Bill O'Reilly did his part this Friday evening to help Fox with their attack on Planned Parenthood and with distorting their record on providing cancer screening. Sadly O'Reilly hasn't been fazed in the least with his demonization of any abortion providers after the murder of Dr. George Tiller in 2009.
Here's more from Media Matters -- Planned Parenthood's Effort To Fight All Types Of Cancer Still Under Attack:
Following the controversy surrounding Susan G. Komen for the Cure's initial announcement that it would end its relationship with Planned Parenthood, right-wing media have tried to downplay Planned Parenthood's efforts to fight cancer, claiming that Planned Parenthood doesn't provide mammograms and does "nothing to prevent breast cancer." But this ignores the numerous cancer-related services Planned Parenthood annually provides to women -- including more than 1.5 million cancer screenings and preventative services in 2010 -- such as breast exams, mammogram referrals, and screenings for other types of cancer; moreover, contrary to right-wing claims, some Planned Parenthood clinics do indeed provide mammograms.
Go read the rest for more details on the list of services they do provide and how many patients were potentially being put at risk with this dangerous game they're playing.
As they also noted, this is just the latest in a string of lies by O'Reilly on Planned Parenthood and what portion of their services are providing abortions compared to other services and the money they spend on lobbying.
Transcript below the fold.
O'REILLY: Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly. Thanks for watching us tonight.
A victory for secular forces in America. That is the subject of this evening's "Talking Points Memo".
The Susan Komen Foundation is the nation's largest charity combating breast cancer. In 2010 the foundation took in more than $400 million in donations. With that money the charity funds various enterprises that help detect and fight breast cancer.
One of those enterprises is Planned Parenthood which refers women for mammograms. Last year the Komen Foundation gave Planned Parenthood $680,000. Now, that is the source of controversy because as you know, Planned Parenthood is primarily in business to provide abortions, more than 300,000 each year.
So some pro-life folks and the polls say that's now about 50 percent of the population don't like breast cancer money going into Planned Parenthood until this week. The Komen Foundation said it would stop giving Planned Parenthood money.
Well, all hell broke loose in the secular precincts. The pro-abortion lobby went crazy. The Internet was full of hateful posts against the charity and 26 senators wrote a letter to the Komen founder Nancy Brinker objecting to pulling the funds from Planned Parenthood. 25 of the senators were Democrats and one Independent Bernie Sanders is too liberal to be a Democrat.
Faced with a nasty controversy the Komen Foundation surrendered today announcing it will restore the Planned Parenthood grant.
"Talking Points" has a few comments to make. Number one its true Planned Parenthood does breast cancer screening so the Komen Foundation should demand their grants go just for that, nothing else.
Number two, Planned Parenthood is much more, much more than a women's health organization. It is a pro-abortion lobby under the banner of so- called Reproductive Rights. Generally speaking, Planned Parenthood does not give women who visit it's clinics the other side of the abortion story because again PP is in business for abortion.
That is disturbing to pro-life Americans who may want to donate to the Komen Foundation. This controversy is yet another example of how powerful secular forces have become in the U.S.A.
For me it's a simple equation. Upon my death, I don't want to stand in front of God trying to explain how I supported the destruction of a fetus. I simply don't want to have to do that. But I do respect opposing points of view as long as they respect mine. And I certainly don't want my breast cancer donations to go to Planned Parenthood because I believe that organization is much more destructive than beneficial. Again, that's my personal belief.
Finally, I understand the Susan Komen Foundation is in a tight spot. It's getting battered from both sides. But the breast cancer folks should have stood firm. Planned Parenthood is too political, too pro-abortion. Medical charities should stay away from politics.
And that's the memo.
Now for the "Top Story" tonight. Reaction, joining us from Fort Worth Texas, radio talk show host Janine Turner; and from Los Angeles, Fox News contributor, Leslie Marshall. All right, Leslie where am I going wrong here?
LESLIE MARSHAL, FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR: Because Bill, this is not about abortion, this is about saving lives, through the efforts of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and self-breast examination, education in self-breast examination, physical breast exam, referrals for mammograms.
In 2012, Bill in America we can say if you're diagnosed with breast cancer you have more than a 90 percent chance of surviving. Two decades ago it was a death sentence we couldn't say that. You know what cancer doesn't care if you're Democrat or Conservative. And neither should we. We can't discriminate. This should not be political. It should be about personal lives.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: All right, that's a nice speech Leslie. You know you're breaking my heart.
MARSHALL: You like it?
