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After being involved with Planned Parenthood for eight years, either as a volunteer or as an employee, Abby Johnson suddenly resigned this week and joined the Coalition for Life. So why would someone who had dedicated so much of their life working for reproductive rights suddenly not only change their views on abortion but on the complete scope of reproductive rights? After conducting an investigation and interviewing several sources it has become clear that this was not a spiritual awakening.
The story that Johnson has repeated is that she had a “change of heart” after witnessing an abortion through an ultrasound. According to an interview with ABC News, Johnson held the probe on the patient’s abdomen during the procedure, and according to that interview Johnson was unclear as to the reason why she was there during this procedure because it was not a normal part of her duties. According to an interview with World Net Daily, Johnson said that for “whatever reason, the physician had called me back to assist with the procedure.”
However, Johnson did not just happen to witness the procedure, and the procedure did not actually even take place at the Planned Parenthood that Johnson was the director of in Bryan, Texas. Johnson was visiting another clinic in the Houston area; she was there visiting a doctor that Bryan clinic was considering utilizing for abortion procedures. Johnson was specifically interested in the doctor because of the very fact that the doctor used the ultrasound, which makes the abortion safer, more efficient, and many believe more humane for the fetus. Confidential sources also confirmed that Johnson was pleased by the visit to the doctor and impressed with the procedure.
As reported by Salon, Johnson was put on a performance improvement plan by Planned Parenthood on October 2nd of this year, and one of the reasons behind this was because of unprofessional usage of her email at work. The regional director of Planned Parenthood was visiting the Bryan clinic on a weekly basis, and Johnson complained to several people about the manner in which she was being treated by the upper management. According to confidential sources the regional director of Planned Parenthood may have been looking for a reason to terminate Johnson, and Johnson was looking for a reason to leave the clinic.
The story that Johnson tells about looking out the window at the protesters and then deciding to join them is not what happened. The “change of heart” could simply be described as a calculated move.
The real truth is that this was about money. According to confidential sources Johnson had complained about money problems, and had even on occasion mentioned the possibility of bankruptcy. According to another confidential source Johnson was promised by the director of the Coalition for Life, Shawn Carney that she would not have to worry about money. It was made clear to Johnson that the Coalition to Life donors would ensure her financial stability. Not only would the Coalition for Life place her on their payroll, but Johnson was promised that she could make as much as $3,000 per speaking engagement.
Johnson was pressured by the Carney to agree to interviews with the local media, and once the story was picked up by conservative blogosphere and then the conservative media invitations to national media appeared. According to the Coalition for Life’s web site, Johnson is schedule to appear on the O’Reilly Factor tonight and Huckabee tomorrow.
From several interviews with confidential sources it has become clear that Johnson conversion is one of convenience and that the entire story that she has promoting in the media is a fabrication. This spiritual conversion is nothing more than a disgruntled employee who saw an opportunity to seek revenge against her former employer and benefit financially in the process. It is unlikely that this will affect her future career as a spokeswoman for the anti-choice community, but the media should take this into account and actually ask critical questions. There is more to this story than a “change of heart.”
Friday, November 6, 2009
Conversion of Convenience: The Revealing Truth Behind Why the Director of a Planned Parenthood Joined the Coalition for Life
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Pro-Choice to Pro-Life: An Insider’s Look Into the Conversion of a Planned Parenthood Employee
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For over a year and a half I have been a volunteer escort at the Planned Parenthood reproductive health care facility in Bryan, Texas; this particular facility is located in a town home to arguably the most conservative public university, Texas A&M, and is known as one of the most anti-choice areas in the country. Located just steps from Planned Parenthood is an organization that opposes reproductive rights, the Coalition for Life. The fence that surrounds Planned Parenthood serves as the frontline between those that support reproductive rights and those that opposed reproductive rights. This week someone crossed from one side of the fence to the other: the director of the Planned Parenthood joined the Coalition for Life. How could something like this happen? The story may be more complicated than the mainstream media is reporting.
Early on Saturday mornings, the days during which surgical abortions are performed; I arrive at Planned Parenthood and walk through the double doors and sign-in on the volunteer check-in sheet. I put on the yellow and orange volunteer vest, and check out a security badge. Over the next several hours I spend my morning escorting clients into the facility. Volunteer escorts meet clients at their cars and welcome them to Planned Parenthood, and as soon as the clients open their car doors the protesters being shouting through the fence. Escorts simply walk clients from their automobiles to the front door of the facility, and this demonstrates to the clients that we are there to support them. After clients leave the facility escorts walk the clients back to their automobiles, and then ensure that they have a clear path out of the driveway.
