended to be a factual statement' is a pretty pathetic.
So now, due to this example, we can lie our faces off. We just have to say later that it wasnt INTENDED to be factual. Brilliant!
I hear Kyl is a rapist.
Just saying.
Some things are not to be joked about, sorry.
I heard he was a therapist.
I hear that he is actually an accomplished Analrapist
I heard he was a analrapist
I heard he's both an analyst AND a therapist. The worlds first analrapist.
Word has it that Darrell Hammond based his impersonation of Sean Connery on Saturday Night Live on the life and times of John Kyl. #NITBAFS
Hahah I loved these! Stephen Colbert is too funny and Jon Kyl really had mockery coming.
My favorite:
Jon Kyl assassinated Archduke Ferdinand.
That's not what I heard... I heard he was kicked out of the BAND Franz Ferdinand!
gad! I absolutely love Stephen Colbert . . . my favorite is the once a year to the desert . . . to deposit 2 million egg sacs. Wow does that ever conjure up an image to make ya laugh truly out loud. thanks Mr. Colbert!
I am an honest politician whos #1 priority in the best interest of my voters.
#NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement
This is hilarious!
Awesome!
#FactualStatement
Lol, Colbert's a genius
@ John. I hope you and everyone here knows that the money that Planned Parenthood spends on abortions does NOT come from the federal government; they have other income sources. And for those Republicans that say this is effectively funding abortions (even though 97% of their spending is on other important services) I would counter that the government gives tons of money to other organizations that perform tasks that aren't allowed to be funded by the federal government. Just look at federal funding for any faith-based organization. That is all.
Just because you say it, doesn't make it true, J. Not all sites have abortion clinics. Actually, there are 3 PP's within 50 miles of me and you would still have to drive 150 miles away to get the Big A.... and it's not even at a PP.
@J – so you agree all PP abortion sites should be in seperate buildings? And, you think it is ok for a site to perform abortions, but not mamograhams?
J's comment was not meant to be a factual statement.
"3% seems like a small number. It represents over 300,000 abortions provided by Planned Parenthood. You see, they provided a total of 11,400,000 services. 3% of 11,400,000 = 342,000 abortions. And some say that government funding of abortions is prohibited, and that Planned Parenthood does not allow the federal funding to be used for abortions. If you believe that, well............................."
I enjoy the fact that you view those calculations as factually correct, rather than conjecture. Is the 3% figure 3% of their budget? 3% of the total unique people seen? 3% of total appointments made?
The issue is that tards can use statistics any way they feel, and not be held accountable.
We see that with Congressman Kyl, and with this poster also. We as Americans like to talk out our butt, and we wonder why the rest of the world views us as lazy or ignorant.
Here's an idea – look up the total # of abortions independently, rather than do ghetto make based on bad assumptions.
why do you keep spelling mammograms like teddy grahams??? They are, in fact, not tasty treats.
PS... Stephen Colbert for president
@John... Yep. And if other stuff wasn't being funded, the money spent on abortions would need to be distributed elsewhere. So even though on the budget line, it does not say "abortions," it still funds abortions.
your math is way wrong – they performed over between 300,000 – 400,000 abortions last year. When is the last time you looked at an abortion video on line? How did you arrive at 3%? Sorry bud, your math is dangerous...
no one is citing sources or anything. You all are just talking. Not one of you knows any of the facts.
Uhh...PP does not perform free abortions. The government does not pay for the abortion. The woman pays for it.
That is all.
Man, I haven't looked at an abortion video online since I was a child.
This just in: Your money also funds war. Which pays for bullets and bombs that kill babies. You also pay for bullets that are sold to the "enemy" and shot through the heads of our own soldiers. Why don't you pro lifers realize the hypocrisy you swim in all day? "Keep you're big government hands off my life, but tell a woman what she can do with her body". "Abortions are killing life, but drop some bombs on some other country's civilians to protect us at home". How about you read a book, and maybe tune-in for awhile rather than broadcasting all the time.
