Videos Discuss Palin Speech, Souder Resignation, Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

The following summarizes selected women's health related videos.

Palin Rallies 'Mamma Grizzlies': In a speech at a Susan B. Anthony List fundraising breakfast, Sarah Palin told the organization's supporters that they are part of "an emerging, conservative, feminist identity." SBAL backs female political candidates who oppose abortion rights. Palin aimed her call to action toward conservative mothers, "You don't want to mess with the mama grizzlies. And I think there are a whole lot of those in this room." She also gave credit to "feminist foremothers" who "could push a plow and shoot a gun and raise children all at the same time," which she said laid the groundwork for the "Western feminism" she supports (Washington Post, 5/14).

Pro-Abstinence-Only Rep. Souder Resigns: After Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) resigned amid news that he had an extramarital affair with a staff member, a video surfaced in which the socially conservative House member and the staffer discussed his strong support for abstinence-only sex education. MSNBC host Chris Matthews highlighted the video on his program's "Hardball Sideshow" segment, saying, "Well, they sold abstinence. I guess they weren't buying it" (Matthews, "Hardball," MSNBC, 5/20).

Study Examines Breast Screenings: On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," NBC Chief Medical Editor Nancy Snyderman discussed a recent study that found mammograms detect few breast cancers in women younger than age 40 but often lead to unwarranted anxiety and extra testing because of false positives. Snyderman said the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, in guidelines last year, also noted the potential drawbacks of breast cancer screening for women in their 40s. However, amidst the heated debate on health reform, the guidelines "became a huge political blowout instead of a smart conversation about science," she said (Scarborough, "Morning Joe," MSNBC, 5/19).


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