Penna Dexter

In her capacity as “First Daughter,” and before she took an official position at the White House, Ivanka Trump organized a meeting with Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood. Since congress was considering proposals to defund Planned Parenthood, by far the nation’s largest abortion provider, Ivanka wanted to learn more. Planned Parenthood’s executive Vice President, Dawn Laguens told reporters, that in this meeting, Cecile Richards had hoped to “make sure that Ivanka fully understood what Planned Parenthood does, how it is funded, and why it would be a mistake for Planned Parenthood to be removed from being able to see Medicaid patients.” During the campaign, Donald Trump had praised Planned Parenthood for its health services to poor women but pledged to pull all taxpayer funding from the organization if it continued to do abortions. Then again, in March, the president informed Planned Parenthood it would have to quit performing abortions in order to retain its taxpayer funding. Ivanka was likely hoping to weigh in with her father in favor of Planned Parenthood funding. The New York Times’ recent profile of her states: “Those close to Ms. Trump say she is generally business-friendly and socially liberal.” The paper also pointed out that, “She can effectively convey criticism to a man who often refuses it from others, and can appeal to him to change his mind.” Ivanka knows that a strong majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. In her meeting with Cecile Richards, she wasn’t just fact finding. The Times reports, “She also had a proposal: Planned Parenthood should split in two, Ms. Trump suggested, with a smaller arm to provide abortions and a larger one devoted to women’s health services.” But Planned Parenthood said Ivanka’s idea showcased her naiveté and her failure to understand how central reproductive choice (i.e. abortion) is to Planned Parenthood’s mission. There you have it. Thanks Ivanka for allowing us to again be reminded that abortion is the central mission of Planned Parenthood’s business. Our government should not fund it.