@ John-apparently the senator thought so or he wouldnt have intentionally misquoted the actual number
Yes, and 90% represents 9,000,000 abortions by your logic
Here's some fun facts: Birth control pills don't prevent conception, they prevent the egg from attaching to the uterus. Yep, according to the Christian Taliban, all women on the pill are mass murderers. Ever seen an abortion protest at an upscale fertility clinic? You know, the kind that keeps hundreds of fertilized zygotes (errr, uhhh, "human beings") in liquid nitrogen? Me either. Abortion protesters only get mad when POOR people have abortions. If you're white and upper middle class, they don't care! My favorite argument of theirs? That TAX dollars are being used for something their religious doesn't like! Great, how do I stop my tax dollars being used for war? Here's a great idea folks: Since the churches think they should get into politics, let's TAX THEM. Heck, the Catholic church alone might get us out of this little Republican-made recession we have going.
@J is that another comment that is not intended to be factual? In fact very small percentage of PP facilities actually perform abortions this is in line with abortion services making up only 3% of what they do.
What's the plan for paying for those fetuses that are eventually born to mothers who have no means for caring for them? Who pays their for their food and medical care? We all do. Yet at the same time, the GOP feels it's just fine to cut the very programs that support these people and "planned" parenthood in general. Can you see the hypocrisy? Let them be born so someone else can raise them? Get real; this doesn't work. These kids often grow up to be in trouble and on Welfare and public services. Who pays for that? No one wants to acknowledge this as it's not convenient for their argument. Abortion is a desperate decsion. It seems the fetus is all they care about and to heck with the resulting child. Politics and religion need to stay separate; these decisions are between a woman and her doctor. The Dark Ages came and went.
J,
You obviously need to check your facts. The vast, vast majority of Planned Parenhood sites do not conduct abortion. In fact, I live right next to a PP site here in Indiana that couldn't possibly conduct an abortion because it doesn't have the necessary medical facilities. Actually, the only thing they do at that site is cancer screenings and std testing. In fact, of the 32 Planned Parenthood sites in Indiana, only 4 have ever conducted an abortion.
I don't mind that you hold the opinions that you do, but falsifying information is a breach of the social contract and is inherently harmful to Democracy.
@Oak:
"Here's some fun facts: Birth control pills don't prevent conception, they prevent the egg from attaching to the uterus."
Here's the actual fun facts: Birth control does THREE things, and the first thing it does it prevent release of the egg from the ovaries, so that there isn't any egg TO be fertilized, so there isn't a possibility of conception. The second thing it does it increase cervical mucus, so that just in case an egg slips by, the sperm is blocked from entering the egg. THEN, if all else fails, and the egg gets loose from the ovary, AND the mucus fails to block the sperm, AND if fertilization (i.e. conception) is achieved, the pill helps thin the lining of the uterus, thus helping to prevent attachment of the fertilized egg.
You will note, however, that your "fun fact" has a pretty slim fact of actually occurring, since there are two other mechanisms which help prevent the egg from ever getting that far.
@J And I don't want my money going towards the war in Iraq, towards oil subsidies, towards Republican politician salaries, or anything you like. But I'm a grown-up, and I realize you can't always get want you want.
Of course, my comment was directed at J, not at @J.
@Oak
"Here's some fun facts: Birth control pills don't prevent conception, they prevent the egg from attaching to the uterus. Yep, according to the Christian Taliban, all women on the pill are mass murderers. Ever seen an abortion protest at an upscale fertility clinic? You know, the kind that keeps hundreds of fertilized zygotes (errr, uhhh, "human beings") in liquid nitrogen? Me either. Abortion protesters only get mad when POOR people have abortions. If you're white and upper middle class, they don't care! My favorite argument of theirs? That TAX dollars are being used for something their religious doesn't like! Great, how do I stop my tax dollars being used for war? Here's a great idea folks: Since the churches think they should get into politics, let's TAX THEM. Heck, the Catholic church alone might get us out of this little Republican-made recession we have going."