The protesters outside of the facility will shout through the fence at the clients the entire time they are arriving and leaving. Also, the protesters will stand along the driveway holding brochures and pamphlets while attempting to get the clients attention. The brochures and pamphlets include factually inaccurate information and intellectually dishonest claims. Often the false link between abortion and breast cancer is claimed in the literature, despite the fact that according to the American Cancer Society “the scientific evidence does not support the notion that abortion of any kind raises the risk of breast cancer.” Also, the claim is made that women who have abortions will suffer “post-abortion syndrome,” however, “post-abortion syndrome” is not recognized as a legitimate medical condition by either the American Psychological Association (APA) or the American Psychiatric Association.
It was during these mornings that I met Abby Johnson, the director of the Planned Parenthood in Bryan. Johnson was always open to talk about the issues dealing with reproductive rights, and I have always known her to be an outspoken and an opinionated advocate of reproductive rights. Sometimes Johnson would visit with the volunteer escorts in front of the facility, and complaints about the protesters seemed to always be one of the topics of conversation. When it comes to the protesters Abby had plenty to complain about. As a volunteer and then later as an employ of Planned Parenthood, she had seen times when the protesters were much more aggressive and much more hostile towards the clients, volunteers, and employees. In fact Johnson herself has been the victim of harassment, and even death threats. While Coalition for Life does not claim responsibility for the actions of all of the protesters, the Coalition for Life facilitates an atmosphere that contributes to those actions.
The Coalition for Life begin a twenty-four hour a day protest in 2004 in front of Planned Parenthood, it called the protest 40 Days for Life. The protest has spread throughout the country, and twice a year in the spring and in the fall these protest take place. During the recent 40 Days for Life protest, which took place from September 23rd until November 1st, Johnson was a guest on the radio show that I host, Information Underground, on the local all volunteering radio station, 89.1FM KEOS. Johnson was also a guest on another radio show on KEOS, Fair and Feminist, hosted by two local feminist activists. It was on these shows, in the midst of what was her apparent conversion, that Johnson voiced strong opinions in support of Planned Parenthood and in opposition to the Coalition for Life.
On Information Underground Johnson spoke about the threats from the protesters:
“This group of people that claim to be peaceful prayer warriors, or whatever they call themselves, it's kind of ironic that some of them would be sending death threats and that they would be harassing and stalking some of our staff.”
On Fair and Feminist Johnson spoke about crisis pregnancy hotlines:
“Another thing that scares me is…if people are not trained and they don’t know the actual facts on abortion, and they have their own opinion because they’ve been told by somebody from the Coalition [for Life] or they’ve been told by their crazy anti-choice church…you never know what they are going to spouting off to these women.”
It is this history that is why I have my doubts about this conversion. From what Johnson herself told me when she first announced that she had resigned from director of Planned Parenthood was that she had quit not because of moral reasons but because of a disagreement with Planned Parenthood. Johnson had complained about the amount of work that she was required to do, and recently a key member of the staff had accepted another position at another Planned Parenthood facility. There is speculation that this conversation was not as much about a change of heart but more about a disgruntled employee. According to an article in Salon, Johnson was put on a performance improvement plan by Planned Parenthood on October 2nd of this year, only a year after being awarded “Employee of the Year.” Planned Parenthood has also filed a temporary restraining order against Johnson and the Coalition for Life. According to the restraining order Johnson was observed removing materials from the facility, copying confidential files, a possibly giving confidential personal information about a Planned Parenthood employee to the Coalition for Life.
According to reports Johnson resigned “after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure.” Ultrasounds are used during abortions specifically to make them safer, less painful, and more efficient. According to a confidential source, it seems that the statements that she has made in the media about the ultrasounds are contradictory to the statements that she has made in private. What is particularly strange is that according to the article in Salon, Johnson witnessed the ultrasound procedure that changed her mind the day before the interview on Fair and Feminist. Also, what remains to be seen is the financial incentive that Johnson may be receiving from the Coalition for Life. According to confidential sources Johnson is now on the Coalition for Life payroll. Also, it appears that Johnson may have been having financial difficulty, so a monetary motivation may be a factor.
Perhaps the most compelling reason why I doubt this conversion is because the extreme shift in views is such that it would require a complete reversal not only abortion, but on the entire scope of reproductive rights. The Coalition for Life and their supporters are not simply against abortion, they are decidedly against all aspects of reproductive rights. A person changing from identifying as pro-choice to pro-life or from pro-life to pro-choice is not necessarily a surprising situation; it is understandable for a person to change their ideas about the moral and ethical questions surround abortion. However, the conversion from a staunch pro-choice advocate who works for a reproductive health care facility, to a outspoken pro-life advocate who now is involved with the very organizations that opposes not just abortion, but everything that encompasses reproductive rights, raises questions.
What is unclear is whether or not Johnson will repeat the same misinformation that she openly disparaged now that she will be standing on the other side of the fence. After eight years of speaking out against the distortions and misrepresentations of the truth by the protesters on the other side of the fence, is she simply going to repeat the same lies that she so often refuted? After helping countless women in ways as simple as providing affording birth control to providing them with the ability to make a difficult choice, is she now going to attempt to prevent women from receiving the services that they need? What is Johnson going to say to the colleagues and friends on the other side of the fence? What is Johnson going to say to me the next time she see me through the fence? What is she going to say to the women who she used to support?
