Sunday, August 2, 2015

Jeb’s Planned Parenthood Problem: Did He Oppose Bloomberg’s $50 Million Donation?



Jeb’s Planned Parenthood Problem: Did He Oppose Bloomberg’s $50 Million Donation?
by Michael Patrick Leahy 1 Aug 2015
The recent release of undercover videos that appear to show Planned Parenthood executives engaging in the sale of aborted body parts has put the Jeb Bush Presidential campaign on the defensive.

Before becoming a GOP candidate Bush was serving as a director of Bloomberg Philanthropies, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s non-profit, in March 2014 when it announced a $50 million partnership with Planned Parenthood in Africa.

At issue is whether Bush was aware of the initiative and if he exercised his fiduciary responsibility as one of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ directors to provide “advice and oversight” to the foundation’s management team prior to the decision to spend $50 million on the program.

“As a board member of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Governor Bush did not vote on or approve individual projects or programs. Governor Bush and Mayor Bloomberg disagree on several policy areas, including Planned Parenthood. They do share a passion for reforming education, which was Governor Bush’s focus on the board,” Jeb Bush campaign spokeswoman Kristy Campbell tells Breitbart News. That echos the themes — and some of the exact words — she first used in April when interviewed by the Tampa Bay Times on Bush’s role in the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ $50 million partnership in Africa with Planned Parenthood.

Campbell adds:

Governor Bush’s strong record of fostering a culture of life is clear, and he has called on Congress to investigate and defund Planned Parenthood in light of the recent alarming revelations about its practices. During his eight years in office, Governor Bush took measures to protect innocent life by passing a partial-birth abortion ban, fighting for a constitutional amendment requiring parental notifications and doing everything possible to promote adoption.

Even for a charity as wealthy as Bloomberg Philanthropies, whose 2013 endowment was $5.4 billion, an expenditure of $50 million over several years is a substantial portion of the estimated $200 million in grants it disburses annually. In 2013, it disbursed $204 million in grants. Data is not yet available for 2014.

When news that Bush was one of the Bloomberg Family Foundation’s nineteen founding directors from the charity’s formation in 2010 until the end of 2014 (by which time the name had been changed to Bloomberg Philanthropies) was first brought to the public’s attention in April 2015 by the Tampa Bay Times, the Bush campaign tried to minimize Bush’s involvement with the Planned Parenthood decision.

But a Lifesite News article on Thursday resurrected the issue, which, in light of the release of the undercover videos, has become politically radioactive.

Last week, Bush called for a Congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood.

“I’m confirming that yes, we have a maternal and reproductive health program. We support work in countries in Latin America and Africa to prevent maternal deaths and work with partners including Planned Parenthood Global. In regards to Mr. Bush’s involvement, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ board members do not vote on individual initiatives or program spends,” Rebecca Carriero, a spokesperson for Bloomberg Philanthropies tells Breitbart News.

But pro-life activists are not impressed with the explanations offered by either the Bush campaign team or Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“Abortion and association with Planned Parenthood, the largest promoter and provider of abortions, will be front and center in the upcoming election,” Susan Allen, a pro-life activist, speaker and writer from Tennessee, tells Breitbart News.

“The pro-life community is adept at cutting through rhetoric and euphemisms very quickly,” Allen says.

“Governor Bush needs to answer why he would allow his name and influence to be added to a board who would donate $50 million dollars to this organization to export the culture of death to developing nations,” Allen adds.

Breitbart attempted to obtain more detailed answers from the Bush campaign, but did not receive a response to these specific questions:

(1) Was Governor Bush aware of the $50 million partnership with Planned Parenthood before it was announced in March 2014?

(2) If so, did he offer any advice to the CEO and/or Mr. Bloomberg as to the appropriateness of the project?

(3) If so, what was that advice?

Lacking any comment from the Bush campaign or Bloomberg Philanthropies to the contrary, it is fair to assume that as a director with clearly delineated fiduciary responsibilities, Bush was well aware of the $50 million Planned Parenthood initiative and did nothing to stand in its way, even if he was not asked to vote to approve the initiative.

According to press reports, Bush was paid $37,100 in director fees during his five years of service to the Bloomberg Family Foundation.

The current list of directors, which now numbers twenty-one, is a “Who’s Who” of establishment figures. It includes two Republican establishment figures well known to Bush: former Secretary of the Treasury Hank Paulson, who oversaw the bank bailout approved by his brother, former President George W. Bush, in the fall of 2008, and former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 52%
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The involvement of Bloomberg Philanthropies with Planned Parenthood on Jeb Bush’s watch is not the only problematic partnership that may cause Bush political troubles. The Bloomberg Philanthropies website also proudly notes a partnership with the Open Society Foundations, which is funded by far-left billionaire George Soros.

At the heart of the political problem for Bush is that he has a long-running professional and business relationship with a billionaire who espouses a political philosophy that is the exact opposite of the conservative limited government philosophy Bush is attempting to persuade Republicans he holds.

Bloomberg’s stated philosophy on the role of philanthropy and government, which he articulated in his 2014 “Annual Letter on Philanthropy” is exactly the sort of elitist statism abhorred by the Republican base:

Modern philanthropy began as a substitute for government. Where government failed, philanthropists stepped in, providing food for the poor, hospitals for the sick, and libraries, museums, and colleges for the masses. Philanthropy continues to play a vital role in all of these areas. But some still see philanthropy as an alternative to government. I see it as a way to embolden government.

