The headline in the Aug. 15 newspaper, “Planned Parenthood to spend big in state,” says it all, doesn’t it?

Apparently, Planned Parenthood feels that investing $500,000 in Maine’s gubernatorial and legislative races can buy those elections. But despite all its subterfuge, the organization will find that half a million dollars will not be enough to cover its slick political campaign for pro-abortion candidates. Truth is a critical commodity and not negotiable for any amount.

Planned Parenthood PAC Chairwoman Nicole Clegg attacked Gov. Paul LePage for vetoing the “Women’s Health Initiative,” L.D.1247 — which she said gave women access to birth control and preventative health care at Family Planning clinics.

Providing women with the pill is actually detrimental to their health, according to national and international health organizations.

The World Health Organization and the American Heart Association both have reported serious risks presented by oral contraceptives. These include high blood pressure, blood clots and strokes, as well as increased dangers of breast, cervical and liver cancers.

That information has not changed, so to label harmful birth control chemicals as “health care” is patently ridiculous.

But Planned Parenthood glosses over these facts and instead switches the focus to a concern for low-income women. It’s an effective conditioning process found to work on a compassionate public. Using that emotional hook, it then encourages support for political candidates who would do Planned Parenthood’s bidding and vote pro-abortion.

We are a compassionate people; but a false sense of compassion should not be used to further a political agenda — especially one that is so self-serving and definitely harmful to women’s health. Shame on Planned Parenthood and on those candidates it supports.

Pat Truman

Hallowell