What is clear is that volunteers and activists like me will continue standing up for reproductive rights. While Abby may now be fighting against reproductive rights, we will still be fighting for her reproductive rights.
Early on Saturday mornings, the days during which surgical abortions are performed; I arrive at Planned Parenthood and walk through the double doors and sign-in on the volunteer check-in sheet. I put on the yellow and orange volunteer vest, and check out a security badge. Over the next several hours I spend my morning escorting clients into the facility. Volunteer escorts meet clients at their cars and welcome them to Planned Parenthood, and as soon as the clients open their car doors the protesters being shouting through the fence. Escorts simply walk clients from their automobiles to the front door of the facility, and this demonstrates to the clients that we are there to support them. After clients leave the facility escorts walk the clients back to their automobiles, and then ensure that they have a clear path out of the driveway.
The protesters outside of the facility will shout through the fence at the clients the entire time they are arriving and leaving. Also, the protesters will stand along the driveway holding brochures and pamphlets while attempting to get the clients attention. The brochures and pamphlets include factually inaccurate information and intellectually dishonest claims. Often the false link between abortion and breast cancer is claimed in the literature, despite the fact that according to the American Cancer Society “the scientific evidence does not support the notion that abortion of any kind raises the risk of breast cancer.” Also, the claim is made that women who have abortions will suffer “post-abortion syndrome,” however, “post-abortion syndrome” is not recognized as a legitimate medical condition by either the American Psychological Association (APA) or the American Psychiatric Association.
It was during these mornings that I met Abby Johnson, the director of the Planned Parenthood in Bryan. Johnson was always open to talk about the issues dealing with reproductive rights, and I have always known her to be an outspoken and an opinionated advocate of reproductive rights. Sometimes Johnson would visit with the volunteer escorts in front of the facility, and complaints about the protesters seemed to always be one of the topics of conversation. When it comes to the protesters Abby had plenty to complain about. As a volunteer and then later as an employ of Planned Parenthood, she had seen times when the protesters were much more aggressive and much more hostile towards the clients, volunteers, and employees. In fact Johnson herself has been the victim of harassment, and even death threats. While Coalition for Life does not claim responsibility for the actions of all of the protesters, the Coalition for Life facilitates an atmosphere that contributes to those actions.
The Coalition for Life begin a twenty-four hour a day protest in 2004 in front of Planned Parenthood, it called the protest 40 Days for Life. The protest has spread throughout the country, and twice a year in the spring and in the fall these protest take place. During the recent 40 Days for Life protest, which took place from September 23rd until November 1st, Johnson was a guest on the radio show that I host, Information Underground, on the local all volunteering radio station, 89.1FM KEOS. Johnson was also a guest on another radio show on KEOS, Fair and Feminist, hosted by two local feminist activists. It was on these shows, in the midst of what was her apparent conversion, that Johnson voiced strong opinions in support of Planned Parenthood and in opposition to the Coalition for Life.
On Information Underground Johnson spoke about the threats from the protesters:
“This group of people that claim to be peaceful prayer warriors, or whatever they call themselves, it's kind of ironic that some of them would be sending death threats and that they would be harassing and stalking some of our staff.”
On Fair and Feminist Johnson spoke about crisis pregnancy hotlines:
“Another thing that scares me is…if people are not trained and they don’t know the actual facts on abortion, and they have their own opinion because they’ve been told by somebody from the Coalition [for Life] or they’ve been told by their crazy anti-choice church…you never know what they are going to spouting off to these women.”
It is this history that is why I have my doubts about this conversion. From what Johnson herself told me when she first announced that she had resigned from director of Planned Parenthood was that she had quit not because of moral reasons but because of a disagreement with Planned Parenthood. Johnson had complained about the amount of work that she was required to do, and recently a key member of the staff had accepted another position at another Planned Parenthood facility. There is speculation that this conversation was not as much about a change of heart but more about a disgruntled employee. According to an article in Salon, Johnson was put on a performance improvement plan by Planned Parenthood on October 2nd of this year, only a year after being awarded “Employee of the Year.” Planned Parenthood has also filed a temporary restraining order against Johnson and the Coalition for Life. According to the restraining order Johnson was observed removing materials from the facility, copying confidential files, a possibly giving confidential personal information about a Planned Parenthood employee to the Coalition for Life.
According to reports Johnson resigned “after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure.” Ultrasounds are used during abortions specifically to make them safer, less painful, and more efficient. According to a confidential source, it seems that the statements that she has made in the media about the ultrasounds are contradictory to the statements that she has made in private. What is particularly strange is that according to the article in Salon, Johnson witnessed the ultrasound procedure that changed her mind the day before the interview on Fair and Feminist. Also, what remains to be seen is the financial incentive that Johnson may be receiving from the Coalition for Life. According to confidential sources Johnson is now on the Coalition for Life payroll. Also, it appears that Johnson may have been having financial difficulty, so a monetary motivation may be a factor.
