Actress Ashley Judd Defends Planned Parenthood & Says GOP Doing 'Really Dumb Things

Actress Ashley Judd came out against Republicans with fists flying this week. In addition to defending Planned Parenthood against recent attacks, Judd told "Meet the Press" anchor David Gregory that Republicans are "doing really dumb things about women's reproductive health." Additionally, she reiterated her support for President Barack Obama and pledged to assist his re-election campaign in whatever way possible.

"As long as the Republicans keep doing really dumb things about women’s reproductive health, that should help energize girls and women in this country," she said. "It’s remarkable to me that I would be having conversations with my peers and the younger cohort about access to reproductive health. That’s the same conversation I have with girls and women in Bangladesh. It’s the same conversation I have in Cambodia and Madagascar. And here we are in America in 2010, talking about whether or not modern family planning is useful. I mean I find that extraordinary."

Judd is in Washington, D.C., for the International Center for Research on Women's Champions for Change gala, where she will be speaking. During her discussion with Gregory, she highlighted the global women's rights issues she's a part of and was sure to also discuss the needs that women here in America have -- particularly when it comes to Planned Parenthood and the services the group offers.

“When you try to close down Planned Parenthood, it’s an access issue. And it’s particularly an access issue for poor women," Judd said. "And poor women who need flexible times during which they can go to the clinic, because they already have small children, because they have difficulty getting time off of work, or they’re trying to improve their education by going to a technical or vocational school."

These are the women, the actress claims, that Planned Parenthood serves. Judd went on to lament the "crazily exaggerated and amplified conversation" that Republicans lead surrounding the controversial organization.

Watch her comments, below:

(H/T: Politico)