A Perspective first printed in the Forum of the Peoria Journal Star. (This is the original, unedited version.)

Joyce Harant, local director of Planned Parenthood, gave a list of her top priorities should she be elected. The incredible hypocrisy of her words is astounding.

First, she wants to be sure that everyone has access to health care. Of course, it would be her brand of health care. She ought to begin by being sure that every single woman who comes to Planned Parenthood and is referred for an abortion would be given the truth about the growing evidence that links abortion to breast cancer. One recent study showed that women who had aborted their first pregnancies had a 1.7 times increased risk of breast cancer. Those who had gone on to abort their second and/or third pregnancies had a four times increased risk. This seems to be a health care concern that escapes Ms. Harant.

Her second priority is "breaking the cycle of violence with children." Planned Parenthood is the national leader in providing abortions. If ripping a baby apart isn't an act of violence against children, what is? If Ms. Harant wanted to do something to end violence, she could start by resigning from her job and throwing her support behind those who are trying to end live-birth abortions or by bringing an end to the whole- sale buying and selling of fetal body parts.

Thankfully, no thinking voters will take this candidate seriously.

Karen Campbell
Canton, Illinois