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Some participants in Susan G. Komen for the Cure events, like this run in San Diego, have reconsidered their support in the wake of a controversy over Planned Parenthood funding this week.
Fierce controversy over a policy that cut -- then apparently restored -- funding for Planned Parenthood by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity has left some longtime supporters of both groups feeling whipsawed by the fallout.
Fans who’ve worn pink ribbons and jogged in Race for the Cure runs and those who’ve supported women’s reproductive health services had mixed reactions following news Friday that Komen had agreed to amend criteria that would have barred Planned Parenthood from future grants.
Some Komen supporters said the organization had alienated them forever by cutting funding in the first place based on perceived political pressure from anti-abortion groups.
“It’s difficult for me to want to continue to support Komen now,” said Peg Callaway, 63, a lawyer from Omak, Wash. “It makes me mistrust the organization.”
As the Associated Press first reported Tuesday, Komen had adopted criteria excluding Planned Parenthood from future grants for breast-cancer screening because it was under government investigation, citing a probe launched by a Florida congressman at the urging of anti-abortion groups.
The decision was made in December, but became public this week, igniting a firestorm of protest. By Friday, Komen appeared to back off the plan, saying it would fund existing Planned Parenthood grants, and that the agency would be eligible for future grants. Some critics said it wasn't clear how the decision actually would affect future grants.
Still, Callaway remained suspicious.
“They’ve done a lot of damage to themselves,” she said.
Others, however, said that Komen’s quick reversal made them want to give an agency another chance. Dina Lalli-Bender, 47, of Laurel Springs, N.J., said she participated last year in a Race for the Cure event in Philadelphia in memory of close friends and family members lost to breast cancer.
“I’ll continue to do the run now,” said Lalli-Bender, a senior manager at a trade show labor firm. “Now that they’ve changed their minds, maybe they’ve seen that people were outraged by it.”
But avid Komen supporters who had been cheered by what they saw as a strong stand against Planned Parenthood were dismayed that the agency appeared to back off.
“I was very disappointed to hear that the decision was reversed so quickly,” said Rita C. Hruschak, 69, a retired nurse from Webster, N.Y. “It was barely warming up the griddle. The hope for a positive change to some good morals was lost too soon.”
She pointed to Planned Parenthood’s huge base of support -- including $3 million and 10,000 Facebook fans raised during the three days of the controversy -- as evidence that the agency could fund breast cancer screenings on its own. Planned Parenthood previously had received about $700,000 a year from Komen.
“So you know, they don’t really need Komen’s help or support,” she said.
In an informal msnbc.com poll Thursday, more than 6,000 respondents considered whether the controversy would alter their donations to either group.
Some 73 percent of people of took the poll said it would increase their donations to Planned Parenthood, while about 17 percent said it would increase funding to Komen. Nine percent of respondents said they don’t donate to either group.
Only 1 percent said they’d continue donating to both.
Has the Komen decision, and then apparent reversal, changed how you feel about the organization? Tell us on Facebook.
Related:
Komen backs off decision on funding cuts
Too little, too late for Komen, bioethicist says
Under fire, Komen CEO denies politics in Planned Parenthood cuts
Leave a Comment:
I'll never walk another step for this right wing Republican activist front. Oops sorry isn't good enough. Fire the Nazi vice-president, tell the TRUTH about why you did this, and maybe I'd reconsider... but there are too many other options for charity including breast cancer to give another dime or another drop of sweat to an organization working so openly and obviously AGAINST the interests of women. I'll give to those fighting cancer without a right wing hateful political agenda. I hate that I got scammed by these hypocritical frauds.
jonr
I agree with you, I am a republican but I do draw the line at a lot of their B.S, including telling women what to do with their own bodies and using charities as a political front!!
