UPDATED: Komen just announced that they are reversing their decision to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood. Good decision, but now CEO Nancy Brinker should fire Nancy Handel, then resign herself for this political decision.
You've probably heard by now that breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen Foundation recently terminated its long time partnership with Planned Parenthood purportedly because PP was "under investigation". The "under investigation" excuse is from a new rule Komen put in place to supposedly "improve how grantees are selected." Nancy Brinker, the founder and CEO of Komen, denied that their decision to cut breast cancer screening funding to 19 Planned Parenthood affiliates was political.
So what's really going on here? Well, it's not pretty. Komen recently hired a new senior vice president of public policy, Karen Handel. Who's that, you ask? She's a right wing Republican and former Georgia Secretary of State who ran for governor on an anti-choice platform. One of her public positions, of course, was de-funding PP just like Congressional Republicans are trying to do. She has vilified PP, ignoring the critical work it performs providing health care to poor women. But I digress. Soon after joining Komen, the foundation implemented a new rule for "evaluating" which organizations to which it would grant funds. This new rule denies funding to any organization "under investigation" by any local, state, or federal authority. Well, we all know that PP is the favorite punching bag of the right wingers in Congress and that anti-abortion zealot, Cliff Stearns (R-Fl), has an ongoing investigation into if PP has used federal funds for abortion, which, of course, it hasn't. Using the "investigation" (read witch hunt) as an excuse, Komen cut off funds. The Atlantic is reporting that 3 sources with direct knowledge of the new rule confirmed that it was established specifically to target PP. Brinker, of course, is all over national television now, denying what we all know is true. After the decision to cut PP funding, Komen's top public health official, Mollie Williams, immediately resigned. More resignations have been following.
Responding to this political (and stupid) decision better than I ever could is Linda, who made a powerful youtube video that has now gone viral. She concludes her statement by saying, the "Foundation has shown your ass. Now you can kiss mine." Brave lady. Have a look (warning: don't watch if you are squeamish. It's graphic):
My mother is a two time survivor. She survived because of early detection and great medical care. Cutting off screening for women who can't otherwise afford it is hateful and heartless.
Here's a message from the Daily Hurricane to Nancy Brinker: Stop talking. Nobody believes you. The decisions by you to hire Nancy Handel, make a new rule to target Planned Parenthood, and then cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, were purely political intended to mollify your supporters/staff who advocate hate and ideology over women's health. You should first be ashamed of yourself, then reverse your decision, fire Handel, and resign. Those are the only decisions you can make to calm the firestorm of justifiable criticism that you caused.
If you agree, contact the Susan G. Komen foundation and tell them what you think. If you donate to the Komen, you might consider withholding any further support until they change this decision.
You can also donate to Planned Parenthood to help.
You've probably heard by now that breast cancer organization, Susan G. Komen Foundation recently terminated its long time partnership with Planned Parenthood purportedly because PP was "under investigation". The "under investigation" excuse is from a new rule Komen put in place to supposedly "improve how grantees are selected." Nancy Brinker, the founder and CEO of Komen, denied that their decision to cut breast cancer screening funding to 19 Planned Parenthood affiliates was political.
So what's really going on here? Well, it's not pretty. Komen recently hired a new senior vice president of public policy, Karen Handel. Who's that, you ask? She's a right wing Republican and former Georgia Secretary of State who ran for governor on an anti-choice platform. One of her public positions, of course, was de-funding PP just like Congressional Republicans are trying to do. She has vilified PP, ignoring the critical work it performs providing health care to poor women. But I digress. Soon after joining Komen, the foundation implemented a new rule for "evaluating" which organizations to which it would grant funds. This new rule denies funding to any organization "under investigation" by any local, state, or federal authority. Well, we all know that PP is the favorite punching bag of the right wingers in Congress and that anti-abortion zealot, Cliff Stearns (R-Fl), has an ongoing investigation into if PP has used federal funds for abortion, which, of course, it hasn't. Using the "investigation" (read witch hunt) as an excuse, Komen cut off funds. The Atlantic is reporting that 3 sources with direct knowledge of the new rule confirmed that it was established specifically to target PP. Brinker, of course, is all over national television now, denying what we all know is true. After the decision to cut PP funding, Komen's top public health official, Mollie Williams, immediately resigned. More resignations have been following.
Responding to this political (and stupid) decision better than I ever could is Linda, who made a powerful youtube video that has now gone viral. She concludes her statement by saying, the "Foundation has shown your ass. Now you can kiss mine." Brave lady. Have a look (warning: don't watch if you are squeamish. It's graphic):
My mother is a two time survivor. She survived because of early detection and great medical care. Cutting off screening for women who can't otherwise afford it is hateful and heartless.
Here's a message from the Daily Hurricane to Nancy Brinker: Stop talking. Nobody believes you. The decisions by you to hire Nancy Handel, make a new rule to target Planned Parenthood, and then cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, were purely political intended to mollify your supporters/staff who advocate hate and ideology over women's health. You should first be ashamed of yourself, then reverse your decision, fire Handel, and resign. Those are the only decisions you can make to calm the firestorm of justifiable criticism that you caused.
If you agree, contact the Susan G. Komen foundation and tell them what you think. If you donate to the Komen, you might consider withholding any further support until they change this decision.
You can also donate to Planned Parenthood to help.
I actually began my personal boycott of all things "pink" related to SGK about 8 years ago, when I learned that they would sue other charities for having the "gall" to use phrases such as "for the cure" or "for a cure" in their fund-raising. Don't all charities for cancers/diseases/illnesses want a cure? Why should SGK be the only ones allowed to use "cure" in their fundraising?
Better yet, why should SGK use some million dollars a year of donations protecting this trademark? Couldn't that money be spent better elsewhere?
Ya know. This woman is me. I went through this nightmare 12, almost 13, years ago.
If you haven't been through it you really don't get it. You can talk about it, but until you look in the mirror, you just don't freakin' get it.
This is the first time that I have EVER seen someone else speak the words that I feel
Cancer sucks. Breast cancer maims you.
Do you suppose Nancy Brinker ever thought about how her own sister would feel about this?
I have both contacted the Komen Foundation today and 'reported misconduct' on their site, and donated to PP.
Take action or this kind of crap will perpetuate.
Exactly. It is the ONLY way I will EVER have anything to do with Susan G Komen again. After all, with all the pink merchandising and the high percentage of "administrative costs" this "charity" has come to in the last 10 years, it was already apparent that Ms. Brinker's merchandizing of her sister's illness and death, was not so much for breast cancer "cure" but as a means for a certain lifestyle and celebrity. Tacky. Tacky. Tacky.