"I can't help but think the Planned Parenthood worker is trying to be compassionate to the girl who wants so badly to trust the worker"

No actually the worker is lazy, and doesnt want to report the rape. Its not compassion, its blatant disregard for a childs safety.

Well, I don't think it makes me sympathetic to the pro-life movement, since pro-life means not having an abortion -- and this wasn't about the morality of the act or whatever. I do think a 14 year old should be allowed to have an abortion -- I mean, why keep a 14 year old girl pregnant if she is just a child? She can't raise one, and the consequences and difficulty of pregnancy may be harder for someone that young to bear. I absolutely believe the worker should not have blown off his age, but I don't think it was laziness on her part, exactly. I think she was trying to spare a young kid a huge clusterf*ck of a situation. The whole issue of statutory rape complicates things. It doesn't make it right, but I don't think she was meaning any harm to the girl by doing it.

I think the worker may have been shirking her responsibilities but at the same time she doesn't want to put this 14yr old under more stress then she needs to. She's already been knocked up and needs an abortion at 14 and the worker is considering putting her under even more stress if she reports her "boyfriend". She made a choice, while it may not be the right choice, she felt she was just helping the girl.

This would in no way change my pro-choice status and I think this little girl is just preying on the kindness and compassion of the workers in the abortion clinics. Lying to them, setting them up and filming them doing their job. While this may open some of the workers' eyes that they always need to take responsibility and report older men I dont think it should change anything regarding their choice to have the pregnancy terminated.

The bottom line is that everyone should have a choice about their body, no matter who knocked them up or how it happened. If they choose to keep the child then all the power to them but if they decide otherwise they should not be shamed for their choice.

Pro-choice always and forever!
I can't stand it when pro-lifers do something which isn't truly relavent to the issue to try to prove the point. Why not work on education about sex instead of wasting time on offensive billboards or videos which have nothing to do with pro-life. Any one with an ounce of a brain could realize that we should educate about safe sex to reduce abortions.
Pro-choice, because unless you're in the situation, you have no idea what it's like.

Very well said, queenegg!

I am very pro-journalism, and I feel like this girl had every right to do this and report this. The planned parenthood worker has to stand by her actions. It's also entrapment, so it's not honest journalism.

The lunatic fringe of the right is never going to convince me to vote again women's best interests to make their own decisions.

Bri

So are they implying that the best thing for a 14-year-old in this situation would be to report her boyfriend and keep the baby to raise on her own? Isn't that a little bizarre?

I'm very much pro-choice and I think that it's a womens choice and that an abortion should be carried out in a safe, sterile and healthy environment. Read: Not in a garage by someone with an ice cream scoop.

If I were the planned parenthood worker I WOULD have reported the 31 year old. That man (even though he's a lie) is old enough to be her father. Ugh.

The worker, while trying to be compassionate to the person, shrugged off her responsibility to report the crime and it seems like that's what the person who made the video is arguing? You could tell the worker was conflicted and was trying to reason out what her best course of action was. It's tough to do that on the fly, especially if you haven't been in such a position before, and it seemed she made a judgment call based on what would be best for the person claiming to need an abortion.

Of course, this doesn't even actually address the issue of abortion, and the necessity for abortion, the overall benefit it provides to society. Instead it demonizes a person working for Planned Parenthood, a fine organization that's helped countless people through what could very well be the most difficult decision they've ever needed to make. So, I don't see how that video would make me feel any sort of sympathy for the anti-abortionists.

Nope, still pro-choice.

Why would this video make me more sympathetic to the pro-life movement? It makes me more pro- "reporting statutory rape" and actually it makes me more pro-choice because I don't think a 14 year old who is taken advantage of by an older man should have to lose the rest of her childhood by being forced to have a child that she can't take care of...and yes there's adoption but it would still probably ruin her life because the dropout rate for pregnant teens is huge not to mention the social stigma and the further emotional damage she would endure.

I've posted an excerpt from another blog on why Lila Rose's "work" should not make anyone sympathetic to the pro-life movement. Please see Mandy Van Deven's blog post in full at RH Reality Check.

"Pro-choice blogger Mandy Van Deven from RH Reality Check, however, questions the veracity of Rose's claims. 'The extent of the 'problem' of unreported statutory rape is enormously unclear; Rose has not been forthcoming in stating the precise number of clinics she has visited so her sample size is unclear ... Since it is clear that in any large health care system some missteps are unavoidable ... it is misleading for Rose to cherry pick the worst offenders as 'proof' that the cover up of sexual abuse is widespread within the organization without further context.'

These kinds of stealth tactics are certainly attention-getting -- but are they misleading?"