"Against the interest of women". Your tirade seems to come from both sides of your mouth. We have been harrased for years to donate to Komen to help to end the horrors of breast cancer. My mom was a survivor - twice. Being the oldest of her seven children, I cannot fathom how any rational adult could demand that a part of that life-saving fund be given to an organization that kills unborn childern. You and your ilk preach Choice, while, in most cases, the Choice (a bad one) was made several months before. Murder is Murder!
I think this just shows that the far right isn't quite as powerful as we are being led to believe.
bill - no one forces anyone to have an abortion. But, the person who has to make the choice is the woman. You and I are not privy to why anyone would choose abortion. I do not judge those who do. And, until everyone of you who scream "murder" has adopted all the homeless and needy children, you should keep your mouths shut. You're happy to let a child who is living die from hunger!
JonR What really came out about this organization is that only 17% goes to Cancer Research - where does the rest of the money go?
Non-profit organizations have guidlines they must adhere to, my son once was the Budget Director for the Ford Foundation and they had strict guidelines, at that time only 10% was allowed for administrative costs - I understand it might be 15% now
With Komen - where is the other 87% of their money going? When is the last time they were audited by the IRS Maybe they are the ones who should be under investigation
$500,000 a year for their vice-president? Wow how much does their President make?
Something does not sound right here
Bill. Can I ask how many kids you have adopted. And how many kids you would adopt, feed, or donate to so that they can all eat should a woman's choice become illegal? If you are not going to adopt some kids that are unwanted but forced. And donate to what will be massivly overcrowded orphanages, then your perception or murder is just that. At what point is something a living organism with a brain?
Pro Life/Choice. Whatever side of the fence you are on. Bottom line is all these Anti Aboortion missions come from the right. The same side that then says families should not recive entitlements and should not be required to help other families. Even those Libertarian Ron Paul nuts who support a man who says it should not be the governments responsibility to help a kid that is starving but that the local community could, but no one has to. So you care so much about life. But dont want to help starving kids. Make abortion illegal, And have how many more thousands of kids that cant be taken care of? I feel anyone who is against choice should be first ones donating to feed povered children and adopting them. Since obviously the parents thought they could not and that burden was forced on them
What ever happened to freedom of choice? If you choose not to support the S. G. Komen Group then fine. If you choose to have an abortion that is also fine. For those of you that are screaming murder, the choice is between the one making that choice and their maker. That is what freedom of choice is all about. People have the right to make bad decisions.
I really don't see why this even made the news. So what if they changed their minds.
Once you take that step into politics, you can't ever make it right again. Neutrality cannot be restored on such a high stress issue. Either you erred in the first place or you backed down when you shouldn't have; there is no longer a fence to sit on. You can no longer be trusted with my money.
Efforts by progressives regarding sex-education, birth control, and improving families and women's health have done more to reduce the number of abortions that occur than all the efforts of all the religious wingnuts ever.
Progressives have reduced abortions by over 1 million in 2011.
Banning abortions does nothing but drive it into the back alleys.
Actually getting out there and doing hard work in your community is what reduces the need for abortions and that is what progressives do.
.
No more contributions until that troublemaker from Georgia is FIRED !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Typical Republican organization MO. Say anything to get your vote or money then do what they want. Look at Romney, what hasn't he reversed himself on? Now they say it was not political. Do they really thing the American public is that stupid? Having said all that, they still need all the support they can get. We can only hope they have learned that politics has no place in peoples health. Cliff Stearns needs to go.
@Barbara Adams Jackson, #1.4
Well said, Barbara. Just where does Komen's money go? Shouldn't the vast majority of their money go into research to prevent breast cancer? Why are the salaries of SGK executives so high?
My wife of 37 years, a feminist, and a 12-year survivor from ovarian cancer surprised me a couple of years ago with this statement: "It is not in the best interest of SGK to find a cure for cancer because it would, then, put them all out of a job." She, obviously, views SGK as leeches whose hearts are not really in the right place.
