As Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards appeared as a guest on Monday's Anderson Cooper 360, host Cooper prodded her to "directly link the rhetoric" coming from GOP presidential candidates to the Colorado Spring shooting spree after she complained about "hateful rhetoric" being aimed at the abortion provider.
When she declined to make such a direct accusation, Cooper pressed her a second time, wondering if she believes "some of the language" has "led to violence."
At about 8:40 p.m., as the CNN host introduced his interview with Richards, he brought up abortion as a "white-hot issue" that is "fueled" by "controversial videos." Cooper:
Like other Planned Parenthood clinics, this one in Colorado Springs provides a range of health care services to women, including abortions, and, as we said, the suspect mentioned baby parts to investigators, as well as anti-abortion, anti-government views. The attack comes as abortion has once again become a white-hot issue on the campaign trail fueled in part by controversial videos made by an anti-abortion group about Planned Parenthood.
The Planned Parenthood president asserted her belief that "hateful rhetoric" helps to "fuel" violence as she responded to Cooper's first question. Richards:
And it is really disturbing to see the kind of hateful rhetoric that's been talked about Planned Parenthood, about the women who come to us, about the doctors who provide health care. It's very hard to see these kind of violent incidents that I think sometimes this rhetoric fuels.
The CNN host nudged her toward going after the GOP presidential candidates as he followed up:
To that point, you said earlier today, you said, "Hateful rhetoric and words and harassment of doctors and harassment of women going to health centers have real implications." And you've said, quote, that you've "never seen the kind of rhetoric that we've seen from presidential candidates." Do you directly link the rhetoric that you're hearing from presidential candidates to what happened?
Richards then pulled back a bit:
Well, I can't, of course I can't directly link it, Anderson, but I do think that everyone in public office, people who are leaders in this country, have a responsibility to think about the words they use, the language they use, and the possible repercussions.
Cooper persisted:
You believe some of the language that has been used is not only inappropriate, but you believe it can and maybe has led to violence?
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Monday, November 30, Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN:
ANDERSON COOPER: Like other Planned Parenthood clinics, this one in Colorado Springs provides a range of health care services to women, including abortions, and, as we said, the suspect mentioned baby parts to investigators, as well as anti-abortion, anti-government views. The attack comes as abortion has once again become a white-hot issue on the campaign trail fueled in part by controversial videos made by an anti-abortion group about Planned Parenthood.
Joining me is Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood. First of all, I want to extend our condolences to everybody at Planned Parenthood and obviously the family members of those who lost loved ones.
The shooter in this allegedly said to police, mentioned baby parts, apparently had anti-government, anti-abortion views. What was your reaction when you heard that?
CECILE RICHARDS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Well, I wasn't entirely surprised. I mean, obviously he was there at a Planned Parenthood health center, but it's very upsetting obviously. Our hearts go out to the families who lost their loved ones and to many other folks who are injured. And it is really disturbing to see the kind of hateful rhetoric that's been talked about Planned Parenthood, about the women who come to us, about the doctors who provide health care. It's very hard to see these kind of violent incidents that I think sometimes this rhetoric fuels.
COOPER: To that point, you said earlier today, you said, "Hateful rhetoric and words and harassment of doctors and harassment of women going to health centers have real implications." And you've said, quote, that you've "never seen the kind of rhetoric that we've seen from presidential candidates." Do you directly link the rhetoric that you're hearing from presidential candidates to what happened?
RICHARDS: Well, I can't, of course I can't directly link it, Anderson, but I do think that everyone in public office, people who are leaders in this country, have a responsibility to think about the words they use, the language they use, and the possible repercussions.
COOPER: You believe some of the language that has been used is not only inappropriate, but you believe it can and maybe has led to violence?
RICHARDS: Well, I think you have to look at what we've seen over the last three or four months. We have seen increased harassment at health centers, at women's health centers, including Planned Parenthood. We've seen rhetoric that I haven't ever seen in a national presidential election before, again, demonizing women and many of the health care providers that provide services to women. i just think that it behooves all of us in this country to look at these kinds of incidents and take stock of what we can do to prevent them in the future.
COOPER [TO RICHARDS]: Are you taking stock of security at all Planned Parenthood facilities?
(....)
COOPER [TO RICHARDS]: There was a secure room and I believe cameras at the facility?
(....)
COOPER [TO RICHARDS] Since those videos were released, can you quantify the number of threats you've received, in terms of, has it increased?
(....)
COOPER [TO RICHARDS]: Well, I appreciate you being with us. Thank you.
