In what some would say is a perfect metaphor for abortion, Planned Parenthood’s Board of Directors ousted President and CEO Leana Wen without her knowledge or consent. Negotiations for her resignation had begun, but the board decided to oust her early on Tuesday.
“I just learned that the [Planned Parenthood] Board ended my employment at a secret meeting,” Wen announced on Twitter. “We were engaged in good faith negotiations about my departure based on philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood.”
I just learned that the @PPFA Board ended my employment at a secret meeting. We were engaged in good faith negotiations about my departure based on philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood. My statement to come shortly.
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) July 16, 2019
Wen, the first physician to lead the organization in nearly 50 years, aimed to turn abortion into a health issue, rather than a political one. She cited “philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood” in a statement on the ouster.
“As a physician and public health leader, I came to Planned Parenthood to lead a national health care organization that provides essential primary and preventing care to millions of underserved women and families, and to advocate for a broad range of policies that affect our patients’ health. I believe that the best way to protect abortion care is to be clear that it is not a political issue but a health care one, and that we can expand support for reproductive rights by finding common ground with the large majority of Americans who understand reproductive health care as the fundamental health care that it is,” she said in a statement.
“I am leaving because the new Board Chairs and I have philosophical differences over the direction and future of Planned Parenthood,” Wen continued. She called working for Planned Parenthood “an honor and a privilege,” and said she will “always stand with Planned Parenthood.”
My statement stepping down as President/CEO of @PPFA and President of @PPAct. pic.twitter.com/WJ3EBgJIAy
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) July 16, 2019
From her statement, it appears Leana Wen left because she thought Planned Parenthood had become too political. Yet she also may have left because in recent years the organization has been performing more and more abortions and providing fewer non-abortion services.
In a hilarious response, the Washington Free Beacon’s Alex Griswold tweeted, “I’m sorry you had no say in your termination.”
I'm sorry you had no say in your termination https://t.co/RiwcVxncQJ
— Alex Griswold (@HashtagGriswold) July 16, 2019
Like the millions of babies Planned Parenthood kills every year, Wen was not given a chance to protest her immediate termination.
Follow Tyler O’Neil, the author of this article, on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
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