CHICAGO - Just weeks away from the April 9th election, social issues move to the forefront in the race to fill former Congressman Jesse Jackson's vacated seat. Planned Parenthood, who's been facing tough criticism for how they spend approximately $500 million in taxpayer funds each year, endorsed Democrat Robin Kelly for Jackson's seat.
Kelly has served as a board member of the Peoria area Planned Parenthood and as a state representative was a vocal advocate for Planned Parenthood. Kelly then became chief of staff for former State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and received the endorsement and over $2 million from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg in the 2nd CD Democratic primary.
“Robin Kelly was endorsed by Planned Parenthood Illinois Action because she knows that women don't turn to politicians for advice about birth control, mammograms, or cancer screenings,” said Carole Brite, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action. “Robin Kelly believes that government should not be involved in a woman's personal medical decisions.”
A Chicago area Planned Parenthood has been embroiled in controversy with the death of 24 year old Tonya Reaves (pictured right) last summer. An autopsy released by the Cook County examiner showed gruesome details of the late term abortion, the clinic's alleged delay in calling for emergency help for the mother and her ultimate demise resulting from excessive bleeding. Lawsuits have been filed against the clinic and extended family has been left to care for Reaves' other one year old child.
The Chicago area Planned Parenthood clinic also was actively involved in covering pro-life billboards in the area tying Planned Parenthood to black genocide, such as this one:
Chicago area prolife blogger Jill Stanek said “Planned Parenthood is trying to incite an uproar in the black community” and noted a Chicago Flame story discussing a press release the abortion business sent out following the unveiling of the new billboards calling them “an offensive and condescending effort to stigmatize and shame African-American women while attempting to limit their ability to make private, personal medical decisions.”
CEO and President of PP of Illinois Carole Brite said local abortion activists were "not going to stand for it. We’re hopeful that this sort of public outcry will force either the owner of the billboard or the billboard company to take it down.”
Kelly's opponent, Republican Paul McKinley,says he's prolife.
"I am 100% pro-life, and believe our young women and men are ashamedly manipulated by the pro-abortion lobby and Planned Parenthood. This black genocide is destroying families and the community, and using the women of our community to carry out the left’s culture of death."