KPCC, L.A. Public Radio Station, Pulls Planned Parenthood Spots Over Federal Budget Debate That Is Targeting Abortion Issue

By Dennis Romero Fri., Apr. 8 2011 at 3:05 PM

Categories: Media

Planned Parenthood

Republicans want to shut down government because they don't want you to have a plan. Seriously.

So while high taxes and (over) spending remain the mantra of Republicans threatening to shut down the federal government over President Obama's budget, the real deal-breaker could be our partial funding of Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that happens to perform abortions.

While the taxpapers don't pay for abortions directly, some conservatives don't want to see a cent go the group. (Way to rope in the electorate with a Christian conservative issue, GOP; can't wait for the presidential election).

Anyway, looks like local public radio station KPCC (89.3 FM) is suspending its paid Planned Parenthood spots -- you know, to avoid the spotlight at this time. Wait a minute ...

... We've never even heard a Planned Parenthood spot on the station.

Oops, maybe this one backfired. Now we know, KPCC, that you essentially take money from Planned Parenthood in exchange for some airtime. Um. Maybe you should have just kept quiet about the whole thing. Nobody would have noticed.

In a memo leaked to LA Observed, programming chief Craig Curtis indicates that he doesn't want the station's news coverage of the budget impasse to be accused of being biased because of the Planned Parenthood connection.

He says the suspension of the spots will probably only last through Monday. You know, during that peak public-radio-listening time -- a.k.a. the weekend -- when everyone's on pins and needles wondering just what fantastic action KPCC has going on. (Yeah, um, nobody switches over to KCRW to listen to music. Wouldn't think of it).

Listen Craig, we wouldn't have accused you of anything because we had no idea about your family planning ways.

Oh well. Be prepared for blow-back.

[Side thought: So conservative Republicans who blame immigrants for populating the country with brown people and having "anchor babies" don't want you to be able to have access to birth control? Which one is it? Bet they wouldn't mind if illegals aborted their babies. Or are these two distinctly different groups of right wingers? Discuss].

Tags:

abortion, federal budget, KPCC, Los Angeles, Obama, Planned Parenthood, public radio

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They do the birth control spots because the Republicans, alligned with Christian Fundamentalism, are not gay. But then, I hear, they're having trouble getting the moaps to put on their birth control as well.

Angela Garcia as NeonMosfet

Perhaps, the Republican Party is trying to force a censorship issue. If they can forbid everything, then suddenly, their lame musings will be all there are. I have to let this percolate. Then I promise to run these grounds so far into the earth, they'll beg for a rubber just to hide from me. Which, isn't that the point of birth control, anyway, not?

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Thomas J. Coleman

NB: I liked the "side thought" too. Follow-up Query: does Planned Parenthood, on balance, perform more abortions than it prevents via family planning and birth control?

Thomas J. Coleman

Pop goes the weasel. Once again goes to show how much petty, pea brained Fear and Loathing is out and about theese days and why I stopped listening to these gutless wonders long ago. All these guys are just bought and sold now; always either running for cover or all over top-of-the tree, like a bunch of squirrels in heavy need of anti-anxiety meds. They call themselves "journalists?" Give me a break -- all the more reason to turn to Pacifica/KPFK or the Beeb when you want to know what's up without any undue interference--at least you know what they're talking about and where they're coming from.

Bard Murdock

Legal, Safe and Rare

A fourteen-trillion deficit Is nothing at to sneer,But in these times of hope and change We think we’ve been austere.Another one-point-five-trillionAnd then we’ll start to pare:We want to keep our budget cutsAll legal, safe and rare.

We know the voters turned us outThe last election day,And gave the House to radicals,Hell-bent on foul play.But voters took a different tackAnd did the Senate spare,So we just treat RepublicansAs legal, safe and rare.

Though consequences are to flowBeyond the ballot box,In truth we don’t much give a damnFor populi’s clear vox.So let those new House membersPass all the bills they dare;Their chances in the Upper HouseAre legal, safe and rare.

And if the House’s budget cutsAre aimed at NPR,We’ll brand the cuts extremist hate;We’ll paint the cuts bizarre.And if Planned Parenthood should fallInto the budget snare,Abortion’s kept, we’ll say, by usAs legal, safe and rare.

Here’s hoping never comes the dayThe public starts to seek,The truth behind our fresh facadeAnd media technique.For if they do we run the riskThey may become aware:Few words can mask the truth as wellAs legal, safe and rare.

thebardofmurdock.com