How did she "get away" with posing as 14? Any healthcare clinic in the WORLD makes you show ID.
I'm sorry, but this "woman" makes me sick to my bones. And I mean Lila, not the PP worker.

While the worker should have reported the "31-year-old-man," I don't think these sensational videos is the best route to reduce abortions. There needs to be better sex education in schools and within the family. By keeping it underwrites or as abstinence only will only run the risk of kids having unprotected sex.
I also think that there should be programs to help boost a young girls self-esteem/self-worth, so she won't be in a situation with a 31-year-old in the first place.

I agree with everyone else this had nothing to do with an actual abortion...I dont get the purpose of what she was doing. The worker should have reported it she was being an idiot.

This would not dissuade me from going to Planned Parenthood if I was a young girl; it would actually make me want to go because it gives the false appearance that workers there won't report things like that. She has no concrete proof that every work or even a majority of workers there do this.

The fact that the PP worker told her to lie about her boyfriend's age, while despicable [it's her JOB to report that kind of thing, a 31 year old having sex with a 14 year old is statutory rape, no matter WHAT a person says - that's the LAW], has nothing to do with the *abortion*.

I can also kind of see why the PP worker said that. Think about it: if the girl had entered a statutory rape charge, wouldn't they have to at least get a sample from the fetus to convict the guy? So not only would the 14 year old have to decide on the procedure, she'd have to tell her parents [it's probably one of those states where you have to get permission from parents/guardians if you're under 18 anyway], go through the court proceedings for that, and then go through the criminal court proceedings for the rape charge. That's a lot for a teenager. It STILL doesn't excuse what the worker said to do, because that's perjury.

This doesn't have anything to do with abortion, though, so it doesn't change my stance or beliefs on the issue.

WTF does this have to do with "stopping abortion"? All it shows is that the PP worker is failing to report (fake) abuse.

Makes me even more pro-choice.

Her body her choice, done.

Her mind her voice, done.

You can tell her and suggest the pros and cons, but never stop someone from doing something because you disagree.

Hmm also, is what this girl did illegal? For one, she used a false identity and lied about her age to a medical clinic. Then she claimed she was (statutorily) raped. What if she PP worker had left the room right then and contacted the authorities? Wouldn't this girl have been on the hook for making a false accusation of rape?

I think this makes me even MORE STRONGLY pro-choice. The fact that the far right is spewing this kind of crazy, unrelated, sensational propaganda, to dupe gullible people into thinking that this video actually says something about whether or not abortion is wrong, makes me want to fight harder against them.

I feel stupid even commenting on abortion here because this video really doesn't even make a point related to pro-choice or pro-life. So I will just say I agree with almost everyone else.

@Chouette4u, I'm with you!

I'm confused as to how this helps the pro-life movement? It may help statutory rape laws/compliance, but that's about it. And putting the address of the Planned Parenthood is tacky. I wish anti-abortion activists would figure out a new target...Planned Parenthood is about SO MUCH MORE THAN ABORTION!!!! When I didn't have a job (aka no health insurance) they provided me w/ free gynecological care, as well as amazing birth control, so I wouldn't have to consider an abortion.

Chouette, you bring up a very good point.

I agree w/ CaterpillarGirl. Granted the entire situation is fictional, but what 14 year old girl in her right mind would have sex with a 31 year old? Clearly the CHILD needs guidance and protection, and she's just not getting it.

Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, thought herself genetically SUPERIOR and wanted to create "a race of thoroughbreds" (her words). She was close personal friends with the nazis. She thought over 80% of the American population were morons or borderline morons and should be wiped out.

Okay I couldn't even watch the whole video because I am very angry that they posted the address of the Planned Parenthood. I go to that exact facility every 3 months for my Depo shot, and all the women I have encountered that work there are very professional and take their job very seriously and care about these girls and what is going on with them.

And...this is hard to talk about...but I had a procedure done there, I was 21 at the time, and there was a LOT of stuff to go through. No one, and I mean NO ONE, can just walk in and say "hey yes I'd like an abortion please" and get one and leave. It takes hours, you have to show them proper ID, either your license or birth certificate. I had left my license at home, and they would not let me do anything until I had something that proved my age...even though I had written it on about 1800 forms, even my mother, who looks exactly like me, was with me and they wouldn't believe her when she said "yes, she's 21" and I believe they actually copied my license for some purpose.

