Governor Palin, Planned Parenthood and I Thank You

Sarah Palin opposes abortion, even in cases of rape and incest. As she said in a gubernatorial debate nearly two years ago, even if her own daughter were a rape victim, she - not the daughter, interestingly, but she - would ''choose life.''

Now there's an e-mail making the rounds that urges people to make a gift donation to Planned Parenthood in Palin's name.

What makes it even better, the e-mail says, is that for every donation made in her name, Planned Parenthood sends Palin a card thanking her.

And for me, the most delicious part of all -- it was my idea.

Seven years ago, after George Bush was sworn in, he immediately revoked as many pro-choice policies and appointments as he could.

Bush's wife doesn't think Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Neither does one of his closest advisers, Condi Rice. Ditto Nancy Reagan. And Betty Ford. And Cindy McCain.

If they couldn't make a difference, perhaps we could. So in my Los Angeles Times column less than a week after Bush took office in January 2001, I suggested that Americans make a little gift for Presidents' Day: a contribution to Planned Parenthood, in George Bush's name.

Every donation generated a ''thank you card.'' I envisioned a scene out of "Miracle on 34th Street,'' sacks and sacks of thank-you cards from Planned Parenthood, delivered to Bush in the Oval Office.

It worked. Boy, did it. Ultimately, more than a million dollars, I was told, was generated for Planned Parenthood in Bush's name. George Bush became one of the biggest money-generators in Planned Parenthood's history. The idea won me an award from Planned Parenthood, and a splash in Ms. Magazine.

So I am delighted that my ''Mother of All Ironic Donations'' notion has been revived for Palin.

May her mailbox be full to overflowing.

Follow Patt Morrison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Op-ed columnist

Comments

[GOP4MoreTears]

You Go Girl... Rock On and Thanks bunches.

[PinkyAllen]

This was SUCH a great idea- I donated and sent it to 50 friends.

No on Proposition 8! Marry who you love

[oldlefty]

Thank you for this brilliant idea! I received it yesterday from several different friends and was inspired to donate. It was the first time since that I felt there was something positive coming from all the Palin craziness. Almost everyone I forwarded it to responded exactly the same as me. Wonderful!

[Boomergrandma]

This is a great idea! Palin wants to set women's rights back years. I made a donation yesterday and sent the card to Palin's office in Alaska which is: Gov. Sarah Palin, Alaska State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box110001, Juneau, AK 99811. Hopefully, she wil be back there on Nov. 5.

[FeistMeister]

I saw another small post here at HP and it contained the address of the McCain head office. I hope it was correct as I used it and made my donation. I cannot walk much, have trouble talking, but, this I *COULD* do ... sweet revenge ...