NBC's Chuck Todd Presses Carly Fiorina To Concede That She Is Wrong About Planned Parenthood Video
Todd: “There Is No Evidence That The Scene You Describe Exists. Are You Willing Now To Concede That You Exaggerated That Scene?”
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
From the September 27 edition of NBC's Meet the Press:
CHUCK TODD: Let me start right in with the Planned Parenthood situation. At the debate -- the most recent debate -- you described the following scene, claiming it was on a tape: “A fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking, while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain.” Since then, when asked about the claim, your campaign has attacked Planned Parenthood, but there is no tapes, there is no evidence that the scene you describe exists. Are you willing now to concede that you exaggerated that scene?
CARLY FIORINA: No, not at all. That scene absolutely does exist, and that voice saying what I said they were saying, we're going to keep it alive to harvest its brain, exists as well. Here's the thing. Yesterday, I was at a football game--
[CROSSTALK]
TODD: So you saw that moment on the tape? Because -- you saw that moment on the tape?
FIORINA: Yes, and I would challenge Planned Parenthood. Here's the deal. Yesterday I was protested by Planned Parenthood people who were throwing condoms at me. I don't know what that has to do with this. They're trying to distract the American people from the hideous reality that Planned Parenthood is aborting fetuses alive to harvest their brains and other body parts. That is a fact. Planned Parenthood will not and cannot deny this because it is happening. It is happening in this nation. And taxpayers are paying for it. Planned Parenthood desperately wants everyone to think this isn't going on because when Americans realize it is going on, whether they are pro-life or pro-choice, they are horrified. This goes to the character of our nation, and it must be stopped.
TODD: Well the footage you describe at best is a re-enactment. The videos -- even the people that made the videos admit it's stock footage, yet you went right along and said it's Planned Parenthood.
FIORINA: Chuck, Chuck, Chuck, Chuck, Chuck, do you think this is not happening? Does Hillary Clinton think this is not happening? So sad that you miss the opportunity to ask Mrs. Clinton why she said late-term abortions were only performed for medical purposes. That is patently false. This is happening in America today, and taxpayers are paying for it. That is a fact. It is a reality, and no one can run away from it.
TODD: But you are ducking the video, the specific of this question. And I guess I'm trying - because let me tell you what, The Washington Post--
FIORINA: I'm not -- I am not -- I am not ducking - I am not.
TODD: A Washington Post editorial this morning - a Washington Post editorial is calling it a full-fledged falsehood, Miss Fiorina. They said that it doesn't excuse your mistruths. They said, they understand you have a deeply held belief on abortion, but that you're exaggerating this specific claim.
FIORINA: No. Well, first of all, The Washington Post also claims that I am lying about being a secretary, so let's get real. I mean, I don't even know how to deal with that. I was a secretary, part-time to put myself through college and full-time after I graduated. The Washington Post gave me three Pinocchios for claiming that I was a secretary. So honestly, I don't think The Washington Post has a lot of credibility here. This is not about being pro-life or pro-choice. It is certainly not about birth control. It is not even about women's health. It is about the character of our nation. No one can deny this is happening because it is happening.
Previously: