The Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) named political activist Cecile Richards -- the daughter of former Texas Governor Ann Richards -- as its new president.

Jim Sedlak [exec dir, ALL's STOPP International] said putting Richards at the helm of the abortion ship is a signal that the organization is not focused on health care, but rather on political advocacy.

"Richards' entire background is that of political activism," he said.

 "From her positions as a union organizer, to her work with the Texas Freedom Network and her leadership of America Votes, Richards has demonstrated that she is the consummate political mover who will stop at nothing to achieve her goal."

Sedlak said Richards has no health care experience whatsoever.

"This appointment shows the Planned Parenthood board of directors has abandoned all pretenses that PPFA is a health care organization," he said. "Now that Planned Parenthood has made it direction clear, we ask elected officials and the Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw all taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood, which amounted to over $250 million last year." [http://www.citizenlink.org, 11Jan06, CitizenLink Daily Update]