Obama Official Meeting with Planned Parenthood

By William Wan

Planned Parenthood's policy convention will open tomorrow with a big name: Christina Tchen, Obama's director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. The appearance is notable amid Obama's appeal to find common ground with those opposed to abortion. It will be interesting to see whether the appearance provokes any reaction from the opposing camp. Obama's approach has been to talk about the possibility of joint efforts to reduce the need for abortions between the abortion rights camp and the anti-abortion one.

For those new to the culture wars, Planned Parenthood has often been in the middle of the abortion issue as one of the country's leading providers of surgical abortions. The conference is an annual meeting the group holds. This year it's focused on health care reform.

Representing the White House, Tchen will be part of the opening plenary session tomorrow at 2pm. Also appearing with her on the panel will be PPFA President Cecile Richards, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Laurie Rubiner, vp of public policy at PPFA. Additional sessions on Thursday will feature Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and U.S. Reps. Mike Castle (R-Del.), Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Joseph Crowley (D-Ny.) and Denny Davis (D-Ill.).

By William Wan  |  July 14, 2009; 12:24 PM ET  | Category:  God in Government Save & Share:                 
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