PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE G.O.P. As I tip my hat to Ann Friedman, saying, “I feel ya, sister,” I think it also important to examine Planned Parenthood’s love note to Giuliani in the context of its larger strategy concerning reproductive rights.

While Ann’s reaction to the e-mail she received from PPFA President Cecile Richards marks the missive as a less-than-prudent fundraising strategy, it’s along the same tack taken by Gloria Feldt who, when she had Richards’ job, began courting moderate Republicans.

In 2000, the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition tried to launch a floor fight at the Republican National Convention, and came within three votes of doing so. Planned Parenthood had a G.O.P. outreach contingent at that same convention, hoping to help the mayhem along.

While I agree with my TAPPED sister that Giuliani would probably sell us out in a heartbeat, I think it behooves Planned Parenthood to continue to push pro-choice Republicans to show some backbone and push the right further to the margins of the party. What Cecile Richards has done here, I think, is said to right-wing Republicans, yeah, look at your hero. By your standards, he ranks on the list of those whom the late Jerry Falwell said caused the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In seeking to alienate Giuliani’s base, however, it seems that Richards did the same to her own.

–Adele M. Stan

Ann Friedman is a columnist for New York magazine’s website and for the Columbia Journalism Review. She also makes pie charts for The Hairpin and Los Angeles magazine. Her work has appeared in ELLE, Esquire, Newsweek, The Observer, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and many other outlets. She lives in Los Angeles, but travels so often the best place to find her is online at annfriedman.com. Follow @annfriedman