Perhaps the most compelling reason why I doubt this conversion is because the extreme shift in views is such that it would require a complete reversal not only abortion, but on the entire scope of reproductive rights. The Coalition for Life and their supporters are not simply against abortion, they are decidedly against all aspects of reproductive rights. A person changing from identifying as pro-choice to pro-life or from pro-life to pro-choice is not necessarily a surprising situation; it is understandable for a person to change their ideas about the moral and ethical questions surround abortion. However, the conversion from a staunch pro-choice advocate who works for a reproductive health care facility, to a outspoken pro-life advocate who now is involved with the very organizations that opposes not just abortion, but everything that encompasses reproductive rights, raises questions.
What is unclear is whether or not Johnson will repeat the same misinformation that she openly disparaged now that she will be standing on the other side of the fence. After eight years of speaking out against the distortions and misrepresentations of the truth by the protesters on the other side of the fence, is she simply going to repeat the same lies that she so often refuted? After helping countless women in ways as simple as providing affording birth control to providing them with the ability to make a difficult choice, is she now going to attempt to prevent women from receiving the services that they need? What is Johnson going to say to the colleagues and friends on the other side of the fence? What is Johnson going to say to me the next time she see me through the fence? What is she going to say to the women who she used to support?
What is clear is that volunteers and activists like me will continue standing up for reproductive rights. While Abby may now be fighting against reproductive rights, we will still be fighting for her reproductive rights.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Reaction to Resignation of Director of Planned Parenthood: Change of Heart?
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Like I said, my first reaction was shock. It was only a few weeks ago that Abby was a guest on our radio show, Fair and Feminist. You can see the interview with her here . Click "On Demand" and the Sept 27th show. She has spent 8 years of her life fighting for women's rights, and suddenly she has decided she is pro-life.
To be clear, she has a right to believe whatever she likes, and I don't disrespect her for being a prolife person. I have prolife friends and family in my life, and once ascribed to those beliefs myself. But It sucks to lose an ally, especially in this town, and it hurts to lose a friend (She even deleted me off facebook ).
Being prolife is one thing, but supporting the coalition for life, a group she was constantly disparaging, is shocking and upsetting to me. The fact that she has gone public with this news in town is really hard, and really hurtful for those us who support the local planned parenthood. About two weeks ago, I organized a rally with some key prochocie, pro planned parenthood allies in town on Texas A&M campus.
We were harassed for holding signs like these:
As a prochoice activist, I am disheartened and a little down today. But I am also ever-more convinced of the importance of the work we do.
Planned Parenthood supports prevention, supports women, and helps people in my community everyday. Teddy has some great posts about 40 Days for Life and Planned Parenthood you can check out for further reading.
More on this later, as Teddy and the other escorts and prochoicers in town deal with this shocking news.
For now, keep fighting for women's rights.
Shelly Blair, co-host of Fair and Feminist
Teddy called me last night when he saw the news story, and I literally thought he was joking. A few weeks ago the clinic director and my friend Abby resigned from PP in Bryan. I was saddened but felt that she was making a personal choice about her career and didn't think too much of it.
Last night, the day after 40 days for life ended, Abby "came out" as a person who has had a change of heart and not only become pro-life, but joined the coalition for life, an anti-choice group founded locally in college station, TX.
To be clear, she has a right to believe whatever she likes, and I don't disrespect her for being a prolife person. I have prolife friends and family in my life, and once ascribed to those beliefs myself. But It sucks to lose an ally, especially in this town, and it hurts to lose a friend (She even deleted me off facebook ).
Being prolife is one thing, but supporting the coalition for life, a group she was constantly disparaging, is shocking and upsetting to me. The fact that she has gone public with this news in town is really hard, and really hurtful for those us who support the local planned parenthood. About two weeks ago, I organized a rally with some key prochocie, pro planned parenthood allies in town on Texas A&M campus.
We were harassed for holding signs like these:
As a prochoice activist, I am disheartened and a little down today. But I am also ever-more convinced of the importance of the work we do.
Planned Parenthood supports prevention, supports women, and helps people in my community everyday. Teddy has some great posts about 40 Days for Life and Planned Parenthood you can check out for further reading.
More on this later, as Teddy and the other escorts and prochoicers in town deal with this shocking news.
For now, keep fighting for women's rights.
Shelly Blair, co-host of Fair and Feminist
Texas Progressive Alliance Roundup - November 2, 2009
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The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you to get out and vote on Tuesday. Here are this week's highlights.
