When Georgia state Sen. Michael Williams, a Republican candidate for governor, criticized Delta Air Lines for ending a discount partnership with the National Rifle Association, he also said, “why not pull it for Planned Parenthood or some of the left organizations out there?”
PolitiFact Georgia found no evidence to support Williams’ reference to a Delta discount for Planned Parenthood. Williams’ campaign did not provide evidence to prove it, and Planned Parenthood told us there are no perks, discounts or deals that come with being a Planned Parenthood supporter or member, whether with Delta or any other company.
Delta did not respond to our query.
After the CNN interview when he made the comment, Williams tweeted a statement that mentioned “Delta’s history of supporting left-wing organizations that donate to abortion provider Planned Parenthood.”
That’s a few steps removed from what he said in the interview about Planned Parenthood receiving the discount itself.
Williams’ spin that Delta has ties to the Susan. G. Komen Foundation, which supports Planned Parenthood, is also wrong.
Williams said in a printed statement, “A quick Google search reveals Planned Parenthood receives hundreds of thousands of dollars from Delta partner Susan G. Komen … Has Delta cut their ties with the Susan G. Komen Foundation like they did the NRA?”
Andrea Rader, spokeswoman for the breast cancer research organization Susan G. Komen, told PolitiFact Georgia, “Komen does not and has not had a partnership with Delta at either the state or national level.”
Komen does have seven grants in local markets to Planned Parenthood, totaling $277,000, for breast exam services, Rader said.
Williams may have conflated Susan G. Komen with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, an actual Delta partner. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation told PolitiFact Georgia it does not give money to Planned Parenthood.
We asked Delta if it offered discounts to Planned Parenthood but the airline did not respond to that specific question.
Our ruling
Williams said Delta offers a discount to Planned Parenthood.
We found no evidence that supports Williams’ claim. Planned Parenthood said its donors and members do not receive any corporate perks from Delta, and Williams failed to show that one exists. Williams’ campaign said that a Planned Parenthood supporter is a Delta partner, but that’s also not true.
We rate Williams' claim False.
Says Delta offers a discount to Planned Parenthood.
— Georgia Sen. Michael Williams on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 in a CNN interview
