Remember this is politics and these are politicians. The source you are getting your info from are mainstream media sponsored by the same special interests who pay the politicians hundred of millions just as they pay the media hundreds of millions to get what they want and frame the argument the way they want to. That being said it is obvious that planned parenthood doesn't use any of it's funding for abortions (they can't by law and they are closely monitored to ensure that they don't). Additionally they receive PLENTY of private funds to cover more than enough for abortion services. Further the "planned parenthood" funding that the House is fighting about is actually Title 10 funding (created by Nixon and instated under George Walker Bush) 25% of which goes to Planned Parenthood. The rest goes to regular hospitals and regular womens services (actually Planed Parenthood covers these services as well). So what is really going on here? The GOP is also trying to cut out Medicare and Medicade. The net result of these three actions would force millions of poor off their government insurance plans. This would then force them to BUY insurance under Obamacare. Despite what the GOP says their insurance company special interests are giving them millions to force these changes so that they can make tens to hundreds of millions. They (the insurance companies and the GOP) count on the general public accepting their stupid, false, circular arguments that the media perpetuates on their behalf. If you don't use critical thinking this country will continue to go downhill as it has over the last thirty years.

I agree 100% that MainStreamMedia "frames" this in a specific slant to support their Corporate brothers-in-arms. They covered 100 or so "teabaggers" at a DC rally this week, but not the hundreds of people at various rallies across America on 4/4. Makes me sick that they'll be saying, "...because of Planned Parenthoood, our soldiers won't get paid." How about "because of Corporatist members of Congress and a complicit President (that I voted for), the gov't won't be funded, but members of Congress and their huge staffs will get their paychecks." Where is the messaging by "we the people?" Why is it that an entire country can't stand up to 400 billionaires? When FoxNoise started screaming that Obama's a fascist, they should've been looking in a mirror.

How is it that the tea party cannot understand that defunding planned parenthood will only add to the problem. If people can't see that more unplanned pregnancies will probably lead to more Medicare and Welfare costs, and then there is the medical costs from cancer and medical issues stemming from STD's, because of lack screenings for those who don't or can't afford insurance.

Think about the long term, not your term in Congress!!!

bull! planned parenthood aren't stopping the mexicans and moslems from having their kids here in our country are they?planned parent hood is absurd! then you get into childrens services and womens right to an abortion. all, american women should have the right to abort their children if they choose to period! children's services is like communism they run your house! they ruin your day! they steal your money! they drag you through court over spanking your own child! their creating these monster kids and crucifying their parents! if i had a kid at home and children services butted in they would get totally run off my property with extreme prejudice period! i would never allow them or the courts the right to butt into my childs welfare they don't have that right! and planned parenthood, how much do you creeps make running this stupid show? john george columbus ohio

Comment #4 is so ignorant, it defies logic. IMO.

If the government shuts down because of Planned Parenthood, it will not go well for the Republicans. Dems are not going to get the blame. The issue is an excuse to shut the government down. I am hoping that some of the Dem senators refuse to vote for the bill unless there are revenue increases. Every cut should be matched by the revenue increases. The Dems can start with the oil companies subsidies.

I agree sedwinmars, I just read : "the amendment to eliminate Title 10 was sponsored by Rep Mike Pence, whose top 2 donors are Eli Lilly and Blue Cross Blue Shield. This has nothing to do with social policy and everything to do with eliminating federally-funded healthcare programs to benefit private providers." Comments, plz...

u say the sen. john kyle is not a liar? yes - he lied. he lied because he knew what he was saying was a lie. he didn't care to have his staff verify - he was willing to lie - he didn't care to contact pp - he was willing to lie - he is a liar - he didn't ask the cbo for details - he didn't care about facts - he is a liar.

So do you really think John Kyl's misstatement was in fact a misstatement"

Perhaps the coalition of congressional women Republicans who supported shutting down the government over Planned Parenthood would be willing to eliminate their own tax supported cervical and breast cancer screening benefit. Or, should women's health care services only be denied to poor women?

If Planned Parenthood is not supported, then the government should not pay for PSA exams, prostate procedures, and urinary problems. How can men dictate womens health. Men, get the picture.

Mr. George, your comments are frightening. Please get back on your meds.

Thank you Lawrence, for sharing the deeply moving email your friend sent about Planned Parenthood in her life. Will you please post it along with your interview with Jackie Speier?

Dear Lawrence,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. The letter you read on air exemplifies how many women feel about these issues, and brought tears to my eyes. I am a 23 year old female from Pennsylvania, a registered Democrat and staunchly pro-choice but I do believe abortion is a sad last resort that no woman ever plans on turning to. Close friends of mine who are Independent voters hold nearly identical views. Federal funding for abortion has been banned for as long as I can remember, and states have a large say over laws regarding how many weeks a woman can wait to have an abortion and what kinds of "counseling" they must endure before having the procedure. To do away with all family planning resources in attempt to force the Tea Party will on all Americans is absurd and like Harry Reid said, "INDEFENSIBLE!!!" Nobody is a "fan" of abortion, no woman thinks to herself "Oh I don't need any protection because I can just abort!!" Abstinence may be ideal but it is not realistic, and clearly congress members do not practice what they preach when it comes to that principle... The best known, proven way to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies (especially among young, low income women), is to educate the populace regarding all the different methods of birth control available, and to have places like Planned Parenthood and other federally funded programs where people can actually turn to in times of fear and confusion. STD education and testing is equally essential as it is obviously important to pinpoint the problem as quickly as possible to begin a course of treatment and avoid spreading it to others.
As a teenager myself, I accessed Planned Parenthood several times to get care when I was too afraid to tell my parents what was going on. Just because they offer abortion services to people who pay out of pocket doesn't mean that they should be stripped of funding for all the other important services they offer. My grandmother passed away last year after a long battle with cervical cancer; had Medicare not covered women's reproductive health services, her OB/GYN may have never found the lump inside of her and we could have lost precious time with her. Why this budget snafu has become a war on women's health and reproductive rights is beyond me, and I wish the government would just stay the hell out of our bedrooms and doctors' offices. The Republicans currently in office are an extreme bunch who are serving the needs of a radical faction of Americans rather than standing up for the entire nation. I am so thankful that they did not win the Senate because then I would be even more afraid of the direction in which they could take us. America on the whole did not move far right over night and we want to see serious compromise. We all want to see the budget shrink, but not on the backs of the poor, women, children, and the elderly. I hope the Democrats continue to stand their ground even if it means a government shutdown to protect hard-fought-for women's rights; and thank you dearly for your clear and honest reporting on these issues.

