CHARMAINE YOEST IN HHS
BY BOB ADELMANN
SEE: https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/25999-pro-life-agenda-boosted-with-charmaine-yoest-s-appointment-to-hhs;
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
The Daily Signal, the Heritage Foundation’s daily Web-based newsletter, took a close look Tuesday
at President Trump’s recent appointment of Charmaine Yoest (shown) as
top communicator at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Daily Signal's writer, Rachel del Guidice, liked what she
found: Yoest is one more example of the paradigm shift taking place in
the Trump administration regarding the value of human life from the
moment of conception.Del Guidice interviewed Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, who told her that “we are going to see a radical transformation occur within HHS. I fully expect us [as a society] to talk about … the consequences of abortion on women.”
Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, was equally encouraged:
In her capacity in public relations … she
will have a huge impact, making sure [that the agency’s] policies are
consistent with [HHS’s Secretary Tom Price’s] vision inside and out … I
think [she’s] going to have a significant impact.
In her new position as assistant secretary for public affairs at HHS, she will be in charge of all iterations of communications for the agency including writing speeches for Price, involving herself in the agency’s strategic planning, and managing the agency’s broadcast and digital communications.
Her appointment resulted in howls of protests from the abortion industry, including, not surprisingly, Planned Parenthood (PP). Dawn Laguens, PP’s executive vice president, declared:
It is unacceptable that someone with a
history of promoting myths and false information about women’s health is
appointed to a government position whose main responsibility is to
provide the public with accurate and factual information. [Yoest] has
spent her whole professional life opposing access to birth control and a
woman’s right to a safe, legal abortion.
Liberal Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) issued a statement of protest as well:
Ms. Yoest has a long record of seeking to
undermine women’s access to health care and safe, legal abortion by
distorting the facts, and her selection shows yet again that this
administration is pandering to extreme conservatives and ignoring the
millions of men and women nationwide who support women’s
constitutionally-protected health care rights [and who] don’t want to go
backward.
This shift by President Trump in ideology toward life began on
January 23 when he reinstated the “Mexico City Policy” that was
rescinded by President Obama. That policy blocks federal spending for
NGOs (non-governmental organizations) that provide abortion services or
referrals, or advocate to decriminalize abortion or expand abortion
services. With that single action, Trump cut off an estimated $500
million to those NGOs.This was followed shortly thereafter with the Trump administration defunding the pro-abortion United Nations Population Fund (another $75 million) and then signing a bill to allow states to defund Planned Parenthood in their own jurisdictions.
Trump is riding on a train of pro-life momentum. On the average, states have added 57 new abortion restrictions every year between 2011 and 2015, with the number accelerating over time, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Perhaps the most telling shift in ideology and policy is the fact that Yoest is replacing an Obama appointee who immediately joined Planned Parenthood. As Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, expressed it:
The fact that Yoest will be replacing
Kevin Griffis, who now works for Planned Parenthood, is another
indicator of the dramatic change we’ve seen in Washington since the
election of President Trump.
This is a new era for the pro-life
movement and our fight to protect unborn children and their mothers from
the horror of abortion.
Related article:
Pro-life Leader Charmaine Yoest Named to HHS Post
