October 04, 2005

Learning from Planned Parenthood

by Mary Johnson, editor, Ragged Edge Online

I'm sitting in the Killer Coffee Shop reading this a.m.'s New York Times and there -- on page A20, I believe -- is a photo of a woman protesting Bush's Monday nomination of Harriet Miers to fill Sandra Day O'Connor's shoes. The woman in the photo's got a big sign: "Will Miers Save Roe?" with "plannedparenthood.org" underneath. (You can see the photo here).

It's a big sign, a very professional sign, printed up -- well, when? How long have folks known that Miers was going to be nominated? Not long -- or else the U.S. Media were in collusion not to spill the beans (which is doubtful.).

But Planned Parenthood knew about Miers. Or else they moved pretty fast. Or both.

A Florida PP contingent held a protest Monday that was covered here -- and you can see more photos.

Planned Parenthood's website's full of stuff about Miers. Not to mention their press release.

Why am I bringing all this up in a blog that's supposed to be about disability? Because it is a very good example of how quickly other national groups can move into the media spotlight. They plan, they prepare. Yeah yeah, that Planned in its name is significant, you're saying. But that's not it. Lots of groups do this kind of thing.

Why don't disability rights groups?

No money? I think that's only part of the reason, frankly, and that too often it's used as an excuse. I think our groups could do better at this sort of thing

Posted on October 04, 2005