In so many areas, governments represent our best hope for making the broad-based societal changes that philanthropic organizations are devoted to bringing about. Governments have the authority to drive change in ways that philanthropic organizations cannot. By leveraging our resources, and forming partnerships with government, philanthropic organizations can help push those changes forward. That mindset may be untraditional, but it is at the heart of nearly everything Bloomberg Philanthropies does.

Breitbart News asked the Bush campaign if Governor Bush agrees with Mike Bloomberg’s stated philosophy on the role of philanthropy and government, and if he does not, why he agreed to serve on the board of the Bloomberg Family Foundation from 2010 to 2014.

The Bush campaign has not yet responded to those questions either.

If Jeb Bush wants to win the Republican nomination for President, he’s going to have to start providing satisfactory answers to these questions.

Bloomberg Philanthropies
Marjorie B. Tiven is a director of Global Cities for the Bloomberg Philanthropies, Michael R. Bloomberg’s sister, and was the New York City commissioner for the United Nations.

Note: Bloomberg Philanthropies is an umbrella organization for the Bloomberg Family Foundation.
Michael R. Bloomberg is Marjorie B. Tiven’s brother, the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a member of the Alfalfa Club, his adviser is Howard Wolfson, and was a benefactor at the Harlem Children's Zone.
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a benefactor at the Harlem Children's Zone, Nancy Pelosi was invited to his 2013 wedding reception, and is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.
Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Jeb Bush is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a member of the Alfalfa Club, and a presidential candidate for the 2016 presidential election.
Howard Wolfson is Michael R. Bloomberg’s adviser, married to Terri McCullough, and was a partner at the Glover Park Group.
Glover Park Group is the lobby firm for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Terri McCullough is married to Howard Wolfson, and Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff.
Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff is Terri McCullough, was an invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, and Cecile Richards was her deputy chief of staff.
Cecile Richards was Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and is a trustee at the Ford Foundation.
Ted Turner is the chairman for the Turner Foundation, the chairman for the United Nations Foundation, and a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Kofi A. Annan is a director at the United Nations Foundation, was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and the secretary general for the United Nations.
Marjorie B. Tiven was the New York City commissioner for the United Nations, is a director of Global Cities for the Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Michael R. Bloomberg’s sister.
Bloomberg Philanthropies is an umbrella organization for the Bloomberg Family Foundation.
United Nations Foundation is a partner with the ONE Campaign.
Michael R. Bloomberg was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, is Marjorie B. Tiven’s brother, and the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation.
Michelle Obama was an advocate for the ONE Campaign.
Howard G. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign, and is Warren E. Buffett’s son.
Susan A. Buffett is a director at the ONE Campaign, and is Warren E. Buffett’s daughter.
Warren E. Buffett is Howard G. Buffett & Susan A. Buffett’s father, and an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank). 
Jessica Tuchman Mathews is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), was the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), a trustee at the Rockefeller Foundation, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).
Ed Griffin’s interview with Norman Dodd in 1982
(The investigation into the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace uncovered the plans for population control by involving the United States in war)
This is a very interesting video. "The man who tells this story is none other than Mr. Norman Dodd, who in 1954 was the staff director of the Congressional Special Committee to Investigate Tax-exempt Foundations, sometimes referred to as the Reece Committee, in recognition of its chairman, Congressman Carol Reece." He is here interviewed by Ed Griffin back in 1982. Dodd is telling us about his research into the tax-exempt organization and what they REALLY stand for. He shows us that the Carnegie Endowment, the Ford Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation joined together to alter American history and take over the whole education system in America, so the children can be indoctrinated into accepting a World Government.
Ford Foundation was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
Cecile Richards is a trustee at the Ford Foundation, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, and Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff.
Rockefeller Foundation was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the United Nations Foundation, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
United Nations Foundation is a partner with the ONE Campaign.
Michael R. Bloomberg was an advocate for the ONE Campaign, is Marjorie B. Tiven’s brother, the founder of the Bloomberg Family Foundation, and a member of the Alfalfa Club.
Jeb Bush is a director at the Bloomberg Family Foundation, a member of the Alfalfa Club, and a presidential candidate for the 2016 presidential election.
Margaret A. Hamburg is the VP for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), was a commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA), an assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a trustee at the Rockefeller Foundation, and a trustee at the Rockefeller University.
David A. Hamburg is an adviser for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank), a trustee emeritus for the Rockefeller University, the president emeritus for the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and an advisory board member for the Global Security Institute.
Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), and the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Mikhail Gorbachev is an advisory board member for the Global Security Institute, the founder of the Green Cross International, was the general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
Green Cross International - SourceWatch
Ted Turner is an honorary board member for Green Cross International USA.
Ted Turner is an honorary board member for Green Cross International USA, the chairman for the Turner Foundation, the chairman for the United Nations Foundation, and a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).
Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, is the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and a trustee at the Ford Foundation,
Ford Foundation was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank). 
Barbra Streisand Foundation was a funder for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Leonardo DiCaprio is a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and was a board member for Global Green USA.
Global Green USA is a US affiliate for Green Cross International.
Green Cross International - SourceWatch
Robert Redford is an honorary board member for Green Cross International USA.
Robert Redford is an honorary board member for Green Cross International USA, and a trustee at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Mikhail Gorbachev is the founder of the Green Cross International, an advisory board member for the Global Security Institute, was the general secretary for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and the president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

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