Planned Parenthood Head Canned For Not Pushing Abortion Enough

Dr. Leana Wen was forced out as President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of America and Planned Parenthood Action after being at the helm only eight months. Prior to joining Planned Parenthood, Wen was the Commissioner of Health for the city of Baltimore, Md.

She announced she was canned on Twitter.

Wen then offered a statement.

She wrote, “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 under stand reproductive health care as the fundamental health care that it is.”

Wen added she had philosophical differences with the board chairs.

Planned Parenthood has taken a hit in funding over the last two years with the Trump administration successfully defunding the abortion giant and several states doing so as well. Also, several states have passed abortion bans, and pro-abortion advocates are fearful that the Supreme Court is poised to reverse Roe v. Wade.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday afternoon that those close to Wen say she was forced out because she did not advocate abortion enough.

People familiar with Wen’s position said she has been battling over the organization’s direction with new board chair Aimee Cunningham almost since Cunningham arrived in May. Wen had tried to refocus the organization’s mission and image as a health provider offering a wide array of services, including abortions, they said. She replaced a number of the organization’s top officials with people who supported that approach.

Those close to Wen said she was opposed by some board members and others who wanted to emphasize the organization’s commitment to abortion rights.

I disagree how much common ground can be found on this issue or that there is a large majority who see abortion as she does as polling indicates a majority of Americans want to see some abortion restrictions.

Those familiar with the board’s perspective say, essentially, she’s a lousy manager.

But a person aware of the board’s perspective said the organization had been working with Wen for six months to correct “ongoing misalignment with the mission, creating a culture of suspicion and mistrust among staff.”

The person, who requested anonymity because board members were the only ones authorized to speak for Planned Parenthood, said Wen had a “very insular style” and micro-managed work that was “not in her areas of expertise.”

“Ongoing misalignment with the mission” indicates a philosophical issue and I don’t believe for a minute the board made a change after eight months solely based on Wen’s leadership style.

While she may be a lousy CEO, but I think it’s pretty clear the Planned Parenthood board wanted a greater focus on abortion rights. That is the direction the left has embraced so it’s hard to believe that isn’t where the Planned Parenthood board is headed.

This news reinforces for me that Planned Parenthood is not about health care, it’s about expanding taxpayer-funded abortion on demand at any stage in the pregnancy for any reason.