Palin's views pull prochoice pennies

Despite being a pro-choice, liberal atheist, I gave money in honour of the US vice-residential candidate Sarah Palin today.

What triggered this burst of generosity were Palin’s views on abortion, which can be summarised as “Thou shalt not”.

She reportedly makes one exception: if the mother’s life is in immediate danger.

A teenager impregnated as the result of rape by a male relative would not, in Palin’s value system, qualify for an abortion.

So I honoured her by making a donation to Planned Parenthood, the international organisation that provides help and support on sexual and reproductive health—including contraception and abortion.

Planned Parenthood will send the card saying that a donation has been made in her “honor” to Sarah Palin c/o McCain for President, First Floor 1235 S. Clark Street, Arlington, VA 22202.

I regret to say the idea was not mine—it came from an email currently zipping its way around the world.

I don’t know who started the campaign—possibly a smart person at Planned Parenthood came up with a brilliant fundraising strategy.

Like many women I know, I find Palin interesting and on some levels, rather admirable, but I find many of her views repugnant.

Planned Parenthood and its funding have been under constant attack from conservative politicians.

But the genius of this viral marketing is that political affiliation doesn’t matter. To paraphase Bill Clinton “it’s the issue, stupid”.