Aruba Petroleum is drilling a Barnett Shale gas well in the backyard of Tim and Christine. Their property was taken, it's value diminished, they were threatened and now Aruba Petroleum spilled toxic drilling waste a few feet from where their daughter plays. Another tale (with VIDEO) about the Victims of the Shale on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.
Justin at Asian American Action Fund Blog has a roundup of the Houston city elections and proposed Texas constitutional amendments.
The Texas Cloverleaf looks at the high cost of low turnout elections by examining Denton County. $25 a vote, anyone?
This week at McBlogger, we took a look at Hank Gilbert's plan to Get Texas Moving Again.
Big news from San Antonio, where with just days before City Council was to vote to move forward with the South Texas Nuclear Project expansion, officials suddenly announced that the cost estimate for the project had ballooned by up to $4 Billion! Find out more from Citizen Sarah over at Texas Vox.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the Texas' GOP leadership that thinks our state's economy is just fine, Dunnam hammers Perry, Dewhurst - GOP needs to face rality on economy in Texas. They'll be singing a different tune when they're out of work in 2011.
TEXPAC, the Texas Medical Association's political action committee, hosted a forum where all six declared US Senate candidates -- John Sharp, Bill White, Elizabeth Ames Jones, Florence Shapiro, Michael Williams, and Roger Williams -- made an appearance. See the videos posted by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.
John Coby at Bay Area Houston wonders What does it take for a republican to resign?
Off the Kuff takes a look at how Houston's mayoral candidates are spending their money.
At WhosPlayin, Trace makes his case for why we need to talk to Iran.
Mean Rachel wonders why Texas Democratic statewide candidates have Electile Dysfunction.
At TexasKaos, liberaltexan brings us up to date on Republican efforts to "fight liberalism" on the A&M campus, and it ain't pretty. Check it out : Young, Conservative, and Intolerant.
The Texas Progressive Alliance reminds you to get out and vote on Tuesday. Here are this week's highlights.
Aruba Petroleum is drilling a Barnett Shale gas well in the backyard of Tim and Christine. Their property was taken, it's value diminished, they were threatened and now Aruba Petroleum spilled toxic drilling waste a few feet from where their daughter plays. Another tale (with VIDEO) about the Victims of the Shale on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.
Justin at Asian American Action Fund Blog has a roundup of the Houston city elections and proposed Texas constitutional amendments.
The Texas Cloverleaf looks at the high cost of low turnout elections by examining Denton County. $25 a vote, anyone?
This week at McBlogger, we took a look at Hank Gilbert's plan to Get Texas Moving Again.
Big news from San Antonio, where with just days before City Council was to vote to move forward with the South Texas Nuclear Project expansion, officials suddenly announced that the cost estimate for the project had ballooned by up to $4 Billion! Find out more from Citizen Sarah over at Texas Vox.
WCNews at Eye On Williamson posts on the Texas' GOP leadership that thinks our state's economy is just fine, Dunnam hammers Perry, Dewhurst - GOP needs to face rality on economy in Texas. They'll be singing a different tune when they're out of work in 2011.
TEXPAC, the Texas Medical Association's political action committee, hosted a forum where all six declared US Senate candidates -- John Sharp, Bill White, Elizabeth Ames Jones, Florence Shapiro, Michael Williams, and Roger Williams -- made an appearance. See the videos posted by PDiddie at Brains and Eggs.
John Coby at Bay Area Houston wonders What does it take for a republican to resign?
Off the Kuff takes a look at how Houston's mayoral candidates are spending their money.
At WhosPlayin, Trace makes his case for why we need to talk to Iran.
Mean Rachel wonders why Texas Democratic statewide candidates have Electile Dysfunction.
At TexasKaos, liberaltexan brings us up to date on Republican efforts to "fight liberalism" on the A&M campus, and it ain't pretty. Check it out : Young, Conservative, and Intolerant.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Local News: Organizing for America in Waco Pushes for Health Care Reform
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Obama Supporters Working Phone Bank in Waco to Push Health Care Reform
By Michael W. Shapiro (Tribune-Herald staff writer)
From the Waco Tribune-Herald
Almost a year after President Barack Obama’s election, some of the volunteers who worked in Waco to put him in office are regrouping in the hopes of building support for the administration’s top domestic priority — health care reform.
For the past two weeks in a small office at Columbus Avenue and North 10th Street, one paid employee and a group of volunteers have been calling members of the community to talk about health care.
The group, Waco’s branch of Organizing for America, a political committee run by the Democratic National Committee, has been holding phone banks Tuesdays and Thursdays, which volunteer Jan Forney described as part advocacy and part education.
A roomful of volunteers on cell phones were engaged in conversation Tuesday afternoon, supplied with talking points listed on a large piece of paper on the wall about reform proposals, the Obama administration’s position and the existing state of health care in Texas.
The volunteers have been urging area residents on the phone to call their members of Congress — Rep. Chet Edwards and Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison — to support health care reform.