Thank you Lawrence for sharing your friend's deeply moving email about how Planned Parenthood has helped her. Will you please post that segment along with her letter and your interview with Jackie Speier.

If we can not fund Planned Parenthood, we should not cover prostate exams, psa tests, and urinary tract exams for men with Federal Funds. If you don't believe in Planned Parenthood, then remove your penis. It is fair for both sides.

Although I disagree with a government shutdown over the planned parenthood issue, I object to the example given from the woman who counts on planned parenthood for her medical needs.

First of all, less expensive contraceptive options other than birth control pills are available. I have never used birth control pills. I used a diaphram... much successfully. The maintenance is minimal as is the cost of the spermacidal jelly. It is also free of the hormal side effects that keep this woman in the medical system and thus, needing more "planned parenthood" services.

Planned parenthood has it's merit. Let's just free it of those who will use it to their advantage of and ignore their personal responsibility.

I am 63 years old and haven't been able to afford medical insurance for the last 10 years. I have educated myself, for most of my life, in prevention and set it into practice. I don't suck the system so that I can wallow in my ignorance. Planned parenthood is not for those who chose to be ignorant......... I'm sorry

I watched your show tonight when you read the email. I was very touched by your reaction to her story.

I like many women can not afford health care. I lost my job in 2008 due to funding cuts by GW Bush. I worked for a non profit agency that supported several programs. When I lost my job, I too lost my insurance. I could have taken out Cobra but could not afford $700/month off of my unemployment. I have sever reflux and needed surgery to correct this. My medicine while I had insurance was $20 for a 30 day supply. My reflux was so bad that my dose was double so my co pay went to $40. That was ok while I was working. However, when I lost my job my prescription jumped to $360/month. I contacted the pharmacutical company but I made too much money with my unemployment. I could not go to any fee scale placed because they placed me to high. I could not aford it. I couldn't afford my doctor at $65/visit. So I went off my meds, don't go to the doctor, self treat.

I am now working part time but trying to get caught up from my 2 1/2 yrs of unemployment. I am now going to check into Planned Parenthood. Hopefully I can qualify there.

Thank you for sharing that email.

God Bless you Lawrence

I also agree with you NBC should fire Trump , I am infact thinking of contacting the sponsors, It is a disgrace how he talks about the president..

The one thing I don't understand is , Wasn't this Emplimented by Nixon a republican and didn't GH Bush indorse the womens health care amendment?

Mr. O'Donnell.

Here's a thought: The President should offer them a proposal that removes funding for any health services relating to contraception...as you say, take the planned out of parenthood. Tell them there will be no funding for anything but services pertaining to women's health, (or maybe closer to home, for mens' prostate screenings which it also provides.) Watch the response be the same...watch them stand strong on defunding PP...and then let our President watch as his convictions become the evidence of the leadership that the side show tries to convince us he lacks...

Hey Lawrence

I want to thank you for 2 points in the show tonight

First off, the real truth behind the 'R' view on Planned Parenthood

and reading the Email you received

But most important to me, in reading that Email

you proved once again that you are a true newsman and not

just a news reader, with the compassion that you have displayed

time and time again. I am proud to have moved away from FOX

and really enjoy watching both you and Rachel :) <3

A very moving show tonight, thus I can only re-iterate the same sentiment here, thank you for airing that e-mail from a woman, whose story, evokes the true testiment of just how Planned Parenthood helps millions of women in America.

It sickens me that our government has to debate the right for womens' healthcare services in this country. It was never about the budget, because the Democrats have continually conceded to the financial cuts the Republicans in congress demanded.

It says alot about the state of our country today. It is our ethics as a society that is at question here.

I have STD and I am an engineer who works for the largest STD dating and support site stdchatting . com. I have to tell you a secret, you can choose not to believe me. But the truth is that this site has more than 1,880,000 members and about 80% members are good looking in my estimation.
Unfortunately, STD rates soar worldwide and most people with STDs don't even know that they have them. The government should grant more money for STD education to lower the rates of STD transmission.

I'm pro-life, but before you delete my comments or berate me hear my story. The Roe vs. Wade decision came out near the time of my birth. My mother was a little older than most women at the time and also there had been family history of Down Syndrome (my great aunt). My mother's doctor wanted to do tests that were potentially dangerous for her pregnancy. When my mother asked why that was so, he said so that if the child has Down Syndrome you can abort him. Thankfully my mom said it didn't matter if I had it or not she was going to keep me. I didn't have a chose then for my own life, but now I do and I'm glad I have had a chance to live. Planned Parenthood does do some great things, but at the cost of over 300,000 babies (using the 3% figure above) a year losing their right to live. Thanks for hearing me out.