Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is catching flack for his blossoming friendship with New Jersey's Republican Gov. Chris Christie from abortion-rights activists, who staged a protest in front of Zuckerberg's Palo Alto home Wednesday evening.
The event was held to rebuke Palo Alto's young billionaire for his decision to host a fundraiser for Christie, a rising star in the Republican party who has been making national waves for his aggressive stances toward public-sector unions and for his vetoes of Democratic bills to support family planning (he had vetoed a similar bill in 2010).
The protest, organized by progressive group CREDO, singled out Christie for his recent veto of a bill that would have restored $7.5 million to New Jersey's Planned Parenthood clinics. CREDO also launched a petition calling for Zuckerberg to "Unfriend the anti-woman Republican Governor Chris Christie and match the money raised at your Palo Alto fundraiser dollar-for-dollar with a contribution for Planned Parenthood."
"Over 58 percent of Facebook users are women, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg wants to use the billions he's made off them to fund the national political career of a guy who defunded Planned Parenthood and shut down six women's health clinics in his state?" CREDO's Political Director, Becky Bond asked in a prepared statement. "Zuckerberg should unfriend Chris Christie and stop funding the Republican war on women."
Zuckerberg's endorsement and the protest it incited further underscores Christie's swelling national profile and complex network of foes and allies. The famously gregarious and unapologetic politician was elected governor in 2009 and has made many friends and enemies by battling public-sector unions, vetoing pro-choice legislation and instituting performance bonuses for New Jersey teachers. He also drew scorn from some in his own party for praising President Barack Obama's response to Hurricane Sandy just days before the November 2012 election -- praise that some pointed to as one of the factors that helped Obama win re-election.
Zuckerberg's endorsement of Christie isn't his first venture into raising money for New Jersey causes. The Facebook founder had also donated $100 million to Newark, N.J., schools in 2010.
Comments
another community
on Feb 15, 2013 at 3:20 pm
on Feb 15, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Un-friend Planned Parent HOODS who promote death and destruction.
Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park
on Feb 15, 2013 at 3:48 pm
on Feb 15, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Un-friend anyone who wants to dictate what women can do with their bodies. Make a cash contribution to Planned Parenthood. And tell zuckerberg to get lost.
Atherton: Lloyden Park
on Feb 15, 2013 at 6:12 pm
on Feb 15, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Cancer screenings cause death and destruction?
Nope.
Obesity does, however...
Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 16, 2013 at 10:51 pm
on Feb 16, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Unfortunately, CREDO's behavior does more harm than good for PP. This is bullying and will not change Zuckerberg's mind. (Nor should it.) If anything it gives the perception to others that PP is an organization that operates by enlisting such groups as CREDO to bully people. Too bad.
Woodside: other
on Feb 17, 2013 at 6:34 am
on Feb 17, 2013 at 6:34 am
Whatever happened to tolerance... tolerance for dissenting opinion.
Atherton: West Atherton
on Feb 17, 2013 at 11:50 am
on Feb 17, 2013 at 11:50 am
"Unfortunately, CREDO's behavior does more harm than good for PP"
How so? Christie cut $7.5 million form PP. How does Credo, using a megaphone to make women aware (or as you imply, "bully") of Chrisie's actions, harm PP?
PP, after all, polls as far more popular among women than Christie.
"...Zuckerberg wants to use the billions he's made off them to fund the national political career of a guy who defunded Planned Parenthood and shut down six women's health clinics in his state?"
Seems reasonable, as pogo said, what happened to dissenting opinion?
Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 17, 2013 at 8:39 pm
on Feb 17, 2013 at 8:39 pm
Opinion, I understand where you're coming from, I'm not a fan of Christie for President or a fan of Zuckerberg for that matter. I just don't think CREDO engaged in anything effective...... If people are offended by Zuckerberg's support of Christie, stop using his source of income --- FACEBOOK. If as many people as you think are morally opposed to this they should not support facebook and it would have impact.
Laurel School
on Feb 18, 2013 at 11:20 am
on Feb 18, 2013 at 11:20 am
"I just don't think CREDO engaged in anything effective....."
All evidence to the contrary.
Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 18, 2013 at 12:39 pm
on Feb 18, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Thank-ster writes:
"All evidence to the contrary."
Really? Mr. Zuckerberg withdrew his support for Gov. Christie?
Please let the press know - you seem to know something they don't.
Thanks for your help in clearing this up.
Menlo Park: Park Forest
on Feb 18, 2013 at 12:55 pm
on Feb 18, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Woodsider thinks Credo's actions were not effective... "I just don't think CREDO engaged in anything effective......" Pinion ... "All evidence to the contrary."
All evidence tells us it DID make quite a splash. Every local media outlet covered it, many national outlets covered it. Posts here, multiple posts in the PA outlets, the Merc, the Chron, etc..
Why, even Woodsider commented on it!
Am rather sure Credo would respond to Woodsider: "thanks for noticing!!!"
Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 18, 2013 at 1:53 pm
on Feb 18, 2013 at 1:53 pm
News Coverage -
I respectfully still disagree.....
Hmmm, only 10 people have blogged on this post. Don't think that's a whole lot of impact in our community - certainly not to Zuckerberg. I blogged because as I said earlier, I also am not a fan but.... what CREDO did is nothing but a fly to be swatted by Zuckerberg. And FACEBOOK users are too loyal to do anything about it. Would you give up your FACEBOOK page?
CREDO has not hurt the Zuckerberg support to the Governor at all. Zuckerberg is financially invested in NJ as evidenced by his 100 Million donation to the Newark school system. The Governor can count on more support despite CREDO.
With the exception of the 10 bloggers, nobody is even thinking about the event that happened. Ask most Americans what CREDO is - you'll get a blank face. Ask them what FAcebook is....
CREDO has had no positive impact for PP.
Menlo Park: Park Forest
on Feb 18, 2013 at 2:08 pm
on Feb 18, 2013 at 2:08 pm
" Would you give up your FACEBOOK page? " I have, but not because of Zuck. Just prefer others, including instagram
The more you argue about PP and Credo, the more you make the case.
Thanks for the help.
Woodside: Mountain Home Road
on Feb 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm
on Feb 18, 2013 at 2:15 pm
News Coverage -
Yes, PP does need a lot of help. More than just this blog.
Laurel School
on Feb 18, 2013 at 3:13 pm
on Feb 18, 2013 at 3:13 pm
woosider: yes, PP DOES need help!
For almost 100 years, Planned Parenthood has promoted a commonsense approach to women’s health and well-being, based on respect for each individual’s right to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning.
750 health centers provide million of women and men needed services such as cancer screening and contraceptive advice -- many are too poor to get help elsewhere.
Politicians like Christie and Romney want to end PP. America wants otherwise. Just look what happens to those that fight against PP and the health services it provides: remember Koman? And how did it work out for Romney?
As 'opinion' said -- thanks for bringing PP to the front of people's minds!
Menlo Park: Suburban Park/Lorelei Manor/Flood Park Triangle
on Jan 16, 2017 at 3:11 am
on Jan 16, 2017 at 3:11 am
Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?