“It’s clear that the (2008) election was one piece of it, but it wasn’t the whole picture,” said Forney, who worked for the Obama campaign last year.
“It’s an effort to really piggyback on the momentum we had during the election.”
During the summer as Congress went on recess, conservative groups and Tea Party groups, including Waco’s chapter, pushed back against Democratic-led health care reform efforts. In town hall meetings across the country, members of Congress were met by sometimes raucous audiences that included sizable contingents of people who called reform efforts fiscally irresponsible.
Concerned about the fate of health care reform and by what he described as misinformation that was dominating what should have been a more objective debate, Ta-Wei Lin, 26 and a recent Baylor alumnus, decided to temporarily drop his plans to get a degree in public health to intern at the Waco Organizing for America office.
Lin said he’s motivated to do his part to reform health care before he delves into the field professionally, pointing to issues like insurance companies denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions as just one of the glaring problems with the U.S. system.
He said he’s particularly concerned with the tone of the debate, singling out the level of discourse at town halls over the summer.
“It’s an issue that’s become highly politicized, and I wish it wasn’t,” Lin said.
Republican County Party Chairman Chris DeCluitt is on the opposite side of the health care debate, though he echoed Lin’s calls for respectful discussions.
“There’s room for firm, calm debate,” DeCluitt said, “but the party is very concerned with reform and the potential dismantling of our entire health care system.”
If anything needs reforming, he said, it is Medicare and Medicaid, entitlement programs that both have been projected to grow dramatically in the coming decades.
Battle lines in Washington mirror the differences between local Republicans and Democrats in Waco, with politicians mostly aligning with their parties.
But Edwards, who has six Republicans lined up in a primary to unseat him, is so far an exception. Edwards’ spokesman, Josh Taylor, described the Waco Democrat as neutral on a Democratic health care bill that had not yet been unveiled late Wednesday but was set to be rolled out this morning.
That means for Forney and other volunteers at the Waco Organizing for America office, the mission becomes that much more clear, she said: “to let Rep. Edwards know there are people out there who care about health care reform.”
Published on Thursday, October 29, 2009
By Michael W. Shapiro (Tribune-Herald staff writer)
From the Waco Tribune-Herald
Almost a year after President Barack Obama’s election, some of the volunteers who worked in Waco to put him in office are regrouping in the hopes of building support for the administration’s top domestic priority — health care reform.
For the past two weeks in a small office at Columbus Avenue and North 10th Street, one paid employee and a group of volunteers have been calling members of the community to talk about health care.
The group, Waco’s branch of Organizing for America, a political committee run by the Democratic National Committee, has been holding phone banks Tuesdays and Thursdays, which volunteer Jan Forney described as part advocacy and part education.
A roomful of volunteers on cell phones were engaged in conversation Tuesday afternoon, supplied with talking points listed on a large piece of paper on the wall about reform proposals, the Obama administration’s position and the existing state of health care in Texas.
The volunteers have been urging area residents on the phone to call their members of Congress — Rep. Chet Edwards and Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison — to support health care reform.
“It’s clear that the (2008) election was one piece of it, but it wasn’t the whole picture,” said Forney, who worked for the Obama campaign last year.
“It’s an effort to really piggyback on the momentum we had during the election.”
During the summer as Congress went on recess, conservative groups and Tea Party groups, including Waco’s chapter, pushed back against Democratic-led health care reform efforts. In town hall meetings across the country, members of Congress were met by sometimes raucous audiences that included sizable contingents of people who called reform efforts fiscally irresponsible.
Concerned about the fate of health care reform and by what he described as misinformation that was dominating what should have been a more objective debate, Ta-Wei Lin, 26 and a recent Baylor alumnus, decided to temporarily drop his plans to get a degree in public health to intern at the Waco Organizing for America office.
Lin said he’s motivated to do his part to reform health care before he delves into the field professionally, pointing to issues like insurance companies denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions as just one of the glaring problems with the U.S. system.
He said he’s particularly concerned with the tone of the debate, singling out the level of discourse at town halls over the summer.
“It’s an issue that’s become highly politicized, and I wish it wasn’t,” Lin said.
Republican County Party Chairman Chris DeCluitt is on the opposite side of the health care debate, though he echoed Lin’s calls for respectful discussions.
“There’s room for firm, calm debate,” DeCluitt said, “but the party is very concerned with reform and the potential dismantling of our entire health care system.”
If anything needs reforming, he said, it is Medicare and Medicaid, entitlement programs that both have been projected to grow dramatically in the coming decades.
Battle lines in Washington mirror the differences between local Republicans and Democrats in Waco, with politicians mostly aligning with their parties.
But Edwards, who has six Republicans lined up in a primary to unseat him, is so far an exception. Edwards’ spokesman, Josh Taylor, described the Waco Democrat as neutral on a Democratic health care bill that had not yet been unveiled late Wednesday but was set to be rolled out this morning.
