Obama, Carson, Long Thompson endorsed as the candidates for women's health
Election season heats up

July 17, 2008

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president of the United States and Rep. Andre Carson for Congress.

"The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse Barack Obama for president of the United States," said Action Fund president Cecile Richards. "As president, he will improve access to quality health care for women, support and protect a woman's right to choose, support comprehensive sex education to keep our young people healthy and safe, and invest in prevention programs, including family planning services and breast cancer screenings."

In contrast, Sen. John McCain has a 0% rating from the Action Fund. Check out the video link to the right, or the Action Fund's "kNOw McCain" campaign, for more information.

   Hear John McCain's thoughts on birth control.
 

U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, who is running for re-election in Indiana's 7th Congressional District, secured PPAF's endorsement largely due to his strong support for federal legislation that would restore access to affordable birth control for low-income women across the country. "We believe Andre Carson will be a strong and effective leader on behalf of affordable access to the reproductive health services and education that all Americans deserve," said Betty Cockrum, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana.

Our sister organization, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana Political Action Committee, has endorsed Jill Long Thompson for governor of Indiana. In endorsing Long Thompson for governor of Indiana, the Planned Parenthood Advocates PAC noted her pro-choice voting record which has included votes in favor of family planning initiatives, as well as access to safe and legal abortions.

"We're thrilled to endorse Jill Long Thompson, a longtime supporter of women's health care," said Cockrum. "As the only PAC in Indiana that focuses on reproductive health care and electing pro-family planning politicians, it's an honor for us to join her long list of progressive backers."

With so much at stake in the 2008 elections, we're going to stand with Long Thompson, and all pro-prevention and pro-choice candidates, and work hard to elect them. We remain thoroughly energized by the incredibly exciting primary season we experienced here in Indiana. For the first time in decades, Indiana played a key role in the presidential primaries, and Planned Parenthood Advocates was on the frontlines working to educate voters and gain support for the Million Strong Campaign.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana has set its goal to attract 10,000 pro-choice voters to the polls this fall as part of this national campaign. So far, we've identified over 7,000 voters, and there is still much more to do. We want you to be part of it!

Now is the time to volunteer and become a member!

If you agree that we CAN turn the political atmosphere of Indiana around, take the first step by signing the Million Strong petition and then work on educating yourself and your friends about where the candidates stand on reproductive health. We need to support candidates who see health care and reproductive rights as important political issues in the near future—such as Obama, Carson, and Long Thompson.

Want to do more?

Summer is a great time for advocacy! We'll be out promoting Million Strong and Prevention First, and having tons of fun as well. Here's where we'll be next:

•  Indiana Black Expo's Minority Health Fair: July 17-July 20, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis
•  78th Annual Tippecanoe County 4-H Fair: July 19-July 26, Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, Lafayette

Email us for more information on volunteering! We look forward to seeing old and new faces this summer as we work to make Indiana a place where reproductive rights are protected.

Affordable birth control update

In May, the U.S. Senate passed, by a wide margin, a no-cost technical fix that would have restored affordable birth control prices, the House version of which was co-sponsored by Indiana's own Rep. Andre Carson (D, IN- 7). The provision, at no cost to government and taxpayers, would have restored the ability of pharmaceutical companies to offer low-cost drugs to safety-net providers like university health centers and Planned Parenthood.

While the stand-alone bill did not move, the language was amended into the U.S. War Supplemental bill. Sadly, when the War Supplemental bill passed, appropriating funding for the war in Iraq, veterans' benefits, and Midwest flood relief, the birth control pricing fix was stripped out.

Affordable birth control remains a priority issue for the Planned Parenthood family, as it does for millions of women across the county. We will not rest until all women, regardless of income, have access to the birth control method of their choice, at a cost they can afford. Please help by voting for candidates who will join the fight to restore affordable birth control.

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Indianapolis, Indiana  46206

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