To me, pro-lifers seem to make it out like it is just super easy to get an abortion and it really isn't. I had a billion questions when I went to get blood drawn and they sat with me for hours answering any question I had. Then, the day of, it takes hours because you get private counseling, mostly to make sure you haven't been influenced in your decision, things like that, but they also talk about other options you have (adoption, keeping the baby, etc) the WHOLE time, it's not just like "okay let's kill your baby." These people TRULY care about the girls they're trying to help. They also stress that at ANY time if you say "no thanks, don't want it" you are 100% free to just walk out the door, they don't hold you down and make you do it.

I have a lot of friends, even my own sister, who are very pro-life, and I was scared to tell them what happened. But they all supported me and were there for me, and it showed to me that while we don't share the same views, they respect my decisions and are still my friend even though I did something they would (probably) never do. I highly respect people like that, but I do not respect the crazy fanatical pro-lifers that do things like this, and exploit people who genuinely, truly care about girls who actually have to go through this in real life.

Okay, I'm done now...sorry so long and rambly!

Hey, Mguy414. Thanks for sharing that story - that's really moving. I went to school at Ole Miss, which is very nearby - so I know what the mindset is like there. We all agree this is a very difficult situation for the women involved.

I'm trying to think of a non-political way to say this, but I can't. I support choice because of stories like this. Women have to have the right to make choices for their own lives. I think anyone that is judgmental about this situation is a giant jerkstore.

I am against abortion. I would never have an abortion. Someone in my family was raped, she had the baby and he is the most precious, funniest kid. I can't imagine if she had chosen to abort him just because it was a difficult circumstance.

And I'm not judging anyone nor am I a "giant jerkstore" just because I have my own beliefs.

the point is, that she had the choice.

No, of course not. We all have our own beliefs and that's groovy. I don't need to agree with everyone.

That said, I think being judgmental, especially on this difficult issue, is something a giant jerkstore would do.

Amanda-La: I don't think you're being judgemental at all. I completely respect that you have different beliefs and values than I do, and that is perfectly fine! I would never say "oh there's a pro-lifer, can't speak to them" because that's just silly. But I know of people who are pro-life that wouldn't even speak to me because I am pro-choice and I just can't respect someone like that. Me being pro-choice is not the only thing about me, and I would hate for someone to judge me just based on that.

And I would like to point out that it is not a decision that was made lightly, at ALL. A lot of thought and discussion and research and even praying went into it. I didn't just wake up one morning and decide.

wow! there are so many things I could say about this issue and this video, but one thing that popped out at me is the court part. I'm Canadian and don't know the law in Tennessee, but does a woman actually need to go before a judge to get an abortion?

#29, In Tennesseea a minor (under 18) has to either have parental consent to get an abortion or she can get a court order from a judge

Agree with the comments above. This is about statutory rape, not abortion. If you're pro-life, whatever, but let's not try to confuse the issue.

If you are against abortions then don't have one. Simple as that.

The real problem is that most schools are forced to teach abstinence only sex education, which does not prepare kids for the real world. My high school taught comprehensive sex education and lost government dollars because they did so. When 14 year olds start have sex without being well informed enough, they end up at places like Planned Parenthood trying to get abortions because at least they have enough common sense to know they are not fit to be mothers.

I don't know why people have such negative feelings about Planned Parenthood. Abortions count for only 3% of their services! It is a valuable resource for people like me, who lost their jobs and can no longer afford health insurance. I get free birth control so I can take preventative measures to ensure that I will not be in situation where decisions need to be made. I think this Lila Rose lady should take some time and look at the wonderful things Planned Parenthood does such as cancer screening which accounts for 17% of their services. Or prenatal care (11%).

I am sorry Amanda-la, but sure you can have your own beliefs on your personal choice to have an abortion but when people identify as pro-life (not saying you have) their beliefs do not allow me to have mine so I do not respect them at all. The pro-life movement generally wants to take away my right to have an abortion. While pro-choice people can say"If you are against abortions then don't have one." prolifers want to say that no one gets to have one. That is not a position that deserves my respect.

this to me is less about pro-choice and more about not reporting a crime. The issue here isn't even the abortion, it's the fact that the worker has definitely not followed through with the law. I think that that was definitely the wrong decision- if she knew that he was 31, she should've immediately followed protocol and notified her manager and started the ball rolling, because that is abuse. But I don't see why that would sway my pro-choice decision whatsoever.

Regardless, Im pro choice. Its my body. My decision. I dont need someone giving me some morality bit as to why I cant do what I feel is needed. Besides, I dont think its just me but..this isnt really about abortion. This is a statutory rape issue.

Everyone should be able to choose if they want to have a baby or not. Your body, your choice. And that's that. I'm pro-choice.

this girl makes me sick for all of the reasons stated above in various posts.

This is the complete wrong way to go about things...weird!