This week, readers sent us letters about videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing fetal tissue donation, as well as a note of thanks.
In the FactCheck Mailbag, we feature some of the email we receive. Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length.
Those Planned Parenthood Videos
I’m afraid I don’t buy FactCheck.org’s analysis [“Unspinning the Planned Parenthood Video,” July 21] that Planned Parenthood is simply trying to recover costs associated with supplying fetal tissues to labs.
If that were all they were doing, they would have said to the lab reps, “This is what we need to cover our costs. If you can meet it, we can help you.”
That’s not what they said. The video clearly shows the PP rep talking about “lowballing,” saying “tell me what you’re used to paying,” and telling them that she would check around to see what other clinics were getting, and if they were getting more, she’d renegotiate.
What other clinics get or what the lab is used to paying is completely irrelevant if PP is simply interested in recovering their costs. It is clear from the videos that PP is trying to get as much as they can. As I said, if they were only interested in recovering their costs, they would have been up front about how much the arrangement would cost them and explain that if that figure could be met, PP could help the lab.
Jeanette Koenig
Tallahassee, Florida
‘Most Valuable’
My home page, refdesk.com, has a “site of the day” and your site is featured. This is one of the most valuable sites I have ever seen. I have wished for an ombudsman like you. There are no superlatives to describe it.
I am sending it to all my family and friends. Thank you VERY much for this service.
Sharon Patrick
Washington, D.C.