Palin: Family planning e-mail was theatric

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JUNEAU, Alaska, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called an e-mail effort in her name for Planned Parenthood in the presidential campaign great theater, but it didn't change her views.

The governor who was the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate, was asked about the push for donations "in honor of Sarah Palin" during a news conference in Juneau Wednesday. Palin, who opposes abortion, said she received notes from people associated with Planned Parenthood, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

"I have boxes of thank-you notes from people associated with Planned Parenthood thanking me for the donations. Same with some anti-hunting groups, they're doing the same thing right now. It's political theater -- it's great theater, I guess, for some," Palin said.

Planned Parenthood wasn't behind the effort, but the e-mails asking for donations generated more than $1 million for the organization nationwide, said Clover Simon, Alaska vice president of Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.

While she and Planned Parenthood "agree on a mission here that we'd like to see fewer and fewer abortions," Palin said, "I, embracing the culture of life, have perhaps a different approach in how I would like to see that goal reached."

Making donations to Planned Parenthood in her name "is not going to change my views or the views of many other Alaskans who believe every life is precious," Palin said later in a statement.