L.A. Times Columnist Condemns Antiabortion Group's Criticism of Planned Parenthood

December 12, 2012 — Efforts by Concerned Women for America and other antiabortion groups to imply that Planned Parenthood encourages intimate partner violence are either "ignorant or disingenuous," Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison writes.

In August, Planned Parenthood linked to a video -- created by the British anti-domestic abuse group Refuge -- featuring "a girl who looks to have been badly beaten," who discusses "matter-of-factly ... about camouflaging the bruises and cuts," Morrison writes. The video includes "[i]n much smaller type" the "darkly sardonic video title, 'How to look your best the morning after,'" Morrison notes.

According to Morrison, the video is a "harrowingly effective, dead-serious sendup of the how-to makeup videos that are hugely popular among teenage girls," and it "is an immensely effective piece of video."

However, CWA and other groups interpreted the video "literally," Morrison notes, adding that CWA CEO Penny Nance denounced Planned Parenthood for trying to "coach [domestic violence] victims on makeup tips to hide their abuse.'"

Morrison writes, "Perhaps two undercover 'sting' videos by the antiabortion group Live Action -- videos that got a couple of Planned Parenthood employees fired -- encouraged these organizations to think this video too could be a PR windfall against Planned Parenthood." She concludes, "So -- fake bruises on the young video woman's face, political egg on the CWA's" (Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12/10).