After my wife's invasive surgery (her doctor didn't string her along with a "little here" and a "little there" over many months to glean as much money from us and our insurance company as other doctors appear to do--he aggressively attacked the cancer--cleaned her clock--and got all of the cancer) and aggressive chemotherapy followups, we did the walks for SGK and supported them with <3 and $ over the next decade. But over the recent years and upon closer look, something didn't seem right concerning SGK. We are not sure that SGK is in their "business" for a cure. SGK should be audited by an outside, unbiased entity to quell suspicions we have towards them at the moment. I don't buy their statement that Karen Handel had nothing or little to do with this recent SNAFU of pulling the plug on PP. Karen Handall should be fired and never hired by any organization, perhaps, other than a church.
Some 73 percent of people of took the poll said it would increase their donations to Planned Parenthood, while about 17 percent said it would increase funding to Komen. Nine percent of respondents said they don’t donate to either group.
Look for the same odds this November.
UnitedStates1776-Thanks for a great post. A perfect distillation your position and mine as well.
They get paid a half million a year to piss people off? I'd do it for half of that.
It would be very interesting to know what connections Komen's Vice President (from Georgia) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (from north Florida) have with each other.
Wouldn't be the first time the right has set up this kind of tag-team "gotcha".
Komen's "investigation" coverup was pretty hypocritical, given that another poster found this information the day the story broke:
I was just watching TV and saw the lame explanation from the Komem foundation stating that their decision to de-fund Planned Parenthood “WAS NOT POLITCALY MOTIVATED”. Apparently they think we’re all stupid what makes them believe that a lie will repair their now tainted reputation. I think it’s truly disgraceful when a charitable organization is used as a tool to advance a mean spirited right wing agenda. The so called “Conservative” movement in America has gone far beyond gutter politics to a place that defies definition. The GOP lost the 2012 election yesterday; they just haven’t realized it yet.
RADERFAN, I am sorry, but you are on the wrong side of the line. The only thing more important to the Republican Party than eliminating a women's right to choose, is ensuringg they do not have to pay taxes to support the country. Failure to recognize this will ensure they will control your (or your daughter's) body.
This issue goes way beyond abortion. The right's war on Planned Parenthood is a war against sex without procreation, a war on youthful sexuality. It would be so much easier to accept the position of the religious right if they were not also opposed to sex education and contraception. Their positions reveal this to be a war on sex. Religion vs. Sex, is a timeless struggle.
Planned Parenthood is so hated by the religious right because they provide education on sex and contraception to young women who have little or no correct information on the subjects, for FREE.
Do you know what happens when teenagers are not educated about sex and contraception? Bristol Palin happens.
Interesting text poll on my local radio station. They asked yes or no if you would consider still supporting Komen with your donations. It was 90% no and 10% yes after they reversed their decision. I think the average person is fed up with extremists on both sides controlling every aspect of their life.
Don't respond to ANY anti-abortionist that utters the words child-murder out of their mouth. They are insane people.
You CAN be ant-abortion and use the brain.
I'm not anti-abortion because I think it ISN'T a conservative ideal. Its a religious one. I want all religion kicked OUT of government, and preferably kicked out of charity that isn't directly a church.
There is no difference between the mythology of Greeks and Chrisitianity or Islam for me, except one of those three religions is actually dead. The other two should be, at least as far as anyone taking their mythological words literally only when it suits their needs.
Religion poisons everything.
Gee..People (Komen, Verizon, BAC etc.) have been able to make wrongs, RIGHT. Now, we need a "Citizens ANTI-Norquest Pledge Bill"?? If they signed that , they DON"T GET OUR VOTE! We need compromise, not GRIDLOCK?? "AX THE TAX CODE"
I don't believe the Komen group is going to restore funding for PP for one minute! These right-wing extremists don't do things because they are right or because they are logical - they are only backing down because they face extinction if they don't! You can bet they will find an underhanded, sneaky, and mean way to de-fund Planned Parenthood again... count on it!
RealAmericansFirst #1.17 Please reveal your source. I just did a google search and I am finding NO FEDERAL INVESTIGATION of KFC, YOPLAIT, CATERPILLAR .... Lucy, I think somebody is spreading some misinformation!!!
