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April 12th, 2011
08:46 PM ET

Evening Buzz: Rep. Michele Bachmann Calls Planned Parenthood the "LensCrafter of big abortion"

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Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer

Tonight we're Keeping Them Honest on a message from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who may run for president in 2012.

Yesterday in Iowa, Bachmann called Planned Parenthood the "LensCrafter of big abortion" in a speech before more than 100 social conservatives. She said the organization should lose its nonprofit status. You may recall last week during the budget battle, Republican lawmakers wanted to abolish federal funding for Planned Parenthood. That didn't happen.

Bachmann claimed that "LensCrafter" information came from the director of Planned Parenthood in Illinois.

But she twisted his words. We'll show you what he really said.

You'll also see it's not the first time she's attacked Planned Parenthood and she's not alone.

Planned Parenthood released this statement:

"The continued misleading attacks on Planned Parenthood expose a cynical and coldhearted willingness to further a divisive political agenda even if it will deny women access to lifesaving cancer screenings and birth control."

We'll also have an update on the budget compromise on Capitol Hill to keep the government running through the fiscal year, which ends September 30.

There are several riders, including one that would remove wolves from the Endangered Species List out West. We'll talk about the budget negotiations with Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).

Also tonight, we'll have an update on that dog we showed you last night that was chained up and starving near Japan's crippled nuclear power plant.

We've received a lot of e-mails and tweets asking for more information. CNN’s Kyung Lah joins us live from Japan.

Join us for these stories and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET on CNN.


Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz
soundoff (17 Responses)
  1. Cayless IsSofaKingWeToddDid

    Hey Caylee, why don't you do some fact-checking before you jump on the Bachmann wagon. Oh, that's right – Republicans don't fact check anything! Abortions make up 3% of Planned Parenthood's services. THREE PERCENT.

    April 13, 2011 at 12:21 am |
  2. Jean

    Anderson, I saw a representative from IFAW (an intl. rescue group) in Japan..they are trying to feed and shelter the dogs in Japan.

    April 12, 2011 at 11:53 pm |
  3. denise

    how can the reporter leave the dog tied up my god we should all help japanese people should take them , these animals have no voice they are suffering just like us

    April 12, 2011 at 11:47 pm |
  4. Christi

    AnnieKate, you are so correct, kinda reminds me of Obama (during Pres. Bush's) term and his not voting to raise the debt ceiling then and his sorry partisian rhetoric NOW, but never fear I guess Bachman should vote PRESENT, it sure worked well for obama( Who seems to get a pass on everything)

    April 12, 2011 at 11:32 pm |
  5. Kathy

    Anderson, THANK YOU for clarifying the truth about Planned Parenthood. For 90 years, Planned Parenthood has been primarily providing contraception, cervical cancer and STD screening and treatment to women of all ages and incomes. As a mother of 7 and practicing OB/GYN, I completely support the mission of PP. Planned Parenthood has referred many newly pregnant women to our office who CHOOSE to continue their pregnancy. A society without contraception has lower educational levels, increased poverty, and more crime.

    April 12, 2011 at 11:27 pm |
  6. Robert Lehrer

    If you repeat a lie enough times, people will eventually believe it. So why does CNN continue to give air time to people like Michelle Bachman? CNN's desire to cover the news properly is giving Rep. Bachman more credibility than she's earned.

    April 12, 2011 at 11:15 pm |
  7. Ari

    Whether it's 1 abortion or 300,000+per year (the latter the reported more accurate number) I do not want my tax dollars supporting abortion. I don't care if they are the "Lens Crafters of Abortion" or the mom and pop shop of abortion.

    April 12, 2011 at 11:10 pm |
  8. Kelli

    I'm from Minnesota and am embarassed we elected Michelle Bachmann to the Senate. Her Planned Parenthood comment is just one of many comments she has made that have embarassed our state.

    April 12, 2011 at 11:09 pm |
  9. Sue Germain

    Bachmann is an idiot. She takes everything out of context and she lies, a lot. Some people actually believe her, they never check to see if she is telling the truth. I hope those people watch Anderson Cooper for the truth.

    April 12, 2011 at 11:08 pm |
  10. Carole Valpone

    This Bill better not go through, I emplore Prez. Obama – with this rider attached taking the gray wolf off the endangered species list, just for some clown from Montana??? SICK!!! If it does, then it JUST TAKES US BACK SO FAR. AND OBAMA YOU WILL NEVER EVER GET RE-ELECTED.

    Michele Bachmann is a moron. Give me a break!!! Trump is a joke. They have no one.

    April 12, 2011 at 11:08 pm |
  11. Georgiamom

    What bothers me most is how many people believe her. someone should point out all the other work they do, and that the debate wasn't just planned parenthood, but all of title 10.

    April 12, 2011 at 10:50 pm |
  12. Ronnie Meinke

    Thanks for keeping them honest! You never know who is lying.
    We need more of this type of reporting. Only by getting the truth
    can we make the correct decisions. Thanks again.

    April 12, 2011 at 10:45 pm |
  13. Jack

    I'm tired of listening to crazy politicians lie all the time. Putting their own personal agendas ahead of our country... repeatedly. But what can we do? Seriously, what the hell are we supposed to do?

    April 12, 2011 at 10:20 pm |
  14. James Calhoun

    Mr. Anderson Cooper, I enjoy your news coverage. With regards to Planned Parenthood, I don't support totally all that they do, however I agree with one on your show, Planned Parenthood has and does provide care to some who otherwise can not get it. An overhaul of the system could take the form of the same that medicade or insurance works, there would be somethings that tax money would cover and there would be somethings that are ellective and would not be covered. We vote on it.

    Thank you for the work that you do,

    Best Regards,

    James

    April 12, 2011 at 10:18 pm |
  15. Laura

    Thank you for taking on this issue. I cannot believe that the politicians attacking Planned Parenthood (especially a woman) are so uninformed in their arguments. I want to tie back to a comment that was made last night on the program as well. The comment was made that women's healthcare is included as a part of Medicare (hopefully she meant medicaid, but whatever)so therefore Title X isnt really needed (not sure of the EXACT quote). What about those women who have no health insurance, but are uneligible for Medicaid? What about those women who have really poor insurance that doesnt cover a lot of family planning or necessary health care? Those women are able to access those services through Title X funded clinics. Its just so infuriating that people are attacking women without any information.

    April 12, 2011 at 10:18 pm |
  16. Caylee

    Your reporting on this issue is slanted...the pot calling the kettle black. The bigger Planned Parenthood becomes the more abortions they will perform, so in that sense they will become big like Lens Crafters. Rather sick discussion don't you think? T

    April 12, 2011 at 10:16 pm |
  17. Angela

    RE: Michelle Bachmann and PLanned Parenthood.

    I am from Minnesota and I am absolutely furious that my Representative, who I and numerous other citizens from my State elected, calls Planned Parenthood the "LensCrafter of big abortion"!

    I feel that Planned Parenthood does great work for the population of women that they serve and if this nonprofit organization was not available to women, I could actually see a dramatic rise in our health care costs.

    April 12, 2011 at 10:14 pm |