More Ivins Reaction

State Representative Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) released the following statement on the passing of Molly Ivins: "I am deeply saddened to learn that my friend Molly Ivins has passed away.

I will always cherish fond memories of fellowship with Molly Ivins when she would visit Waco, and our friend, the late Mayor Mae Jackson.

Molly Ivins fought cancer with the same strength she fought for Texas. Molly – and her unequaled wit and mind – will be deeply missed, but she will always live on through her immeasurable contributions to our state and our country."


Remembering Molly Ivins, the first in a series of tributes from The Nation to Ivins, is available here.

Reaction from Heather Paffe, Texas Association of Planned Parenthood's political director, after the jump.

When someone larger than life passes, it's hard not to be consumed by the vacuum. But as we reflect on the real legacy Molly Ivins left on the lives of Texans, and the roasting she would give to self-serving leaders both here and afar, the laughter will slowly but surely come back as we share memories and retell story after story.

As she made us laugh, she also reminded us that no matter how powerful a politician might be, they all put their pants on (or skirt on) one leg at a time. Her point was always that government wasn't about power, it was about how we treat each other as fellow humans, and making decisions wasn't for the elite few, but as she said in a take-off of a famous person's words, "we are the deciders," reminding us that all our voices count.

She was living proof of that. She was front and center at the 2004 March for Women's Lives in Washington, spoke at our pre-march rally, raised money for Planned Parenthood and NARAL, brought attention to the work of Jane's Due Process, and told anyone who would listen that when it comes to women's health, women should be the deciders.

When it came to her battle against cancer, our hero proved to be as vulnerable and human as the rest of us. But in her time here she showed the same courage battling cancer as she did battling injustices.

In the process, she made us proud to be Texans - prouder still to stand up for our beliefs, while never forgetting to laugh along the way. At Planned Parenthood we'll miss her, but thankfully we'll never be able to forget her even if we tried.

Heather Paffe
Political Director
Texas Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates