Bush, Clinton Spar Over Planned Parenthood

Funding for Planned Parenthood Federation of America is emerging as a polarizing subject in the presidential election after Republican candidate Jeb Bush was slammed by Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for comments he made about funding women’s health.

Mr. Bush, a former Florida governor, spoke Tuesday at the Southern Baptist Convention following the release of a fifth undercover video on Planned Parenthood providing fetal tissue for medical research. He said, “I’m not sure we need a half a billion dollars for women’s health.” He later said he misspoke, and was referring to the roughly $528 million the organization received last year in government funds. The bulk of that came from federal money, including Medicaid and a family planning program.

Mrs. Clinton jumped on the comments, chastising Mr. Bush and portraying him as out of touch with women’s issues.

“You are absolutely, unequivocally wrong,” she tweeted.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, also running for the GOP presidential nomination, tweeted in response: “Hillary Clinton is proud to stand with Planned Parenthood. For that she ought to be ashamed.”

He later tweeted: “By saying she stands by Planned Parenthood, @HillaryClinton proves once again that she’s #OutofTouch with everyday Americans.”

Mr. Bush also chastised Mrs. Clinton on Twitter, tweeting, “@HillaryClinton what’s absolutely, unequivocally wrong is giving taxpayer $ to an org whose practices show no regard for lives of unborn.”

More From The Wall Street Journal (subscription required):