In a move that surprises almost no one, Planned Parenthood has decided to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States. The chances of the abortion provider ever getting behind President Donald Trump were always negligible, and many had assumed that the group would eventually fall in behind the challenger. But is this a case of choosing the least worst option for its aims, or do those who control the purse strings believe that Biden is a genuine convert to the cause?
President Trump's views on America's largest abortion provider are well known. He implemented regulations that prevent similar organizations from receiving public funds in order to diminish support to its operations as a whole. In response, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund runs an ongoing "Tracking Trump" ticker-tape on its donation site to highlight his misdeeds. There will never be a joining of minds between the highly political Big Abortion industry and the White House occupant.
But now that the fund has gone to bat for Uncle Joe, how much support will it demand for access to its all-important dollar bills?
Biden's Swivel
If Planned Parenthood were looking for a candidate in tandem with its beliefs, it may have to wait until 2024. Biden has a long history of supporting the Hyde Amendment, which restricts access to federal funds for the purpose of abortion. Even well into last year, the former vice president's campaign stated, "He has not at this point changed his position on the Hyde Amendment."
In fact, adding a dose of confused fuel to the fire, he was asked in May if he would "commit to abolishing the Hyde Amendment." Initially, he responded, "yes," then "no," and finally walked away, mumbling, "Right now this has to be – it can't stay."
All this has apparently changed, and now he is fully willing to get rid of the contentious amendment.
A Glowing Endorsement?
The official endorsement highlights two things very clearly. First, Planned Parenthood is more anti-Donald then pro-Joe. Second, along with the other 300 candidates the group is endorsing, concrete action is expected for the financial largesse.
Outlining Biden's stance on abortion, the endorsement, written by Acting President of the fund Alexis McGill Johnson, said:
"Joe Biden is the only candidate in this race who will stand up for our health and our rights. We have a choice in this presidential election between a man who incites violence, who dehumanizes anyone who disagrees with him, whose incompetence and disregard for the law are a danger to us all — and a man who will fight for our health and rights."
Continued McGill Johnson, "Biden has committed to champion access to sexual and reproductive health care, including access to abortion, and to fight for our communities."
Will he be Planned Parenthood's knight in shining armor, or is this just one more hoop he has to jump through to maintain his new woke credentials?
Who's Fooling Whom?
The fact is, those who dole out the cash don't have faith in Biden to do much at all. All they really want is someone in a position of power not actively to campaign against them. And Biden himself doesn't expect to do very much of anything should he happen to win this election. He will shake babies and kiss hands, all the while leaving policy and leadership to those who want to recreate the world as a progressive Utopia.
Planned Parenthood knows this all too well. It is not President Biden, a man lukewarm to their ideals at best, with whom they will be dealing. It is the radical wing of the Democratic Party, now doing its level best to hide the internecine warfare bubbling just below the surface. This endorsement is about more than health and wellness; it's about political power and personal privilege.
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Read more from Mark Angelides.
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