Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) faced a tough crowd full at his Mesa, Arizona, town hall event on April 13. But one person who stood out in particular was a 16-year-old girl who identified herself as Deja Foxx. Foxx questioned the Republican senator's support for de-funding Planned Parenthood, and honestly, he was no match for her.
Here's how their conversation went:
FOXX: Jeff Flake. My name is Deja Foxx, and I’m a 16-year-old from Tucson. I just want to state some facts. So, I’m a young woman, and you’re a middle-aged man.
FLAKE: Ouch!
FOXX: I’m a person color and you’re white. I come from a background of poverty, and I didn’t always have parents to guide me through life. You come from privilege. So I’m wondering, as a Planned Parenthood patient and someone who relies on Title X, who you are clearly not, why it’s your right to take away my right to choose Planned Parenthood, and to choose no-copay birth control, to access that. So if you can explain that to me, I would appreciate it.
FLAKE: Well, thank you. I’m glad to hear of my privileged childhood. I have a few of my sisters here. I’m one of 11 kids, I’m right in the middle of 11. I didn’t grow up privileged, I paid for my college on my own, all on my own, so could I have — I do have — I am fortunate, I am fortunate that I do have a wonderful job representing the state of Arizona and I, and I want to …
FOXX: Privilege comes in many forms.
FLAKE: You bet it does, and I’ve had a lot of advantages that others haven’t, and what I want is to make sure that everyone can realize the American dream that all of us have been successful at. So that’s that’s what I’m trying to do, and that’s why I support the policies that I support.
FOXX: And if no-copay birth control is helping me to be successful, to reach for higher education, and Planned Parenthood is doing that as well, why would you deny me the American dream?
FLAKE: Thank you, that’s a great question. I wouldn’t deny anybody the American dream.
FOXX: Then support Planned Parenthood
FLAKE: Thank you.
FOXX: No, thank you.
No, seriously, thank YOU, Deja Foxx.
According to ShareBlue, a recent poll shows that 62 percent of Americans are against de-funding of Planned Parenthood. That number jumps to 80 percent when people are informed that federal funds to Planned Parenthood are used "only for non-abortion health issues such as breast cancer screening." Even 65 percent of Republicans are against cutting Planned Parenthood's funding when they learn that.
Despite this overwhelming support for Planned Parenthood, President Donald Trump just signed into law a bill that attacks funding for family planning. Voices like Deja Foxx's are more important than ever now. And to think she's only 16!