WH leaves Dem membership on Planned Parenthood panel to Pelosi

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A White House spokesman said President Obama is leaving Democratic participation in a new, controversial investigative committee up to House Democratic leaders, but said the president is dubious about the new panel's value.

"I think of all days for Republicans to stand up another selection committee, they picked a very special one," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said on Friday, noting that out-going Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, formed the committee to examine Planned Parenthood a day after another controversial committee, the Select Committee on Benghazi, grilled former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for 11 hours to not much success.

"Again, we're going to leave it to Democrats in the House of Representatives to decide if they want to participate," Schultz said. "That was our approach in May of 2014 when the speaker decided to stand up to the Select Committee on Benghazi. I'm going to say that because I'm not sure that yesterday you really gleaned a serious sense of purpose from Republicans who conducted that hearing."

Schultz said that Thursday's marathon hearing underscored House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's gaffe that the Benghazi panel was formed strictly to embarrass Clinton and thwart her presidential aspirations.

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