Planned Parenthood faces backlash over its endorsement of Hillary Clinton

Planned Parenthood is facing a wave of backlash from its own supporters as a result of its endorsement of Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

In a statement yesterday, the abortion giant announced that it is kicking off the presidential primary by backing the Democratic hopeful, noting that Clinton will stand by Planned Parenthood— no matter what.

Hillary isn’t the only pro-reproductive health candidate running — but at the end of the day, she hasn’t just defended the rights we have, she’s made fighting to expand access to reproductive health and rights the driving force of her political career.

Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, told the New York Times that Clinton embodies “everything Planned Parenthood has believed in and fought for over the past 100 years is on the ballot.” Richards even advocated wearing matching pantsuits to celebrate.

It seems, however, Planned Parenthood may be standing with only a meager pool of supporters for Hillary, as its own constitutents are less than thrilled over the abortion giant’s candidate for the Oval Office. 

The Clinton campaign recently hired Richards’ daughter, Lily Adams, as Clinton’s Iowa communications director.  It seems, however, Planned Parenthood may need to revisit its 2016 strategy.

The endorsement in a presidential primary is the first for Planned Parenthood in its 100-year existence, and reveals that the abortion giant understands that its future is at stake in 2016.

The group came under fire in the summer of 2015 after a dozen videos released by the Center for Medical Progress revealed top-level Planned Parenthood officials discussing the harvesting of baby body parts, among other abuses. Since then, multiple investigations have been launched by the U.S. House and state governments, and there have been numerous attempts to end federal subsidies for the abortion conglomerate.

This week, Congress sent a historic bill defunding the abortion giant to President Obama’s desk. The president has vetoed the bill; however, a pro-life occupancy in the White House could ensure that legislation defunding Planned Parenthood is made law in 2017.

Clinton has received a significant amount of campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry, and was a recipient of the group’s Margaret Sanger Award.