Planned Parenthood Won’t Debate Lila Rose on Sex Trafficking Video

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 2, 2011   |   4:21PM   |   Washington, DC

Representatives of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America refused today to debate Live Action president Lila Rose over the videotape her organization released showing PPFA’s affiliated in central New Jersey aiding alleged sex traffickers.

The video has caused such national controversy that CNN attempted to put together a segment this afternoon featuring Rose and a Planned Parenthood official, but David Schmidt, research director for Live Action, says Planned Parenthood backed out.

“Later today Live Action President Lila Rose will appear on CNN about the undercover tape we released Tuesday showing a Planned Parenthood manager give aid to who she thought was a child sex trafficker,” he says. “Planned Parenthood was also invited to appear at the same time as Lila but Planned Parenthood refused. Planned Parenthood will now discuss the sex trafficking sting only AFTER Lila’s segment airs which also means that they will get the last word without having to face a fact-check from Lila.”

“Instead of having an honest conversation with all sides involved, Planned Parenthood wants to play PR games. In light of the damning evidence against them, I don’t blame them. It may be a smart media strategy but it still makes them cowards,” he said.

The refusal to appear drew laughter from pro-life advocates.

Jill Stanek, a pro-life blogger and nurse, called the abortion business “cowards from the waist up,” referring to a comment in the video urging the sex traffickers to display the young women from the “waist up” after their abortions. “They won’t take on people their own size.”

Bryan Kemper, the founder of Stand True, a pro-life youth organization, also reacted.

“I find it amazing how cowardly Planned Parenthood and the whole pro-abortion movement is being about owning up to an obvious travesty.  The fact is their own worker clearly, and almost happily was willing to aid and abet a pimp who was trafficking young girls,” he said. “If we put our views on abortion aside, we can agree that what this worker did was despicable, and worthy of criminal prosecution.  Everyone on both sides should be heartbroken that any so called “medical professional” could act in this way.”

“If Planned Parenthood really cared about women they would be happy to go on CNN and assure the rest of the country that this will never happen again.  If they actually wanted to protect the rights of women, they would welcome an undercover operation like this to help weed out this kind of behavior,” he added.

Kemper challenged Planned Parenthood officials to come forward:  “Planned Parenthood I dare you to actually show you care about women and commit to making sure this will never happen again in one of your so called medical clinics. Shame on you for trying to downplay the severeness of human sex trafficking. Shame on you.”