The "fair & balanced" Fox News network loves bogus "wedge issues" as they provide a handy, dandy way to further divide an already divided country while promoting right wing memes, particularly those related to the culture war. Fox's patented phony "War on Christmas" is the winner and still champion of those things that Fox uses to put the Fox viewers on the side of the angels while those on the other are on the road to perdition. But running close second behind this is the Fox war on Planned Parenthood. Last year, during the run-up to the failed House vote on defunding PP, Fox hosted a fun filled week of Fox "opinion" aimed at defaming an organization that provides health care to millions of low income women. Last week, we were treated to credulous coverage of Lila Rose's bogus sting videos meant to influence public opinion before a House vote on mythical sex selection abortion. And this week, Fox viewers were given more propaganda about another "bogus" PP"outrage" which has become another battle in the anti-choice real war on women for which the "fair & balanced" Fox News supplies only the best of munitions.

Earlier this week, Fox & Friends reported that a Los Angeles school district has partnered with PP. Naturally, Steve Doocy framed it as "controversial" because unnamed critics "say this should be done by parents and not through the school." Who, pray tell, are the critics? Could it be the radical anti-choice zealot and Fox fave, Catholic "Priest for Life" Frank Pavone who is having a hissy fit about this. The reality is that the school district parents are just fine with the program in which PP provides an on-campus clinic which provides birth control, pregnancy tests, and counseling and screening for STD's. But I'm not surprised that Fox & Friends didn't tell the whole story. When they did their biased, histrionic coverage of a sex-ed curriculum in Montana, they never mentioned that it was supported by many parents.

Last night, Laura Ingraham tried to peddle the same anti-choice talking points about this "shocker." Without noting that there is no parental notification law in California, she expressed horror that "kids do not have to tell their parents." She also lied about how emergency contraception is an abortion inducing drug. As News Hounds Ellen reported, her guest, Dr. Laura Berman. held her own in the discussion.

 And not wanting to miss out on pushing the anti-choice agenda, "The Five" tackled the issue with their usual aplomb. Andrea Tantaros, who, one assumes, has the kind of Fox News healthcare coverage that allows her to walk into a private ob/gyn office (and not for birth control as she is a good Christian single and they don't have sex...) and not through a gauntlet of anti-choice crazies whined about how this isn't the role of the school. She also suggested that abortions were going to be done at the school. ("invasive surgery?") She thinks that the "world is going crazy." Bob Beckel defended the program by citing stats about the reduction in teen pregnancies since the program began. Eric Bolling said he was against PP and didn't want his tax money paying for it. Dana Perino asserted it was just another government intrusion. (Like restrictive abortion regulations?)  Perino and Gutfeld wanted to know why an adoption service wasn't at the school because military recruiters are allowed. (!?) Tantaros reiterated that it isn't the role of the school.

While Beckel continued to defend the program the other three whined about how their tax dollars are paying for this program. Tantaros said that she would be willing to tell the girls in the program that she doesn't like paying for it. (I dare ya!). And speaking of taxpayer money, these are the same jokers who want to shred the safety net for those poor women who do give birth. From strictly a fiduciary standpoint, early intervention, by Planned Parenthood, is far less expensive than welfare costs that, as I said, these folks bitch about. And poor Eric Bolling, he'd rather his tax monies go to wars and grants to his Catholic Church which is still defending pedophile priests. You can't always get what you want, Eric...

That the "fair & balanced" Fox "News" is an appendage of the radical right is underscored by their promotion of whatever is hot, hot, hot in the right wing - and mention of Planned Parenthoood is that Pavlov bell sure to get the Fox audience salivating.  And just to make sure you get it, the stimulus is reinforced. No bias there, nosiree...