Planned Parenthood, and its political arm of the St. Louis Region, ADVOCATES, responded to Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin’s records on women’s reproductive rights on campus during the vice presidential debate.

Planned Parenthood has also endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, the second time the 92-year-old organization has endorsed a presidential candidate. In 2004, Planned Parenthood endorsed John Kerry.

Paula Gianino, president of ADVOCATES and alum of Washington University’s George Warren Brown School of Social Work, critiqued McCain and Palin’s voting records on reproductive rights.

“We really believe the future of women’s reproductive fights is really at stake in this election, given the next administration will be able to dominate probably two to three Supreme Court justices—that is critical,” she said.

Gianino referenced McCain and Palin’s refusal to support the right to abortion even in the case of rape or incest. She also cited Palin’s history as Governor of Alaska and mayor of Wasilla at points where she acted against reproductive rights.

“We know that while mayor, Palin approved the city charging women for their own rape test kits. It took an act by the Alaska state legislature to stop this practice, which was mostly being conducted in Wasilla.”

Gianino believed that “Palin may even be more conservative and extreme than McCain,” but there was no major difference between the two’s policies. And although Planned Parenthood acknowledges Biden’s vote for on the ban of partial-birth abortions, Gianino asserted that Biden maintains a division between his religious beliefs and his role as legislator.

“Our involvement this afternoon with the activities surrounding the debates are to continue to educate voters about the voting records, and to make it clear that McCain and Palin are not our candidates, and [that] we endorse a presidential candidate—and that is Obama.”

Jill Hansen, a leader of the University students with ADVOCATES, agreed with Gianino.

“There are a couple of important issues, and McCain and Palin have voted against women’s issues with respect to health care and access to sex education,” Hansen said. “Biden has a longer pro-woman history in his legislation.”

Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, later decried Planned Parenthood’s efforts on the Intramural Field. Mahoney spoke out against Obama and Planned Parenthood, comparing the latter to racist groups, and claiming that of abortions given, a high percentage goes to African American women.

Members of ADVOCATES booed Mahoney, and the two engaged in an impromptu argument and verbal fight. After the ADVOCATES members left, a University alumna from the 1980s, Rhoomma Duffi, and Mahoney later exchanged heated words with Mahoney and were later interviewed by a local news station.