You're not looking very hard. For example, KFC is owned by Tyson:
"Tyson Foods Inc. Agrees to Pay $4 Million Criminal Penalty to Resolve Foreign Bribery Allegations
U.S. Department of Justice February 10, 2011"
There are certain organizations that reach out to the poor - they help finance schools and hospitals among other things. They help the locals who in turn, look the other way when the organization is performing in-ethical things - such as murder. I am talking about drug-lords,.... but the same applies to Planned Parenthood.
I supported Komen in the past - now that I know they partnered with Planned Parenthood, I will not give them another penny. My giving goes to support life, not death.
The above behavior by the right is hard to understand.
The right wing fights hard to protect fetuses...yet, once a person is born, those same "pro-life" people turn their heads and do little to sustain born human life. How many of these people foster, adopt or help needy children? Do they donate to charities that mentor youngsters and/or provide financial and social services to vulnerable children? If they were truly pro-life, there would be significantly less children in group foster homes, children waiting to be adopted and/or kids in abusive homes.
There are many minors in need of help and the right should be busy trying to assist these young people.
Komen has been exposed even further -- that it was 'highly political' and it was confirmed by the person involved: Ari Fleisher. I see this as 'Komen has expressed that PP 'can apply' for future grants' -- and we'll be doing this all over again while they find a new way to refuse them since this backfired so bad. That they secretly hired Ari Fleischer to do the work -- why when the CEO of a Non-Profit Charity is getting paid almost a half million -- to do what?? Someone's not qualified? They were just trying to 'keep their hands clean', to pretend they didn't know about it? FAILURE.
"Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for George W. Bush and prominent right-wing pundit, was secretly involved in the Komen Foundation’s strategy regarding Planned Parenthood. Fleischer personally interviewed candidates for the position of “Senior Vice President for Communications and External Relations” at Komen last December. According to a source with first-hand knowledge, Fleischer drilled prospective candidates during their interviews on how they would handle the controversy about Komen’s relationship with Planned Parenthood."
Fleischer’s relationship with Komen and the Planned Parenthood controversy was previously undisclosed. He confirmed to ThinkProgress his recent role in filling a key communication position at Komen. Fleischer stressed, however, another communications firm (Ogilvy PR) was retained by Komen to deal with crisis communications over the last few days and he has not been involved."
I'll also add there is a documentary film called 'Pink Ribbons' presently scheduled to show at 8 film festivals in the U.S. starting January 26th.
"One of the central issues in the film is the disease’s status as the poster child for what an activist deems “cause marketing,” a kind of microcosmic variation on disaster capitalism, rife with hypocrisy and awash in money. From car manufacturers to fast food companies to professional sports leagues, corporations have wholeheartedly embraced the effort — but many of the campaigns to raise money have done more for the companies than for the cause"
As many have posted across the internet these past few days -- it's the 'Pink Stink'. Cars, appliances, can openers, Sport teams, fast food companies etc., etc. - The cause has been used and abused.
The Komen topic is not over -- not by a longshot. It appears to me that Komen may have treated the 'Pink Ribbon' like Trump has with his name. He sold the rights to use his name on condos/hotels for a fee without having any involvement except for the name. It's like false advertising. Komen may very well have done the same thing -- sold the 'Pink Ribbon' to corporations to use -- for their bottom line profit. Add the too high salaries/benefits, administrative to the pot. It's just a non-profit Charity -- Really???
The link in my comment #1.30 about Ari Fleischer did not appear - I did not notice in time to edit.
Here it is. You will have to remove the underscores between :_/ and /_think and the brackets from around the dot (.) before org
http:_//_thinkprogress(.)org/politics/2012/02/03/418797/exclusive-ari-fleischer-komen-planned-parenthood/
They make it incredibily difficult to post a link
" ... Murder is Murder! ... "
And a self-righteous moron is a self-righteous moron. You don't want government telling you what you can and can't do. You don't want government interfering in you life. BUT you want to tell government that it can and how to do those same things in other peoples lives. Just because you think it's wrong. Or because you say that you can show where your God says it's wrong in your holy book of fiction.
