A
controversial topic currently is Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is an
organization that offers woman’s health services in an affordable way. On July
14, 2015, the center for medical progress released the first series of videos
seeming as though planned parenthood allegedly has been making a profit from
the donation of fetal tissue. Meaning that after conducting abortions, the
tissue and allegedly other bodily matter of the fetus that was removed, was
then sold black market style. That following August a private research company
came to the conclusion that the videos portrayed a sort of deception by being
edited and did not “present a complete or accurate record of the events they
purport to depict” (Calmes, 2015) This calling of investigation caused subsequent
defunding for planned parenthood, which was currently receiving more than $500
million federal dollars annually. I believe this investigation is a major
factor in the cause of the intense pro-life and pro-choice battle.
The advocacy
and rhetoric of this debate is based on the organizations appealing to the
audience on the basis of shared values. Both fact and value are central to and
organizations rhetoric in response to a crisis like this. The pro-choice media
leaders and emphasizing the millions of women that planned parenthood serves,
and use “abortion success stories” as opposed to the pro-life media leadership
that emphasizes the brutality of some abortions, and the investigation planned
parenthood was under. By using these rhetoric’s, it has led to it being a
common belief that the peoples tax dollars pay for citizen’s abortions. Which
is false, the peoples tax dollars pay for planned parenthood funding, and a
service they provide is abortions. The values of advocacy allow and
organization to enhance its image (or what the beliefs and perceptions that the
public holds about and organization.) With a strong image in favor of your
party, it is thus easier to deflect criticism.