O'REILLY: I'm going to start to sob in a moment. I've been working on that all day.
All right, let's answer the questions now. You will see that breast cancer business of any kind is very low on the Planned Parenthood chart. It's very, very low. Very -- very little is done. You can get some screening but they refer you out most of the time. You concede that correct? Leslie?
MARSHALL: Actually the referrals --
O'REILLY: Will you concede that? It's a very small part -- very small of their business.
MARSHALL: No, I don't agree with you 100 percent on that Bill. But I will concede that it is a small part but the others --
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Ok their big business, Planned Parenthood is abortion. And lobbying for abortion, would you concede that?
MARSHALL: I would concede that they perform abortions and they are politically --
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: No the largest part of their business, the most things that they get involved in concerns abortion, would you concede that.
MARSHALL: I can't because I've heard a good argument on both sides and information on both sides.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Ok well, all right, there is no good argument. The absolute truth is PP is in business for abortion; 300,000 a year and they make tons of money from it.
Now if I give a donation to the Komen Foundation, I do it sincerely because I want to combat breast cancer. I don't want to help abortion in any way, shape, or form Janine. So that's why I'm sure a number of Americans complained to the Komen Foundation and they initially pulled the grant to PP. Are they right to do that? Were they right to do that?
JANINE TURNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I believe they are right to do that. Not only that I believe they are a private charity. And it's their -- they can do whatever they want to do in fact that --
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Then why did they fold?
TURNER: I -- I don't know, I think they were bullied and I think it's a shame. I think they actually act as a political correctness. And you know what I think what's really shameful about this, that 26 senators sent a letter. They are private charity it has nothing to do with --
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Yes but those are pro- -- pro-choice senators.
TURNER: No, no, no but its government -- yes the government doesn't have any -- shouldn't have any say in this -- in this private charity. And I just think that they have a right to not be a part of Planned Parenthood. And it's a shamed that they actually --
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Ok but why do you think Komen gave a note, Janine why do you Komen folded today, why?
TURNER: I think they were bullied. I think they were bullied.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: I mean, you know but there are big boys, they got -- they get enormous amount of money. They don't need Planned Parenthood one way or the other. They don't need them.
TURNER: I think they acquiesced because of political correctness.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Right so they folded under pressure.
TURNER: Because Planned Parenthood --
O'REILLY: Go ahead.
TURNER: Can I just say this? Planned Parenthood doesn't even -- they don't even do mammograms. They just refer.
O'REILLY: No they refer and I understand that.
TURNER: They refer and if Planned Parenthood were really concerned about women and breast cancer --
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: They would have a mammogram and they'd be doing it. Absolutely, it's an excellent point. Right Leslie? It's an excellent is it not?
MARSHALL: No. Because, quite frankly, let -- you know my husband is a doctor I have to check on this Bill. Ok? To have a mammogram you need an MRI center. Those machines are millions of dollars and you do need a referral. I did when I got my mammogram from a physician.
So I don't think it has an issue of care. I think there is an issue of cost and -- and who, under their roof has that medical expertise.
TURNER: Oh may I just --
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Wait, let Janine answer. Go ahead, Janine.
TURNER: Ok. They get a billion dollars a year. They have a billion- dollar budget a year. I think they can have mammogram machines. And otherwise they have --
(CROSSTALK)
MARSHALL: Janine, Janine if they had mammogram machines then you would be ok with Susan B. Komen's reversal.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: I would, I would -- as long as Komen --
TURNER: Yes because it's about breast cancer.
MARSHALL: Ok, ok.
O'REILLY: Yes as long as Komen says our $680,000 that comes from me and you guys and everybody else just goes for that then I'm ok. I don't want it going to some abortion doctor. I don't -- and -- and unless I'm assured, I can't give money to Komen unless I'm assured that -- that doesn't happen. And I think that's fair. Is that fair both ladies to you agree that's fair? Komen money goes to Planned Parenthood only for breast cancer related activities, ok.
TURNER: Is that -- that is that for about breast cancer.
MARSHALL: Not only -- not only is it fair, Bill, but there is the ability by Susan G. Komen and any charity to specifically earmark what funds are for which.
(CROSSTALK)
O'REILLY: Absolutely so we're all in agreement. We're all in agreement, that's the way it should go down, correct?
MARSHALL: Yes we agree in it.
TURNER: It's for breast cancer. The money is going to breast cancer
O'REILLY: All right, we agree. And now we're going to follow up and make sure that Komen Foundation demands that and we'll have a follow up report next week.
MARSHALL: Ok.