Very, very well said. Especially the part about taxing the Churches! Thank you!
Man, arguing on the internet is fantastic fun!
#NotIntendedToBeAFactualStatement
As for those against abortions sounding off in this thread:
– Abortions at Planned Parenthood are not free to those who seek them. Unless your friendly local congressman/woman is handing you a check signed by Obama when you walk in the door, I'm fairly certain you're the one paying for it.
– Not all Planned Parenthood sites can or do conduct abortions.
– The 3% figure for abortions at Planned Parenthood is stated BY Planned Parenthood. That's 3% of all visits to all Planned Parenthood locations.
– The other 97% of visits to Planned Parenthood are comprised of STD testing, cancer screening, giving out contraceptives and various services for women's health, many of which are provided free or very cheap as a result of the federal funding. So, if you agree with cutting funding to Planned Parenthood, you are directly harming people who seek and need those services.
On the more opinionated side: What's your problem with abortions? Those who seek them probably don't have the means to care for the child, and with cuts to government spending for other programs that benefit the poor, I doubt the rest of us can pick up the tab, either. That child will be born to poverty, live in one of this nation's many and vast ghettos, and turn to a life of violence and crime for lack of a better alternative. If the mother conceives at a young age, she'll likely drop out of school and go on welfare because she doesn't have the time to get a decent education while paying bills and raising a child. That makes her AND that child she was forced to bear YOUR problem.
It may sound grim in the short-term because no one likes the idea of ending a human life, but you already don't care what happens to that child after it's born. Why should you care what happens before? Besides, it's not like people from Planned Parenthood are going out and finding pregnant women to abort their children by force, so if somehow you take abortion as a personal attack on YOU, something else is wrong.
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I know, long rant, but I feel like the conversation on this has stalled because A) those who are pro-choice don't articulate their ideas and B) those who are pro-life can't get past the idea of "Abortions = Wrong" without asking themselves, with a long-term view in mind, why it's wrong.
?mamograham? LOL. get a dictionary and a clue.
"Yeah, 3% seems to be a small number." and its a fact. but lets keep lying and say its 90% because anyone that vots for me is too dumb to know the difference between right and wrong unless one of them bibles tells me
Thank you: Tom, Oak, Jess C. There are way to many subjective sheep in this world and it is nice to hear someone intelligent who actually cares about the future of our country let alone our species.
@Turrible,
Just food for thought: As you say "That child will be born to poverty, live in one of this nation's many and vast ghettos..". Poverty and ignorance correlate quite nicely with belief in a religion. Therefore, I predict that the christian powers that be are trying to assure future members and money (whatever these poverty stricken people can give is more then someone who is educated enough to see through their bs).
Planned Parenthood PREVENTS more abortions than any other group thru education and birth control. To say you want to block funding is the same as saying you want to increase abortions.
For the most part Planned Parenthood doesn't do the actual abortion, but if that is the choice the patient makes they will refer you to an OB/GYN doctor in a regular hospital or clinic that will do the procedure.
They want to cut funding for PP and then also cut funding for welfare programs. Like these unwanted babies are going to magically take care of themselves. It takes a village to raise an unwanted fetus...
Imagine a Presidential ticket of Stewart and Colbert. Damn they could get my vote! I bet these 2 comedians can do more that the bunch of Reps and Dems are doing now!
Stewart & Colbert 2012
"I signed up for what? I thought I was just ordering cable."
John Kyl has an IQ.
The above statement is not factual.
Wow all you people who say abortions aren't wrong are a little low o the moral pole. I suppose because i fetus isn't independent it's not a person, able to be disposed of. Children aren't independent. Maybe if a parents get tired of them they should just abort them a little later? The elderly and metally retarded are generally dependent as well. With them gone, that takes care of part of the deficit. And unemployment? Maybe if people are to dependent on government, they should be aborted too. Sounds logical to me.
Nurse...Facts, double checked by agencies. You just don't like the figures