A pro-life advocacy group has released a hidden camera video that they purport shows a high-ranking Planned Parenthood executive frankly discussing the sale of aborted fetus parts. The Center for Medical Progress launched a three-year investigation of the practice by hiring actors to pretend to be buyers from a human biologics company. The new video supposedly features undercover actors have a conversation with Planned Parenthood’s Senior Director of Medical Services Deborah Nucatola at a restaurant about the possibly of obtaining aborted fetus organs.

Here we go again Planned Parenthood released a statement blasting the "heavily edited, secretly recorded videotape that falsely portrays Planned Parenthood's participation in tissue donation programs that support lifesaving scientific research." Which is all very much true. Snopes points out that "[i]t's unclear why the video was held for over a year before it was released, and it has some curious aspects to it." That includes the fact that the "organization's Twitter and Facebook accounts are both only a few months old, and the only videos found on the group's YouTube page are the two shown above, even though the organization has supposedly been engaged in a three-year long investigation." Snopes also reports that the "leader" of CMP is a guy named David Daleiden, who doesn't have much of a web presence but who conservative pariah Chuck Johnson described as a friend of James O'Keefe, the king of "undercover" exposes using heavily edited footage. Of course.

The full transcript of the video, which was released by CMP, clearly shows Nucatola explaining how patients are not coerced but are informed about the option of donating tissue and also making it very clear that there is not a profit motive for Planned Parenthood. She clearly says Planned Parenthood "affiliates are not looking to make money by doing this. They're looking to serve their patients. […]" The statement issued by Planned Parenthood clarifies that affiliates can be reimbursed for "additional expenses related [to] tissue donation, which can vary based on individual circumstance," but that money does not go to staff or doctors.

But the dubious nature of this story hasn't stopped Republican presidential hopefuls from jumping on the story. "Libertarian" Rand Paul (whose definition of liberty stops dead at lady parts) says "[i]t's time for pro-lifers to take a stand. It's time to defund Planned Parenthood." Ted Cruz is demanding a congressional investigation. Rick Perry touts his long fight to defund Planned Parenthood in Texas, Scott Walker jumps on the defund bandwagon and Carly Fiorina spouts about "profiting on the death of the unborn" on Facebook. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal ordered an investigation, even though there's no indication that Louisiana had anything to do with anything. However, the "investigation means the $4 million Planned Parenthood clinic planned for New Orleans will not be able to open because Jindal's order includes suspending the issuance of new licenses by DHH." How convenient for a would-be Republican presidential nominee who needs to stand out from the rest with the social conservatives.