That means for Forney and other volunteers at the Waco Organizing for America office, the mission becomes that much more clear, she said: “to let Rep. Edwards know there are people out there who care about health care reform.”
Published on Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Young, Conservative, and Intolerant
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The Texas A&M Chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas is a group of the most conservatives students on the most conservative college campus in the nation. However, the YCT contends that Texas A&M is not as conservative as it is portrayed. The mission of the YCT, as articulated by the Chairman, is to “turn a passive, silent, oblivious majority of conservatives into an active, vocal, aware majority” and to “defend and revive conservatism among the American people…before we lose what has made Texas and this country great and blessed.” So how exactly are they going to accomplish their mission? By fighting “liberalism wherever it may be.”
A new tool being used by conservative activist is CampusReform.org, which was created by The Leadership Institute, a Virginia based training organization for potential conservative political leaders. The Leadership Instituted, which labels itself as a “a non-partisan educational organization,” includes such notable “non-partisan” alumni as Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist, and the “non-partisan” Karl Rove.
As Campus Progress reported, the Leadership Instituted launched a social networking site CampusReform.org so students can report and organize against professors that they view as politically biased. One of the main features of the site is the ability of students to rate professors anonymously, using a scale ranging from liberal to conservative.
There where five faculty members of Texas A&M University that where listed: Antoin Schwab, Ben Harper, Kimberly Brown, Tanya Weathers, and Terence Lamb. Besides being labeled as liberals they all have one thing else in common: all of them are African-American. According to the Office of Diversity, of 2609 faculty members at Texas A&M 93 are African-American (3.5%). The probably of choosing five African American faculty at random is 5x10^-6%, or one in 19,000,000. This gives the perception of racism because it insinuates that African-American professors are "not like the real A&M", and "not like us".
Professor Kimberly Brown was the only professor for which a “review” has been submitted, and the review was submitted by a former student who has not taken a class with Professor Brown. However, according to the review “it is clear from the 2008 Freshman Convocation keynote address that she gave and from her public support of Bill Ayers, the Weather Underground terrorist and Marxist, that she is a far-left wacko.” The review does not give any substance to the claim that she teaches with a liberal bias, which is the whole point of the web site.
The writer of the review, the former Chairman of the Texas A&M Chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, wrote on the site that he’s active on CampusReform to “smash left-wing scum.” This is also coming from someone that wrote a blog stating that “not all cultures are created equal. Cultural relativism is a pernicious sham.” And wrote another blog asking the question “how can homosexuals possibly take pride in their homosexuality?”
It is difficult to take anything seriously declared by an organization that could very well be called the Young Caucasians of Texas. This organization has a history of racist and homophobic activities. From the subtle racism against African-American professors to the blatant racism of an “affirmative action bake sale,” the YCT has risen being privileged and intolerant to almost a Zen like state.
Universities are places that are designed to foster debate, but in many ways it seems like the Young Conservatives are not interested in debate. From the rhetoric that is expressed it seems much more like they are more interested in telling anyone who holds a different point of view that their views are wrong. It is this type of political discourse that has become indicative of the larger national political discussion, the idea that concessions on any issue or compromise on any level is out of the question.
The Young Conservative have never seemed interested in meaningful debate or an attempt to reach consensus, they are much more interested in engaging in political combat. Some of us, on both sides of the ideological isle, are more interested in actually making meaningful contributions to the larger political discussion. Some of us understand the irony in shouting “No more taxes!” while attending a public university. Some of us still believe that public service is not something that should be mocked, but something that should be encouraged. Some of believe that it is what you believe in that should define you, not just what you are against.
Update:
Notice from CampusReform.org: CampusReform.org was alerted to the post, and within an hour, the four names that had no description were removed from the webpage. As soon as content as flagged, we investigate. If it violates our Terms of Service or is inappropriate, it is deleted immediately.
A new tool being used by conservative activist is CampusReform.org, which was created by The Leadership Institute, a Virginia based training organization for potential conservative political leaders. The Leadership Instituted, which labels itself as a “a non-partisan educational organization,” includes such notable “non-partisan” alumni as Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist, and the “non-partisan” Karl Rove.
As Campus Progress reported, the Leadership Instituted launched a social networking site CampusReform.org so students can report and organize against professors that they view as politically biased. One of the main features of the site is the ability of students to rate professors anonymously, using a scale ranging from liberal to conservative.
There where five faculty members of Texas A&M University that where listed: Antoin Schwab, Ben Harper, Kimberly Brown, Tanya Weathers, and Terence Lamb. Besides being labeled as liberals they all have one thing else in common: all of them are African-American. According to the Office of Diversity, of 2609 faculty members at Texas A&M 93 are African-American (3.5%). The probably of choosing five African American faculty at random is 5x10^-6%, or one in 19,000,000. This gives the perception of racism because it insinuates that African-American professors are "not like the real A&M", and "not like us".
