Good Morning America reporter Claire Shipman on Friday offered a one-sided, misleading segment on Susan G. Komen's "political" decision to defund Planned Parenthood. Shipman inaccurately described a women who got a breast screening "through a Planned Parenthood screening." The organization doesn't do such procedures.
Yet, an ABC graphic misrepresented that Monique Benoit "received a mammogram through Planned Parenthood." Benoit is featured on Planned Parenthood's YouTube account. There, a more accurate explanation was given: The group "gave me a referral slip to somewhere for a mammogram." [See video below. See MP3 audio here.]
Planned Parenthood's own website explains:
Ask your health care provider, health department, or staff at your local Planned Parenthood health center about where you can get a mammogram in your area.
Instead of highlighting both sides of this issue, Shipman only showcased liberal anger: "This morning, outrage and disappointment engulfing the internet. [Reading posts.] 'All lies.' 'You have lost my support.' 'Playing politics with the lives of women.' 'I'll never by pink again.'"
The GMA correspondent attacked Komen as the responsible party: "And it got political fast when the Komen foundation decided to pull funding for breast screenings from Planned Parenthood."
Not mentioned? Komen's donations have risen 100 percent since making the initial decision to no longer fund Planned Parenthood.
The sole voice not supporting Planned Parenthood came from Komen CEO Nancy Brinker, whom Shipman knocked for her "changing explanations."
NBC's Today show only covered the story in news briefs. Natalie Morales asserted that criticism [is] mount[ing] against the cancer charity and supporters are rallying around the reproductive health organization."
On CBS This Morning, Bob Schiffer labeled the cancer-fighting group and the abortion provider as both "fine organizations." He insisted, "Now, you're seeing this divide between these two very fine organizations. The Komen Foundation saying that they want their money, you know, to go to screening for breast cancer to help poor people."
