tBlog - Federal Dollars Spent To Trick Pregnant Teens

Federal Dollars Spent To Trick Pregnant Teens

07.18.06 (9:52 am) [edit]

I was listening to Bill Press this morning and Christy Harvey has a new website miccheckradio.org/ . Here she lists a story about a investigative study done by Rep. Henry Waxman (D., CA) into “pregnancy resource centers,” right-wing, pro-life organizations. Waxman found these centers hide their ideological agenda and “often mislead pregnant teens about the medical risks of abortion". Here is more information on it:

For the study, female investigators posed as pregnant 17-year-olds calling for information. Instead, many got false information.

The centers didn’t tell the girls the truth about the link between abortion and breast cancer. One center said having an abortion makes it 80% more likely she’d get breast cancer. (Truth: It doesn’t.)

The centers told girls that an abortion would affect their ability to produce breast milk. (Truth: It doesn’t.)

The centers told the girls having an abortion would pernanently damage their ability to have children in the future. One center said it would lead to “many miscarriages” and girls “wouldn’t be able to carry” a baby in the future. (Truth: It doesn’t.)

The centers told the girls an abortion would damage their mental health. They warned a girl wouldn’t be able to make friends, would suffer from headaches and panic, sexual disfucntion and increased use of booze and drugs. One center told a girl that the suicide rate goes up by seven times after an abortion. Another warned of the “downward spiral where they lose friends and family members.” (Truth: Studies show women who have abortions have the same rate of need for psychiatric treatment as women who have not.)

Another center said having an abortion triggers Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, much like that suffered by Vietnam vets. (Truth: Abortion = Rambo? Now that’s a new one.)

Here’s the kicker: These centers have received over $30 million in federal funding under the Bush administration. Ladies and gentlemen, your tax dollars at work.

I do not mind having informational centers that provide factual information to teens or even spiritual information/counseling regarding this issue. However, to lie to a 17 year old about this information is irresponsible and reprehensible. I went on to Planned Parenthood's website, and they provide many studies which contradict this information. They also suggest the person got to many sources to help make this decision saying:

Most women look to their husbands, partners, families, health care providers, clergy, or someone else they trust for support as they make their decision. Specially trained counselors at women's health clinics can talk to you in private. You may bring someone with you. You will discuss your options — adoption, parenting, and abortion. Your counselor will try to make sure that no one is pressuring you to have an abortion.

Furthermore, I went onto one of these "Pregnancy Resource Centers" websites and they provide NO studies which support their claims. As far as I can see this is morally wrong and our tax dollars are supporting these centers. I would like to know since when is it spiritual or morally correct to mislead and lie to women in order to achieve there own goals. Ugh, people like this disgust me.

posted by: whoisjohngalt (reply)
post date: 07.20.06 (6:45 am)

Scary. But then again, this administration has never been a friend of science(/medicine). That being said, did Waxman's researchers record their phone calls? I'm always weary of any research into something as politically charged as abortion...

posted by: taralynn (reply)
post date: 07.20.06 (7:01 am)

Reply to: whoisjohngalt
If you go onto to Waxman's site at www.waxman.house.gov there is link to the entire report. No where did I find in the report that the calls were recorded. However, the calls were made by the Special Investigations Division (which SID was used was not mentioned). Although, I did do some of my own research and looked at several of the websites for these centers. The same information given to the Investigators and reported in the report is actually on their webpages. So, I think it's safe to say the report is fairly accurate. Very scarry.

Federal Dollars Spent To Trick Pregnant Teens

Federal Dollars Spent To Trick Pregnant Teens

Twitter Updates