Professor Kimberly Brown was the only professor for which a “review” has been submitted, and the review was submitted by a former student who has not taken a class with Professor Brown. However, according to the review “it is clear from the 2008 Freshman Convocation keynote address that she gave and from her public support of Bill Ayers, the Weather Underground terrorist and Marxist, that she is a far-left wacko.” The review does not give any substance to the claim that she teaches with a liberal bias, which is the whole point of the web site.
The writer of the review, the former Chairman of the Texas A&M Chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas, wrote on the site that he’s active on CampusReform to “smash left-wing scum.” This is also coming from someone that wrote a blog stating that “not all cultures are created equal. Cultural relativism is a pernicious sham.” And wrote another blog asking the question “how can homosexuals possibly take pride in their homosexuality?”
It is difficult to take anything seriously declared by an organization that could very well be called the Young Caucasians of Texas. This organization has a history of racist and homophobic activities. From the subtle racism against African-American professors to the blatant racism of an “affirmative action bake sale,” the YCT has risen being privileged and intolerant to almost a Zen like state.
Universities are places that are designed to foster debate, but in many ways it seems like the Young Conservatives are not interested in debate. From the rhetoric that is expressed it seems much more like they are more interested in telling anyone who holds a different point of view that their views are wrong. It is this type of political discourse that has become indicative of the larger national political discussion, the idea that concessions on any issue or compromise on any level is out of the question.
The Young Conservative have never seemed interested in meaningful debate or an attempt to reach consensus, they are much more interested in engaging in political combat. Some of us, on both sides of the ideological isle, are more interested in actually making meaningful contributions to the larger political discussion. Some of us understand the irony in shouting “No more taxes!” while attending a public university. Some of us still believe that public service is not something that should be mocked, but something that should be encouraged. Some of believe that it is what you believe in that should define you, not just what you are against.
Update:
Notice from CampusReform.org: CampusReform.org was alerted to the post, and within an hour, the four names that had no description were removed from the webpage. As soon as content as flagged, we investigate. If it violates our Terms of Service or is inappropriate, it is deleted immediately.
Video Lunch: When Patients are Denied: The Battle Over Mental Health Benefits
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Some therapists and patients contend that insurance companies have been routinely denying coverage for sexual assault victims requesting long-term mental health services. Stories of how victims of sexual assault can get tangled in the health insurance system have been one result of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund's citizen journalism project, which is calling on readers to provide information and anecdotes about the inner workings of the insurance industry.
Some therapists and patients contend that insurance companies have been routinely denying coverage for sexual assault victims requesting long-term mental health services. Stories of how victims of sexual assault can get tangled in the health insurance system have been one result of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund's citizen journalism project, which is calling on readers to provide information and anecdotes about the inner workings of the insurance industry.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tonight on Biased Transmission
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There has been much discussion about the economics of healthcare lately, but this week on Biased Transmission, we will be discussing quality of healthcare -in the form of physician-patient communication. Our guest will be Dr. Barbara Sharf, Professor of Communication at Texas A&M, and she will be discussing physician-patient communication, and its effect on the health outcome of the patient.
Having studied and taught this subject for many years, a few years ago Dr. Sharf faced her own health crisis, and experienced firsthand the value of a compatible doctor-patient relationship, and the influence that communication can have on a patient's sense of participation in their own "health story" and how that role can affect the health outcomes in such a narrative. We will be discussing this and many other aspects of our current healthcare system, and the role that communication plays in increasing the value of that healthcare.
So tune in this Wednesday, and listen to Biased Transmission tonight on 89.1FM KEOS College Station-Bryan from 6-7pm, to hear Teddy Wilson, Michael Alvard, Danny Yeager, and Ann Preston. If you have a question or comment you can post it here, or call the KEOS Bell Studios: 979-779-5367.
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Biased Transmission Online Archive of Shows
There has been much discussion about the economics of healthcare lately, but this week on Biased Transmission, we will be discussing quality of healthcare -in the form of physician-patient communication. Our guest will be Dr. Barbara Sharf, Professor of Communication at Texas A&M, and she will be discussing physician-patient communication, and its effect on the health outcome of the patient.
Having studied and taught this subject for many years, a few years ago Dr. Sharf faced her own health crisis, and experienced firsthand the value of a compatible doctor-patient relationship, and the influence that communication can have on a patient's sense of participation in their own "health story" and how that role can affect the health outcomes in such a narrative. We will be discussing this and many other aspects of our current healthcare system, and the role that communication plays in increasing the value of that healthcare.
So tune in this Wednesday, and listen to Biased Transmission tonight on 89.1FM KEOS College Station-Bryan from 6-7pm, to hear Teddy Wilson, Michael Alvard, Danny Yeager, and Ann Preston. If you have a question or comment you can post it here, or call the KEOS Bell Studios: 979-779-5367.
Biased Transmission on Facebook
Biased Transmission Online Archive of Shows
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