David Obey: “I find the comment ironic, because for the last 2 weeks Planned Parenthood has been lobbying against my amendment, and…”

“I find the comment ironic, because for the last 2 weeks Planned Parenthood has been lobbying against my amendment, and only after they reached the rational conclusion that they could not win by following their own whim did they finally reluctantly come in behind my amendment and support it. I have spent many an hour trying to persuade people that my amendment should be offered in order to demonstrate respect for the idea that we ought to support consultation with parents any time you have teenagers involved. The gentleman very well knows that for the first 10 days, Planned Parenthood was opposing my amendment, and only in the last day and a half did they agree to support it. I would say that is about 10 days late, but I would rather have their support late than not have it at all, because I deeply believe that there is an obligation on the part of all of us, no matter what side of the issue we stand on, to try to work together to find common ground, rather than to always try to find ways to exploit differences.”