You belief in a fictitious, all knowing, all seeing sky being kills women everyday. Any will kill even more if allowed to. That makes you a murder. And to quote you ....
"Murder is Murder!"
And if I remember correctly, murder gets you sent straight to your Hell. Enjoy your stay.
Oh, and keep your ignorant, bigoted religious beliefs out of my life. I only have one. And I don't need, or want you, or those like you screwing it up.
Now that SGK has reversed its decision will Karen Handall stand by her values and resign? Or will she say to hell with values and stick around for the check?
The TP/ Republicans remind of a bunch of bullies in a school yard. They'll fight like mad dogs to take away every right a woman has right up to the time they are stood up to with a loud resounding NO then they back off but still stick around to grab all the cash they can. Pitiful bunch of so called human beings.
Nothing like the libitards to think the rethuglicans are the only worthless party, take a good hard look at your own bunch of scoundrels unless you like to be uninformed and just plain dumb, which always seems to be the case.
To those who questioned where Susan G. Komen spent their money:
12% Administrative costs
8% Fundraising
7% Treatment
15% Screening
24% Research
34% Education
(2009-2010 report from their website)
I disagree with their politically motivated decision to stop supporting Planned Parenthood, and I will not be supporting them in the future, but it isn't right to suggest that they are mishandling funds or to use made up statistics to cast doubt on them. You weaken your argument against them by making up facts.
If SGK wants to play political games they should go right ahead. And start paying taxes.
I have to question their dedication to finding a cure, among other things, based on them suing other non-profits who used "their" 'Cure' slogan. Shouldn't they be proud instead? There is a serious disconnect in this organization and they should lose their tax-free status.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/komen-foundation-charities-cure_n_793176.html
Here is a great blog post I came across on Twitter last night. I highly recommend it.
http://butterbeliever.com/2011/10/22/i-will-not-be-pinkwashed-why-i-do-not-support-susan-g-komen-for-the-cure/
The reality of it all is that CANCER IS A BUSINESS. There will be NO cure coming from Big Pharma... EVER. SGK is nothing more than a capitalist propaganda machine which preys on the gullible and ignorant and does a great job at increasing the bottom line for companies all over the world w/their Pinkwashing campaign... of which not more than a PENNY on the dollar actually goes towards the bogus "cancer research" agenda.
You want to donate to cancer research ? DO IT DIRECTLY so you know ALL of your money is going towards it's intended purpose. Donate to a research facility or a medical school... but quit being duped by these sham lobbyist fronts who are scamming you out of your money and doing very little else for "the cause".
Bluelake #1.20 Religion vs. Sex, is a timeless struggle.
Religion is the prime tool of the Patriarchy to keep women as owned chattel whose reproduction men can control. Patriarchy views this as normal and moral. They hate Choice because then women are in control. Then throw on a large dose of authoritarian arrogance because God told them so.
The war with the religious right is a battle over America's real values of human dignity for all, which they fear very deeply. America is far from perfect, but we have to keep up the struggle against this rhetoric with diligence.
Give me liberty or give me death. ~Patrick Henry
A lot of folks share Ms. Callaway's sentiments because this was transparent from the start. To cut funding for another group whenever they are "under investigation" simply handed the checkbook to any elected federal official who, with a few other social conservatives, could change the status quo immediately by merely announcing an "investigation."
Their ends would be achieved before the opening gavel -- let alone before due process, a right to be heard, open public hearings, or accountability of any kind.
That should offend every American.
Cliff Stearns from Florida was the instigator of the "investigation" into Planned Parenthood. Write to him and tell him what a shmuck he is:
https://stearnsforms.house.gov/Forms/WriteYourRep/default.aspx
Elpea at 1.35 - I apologize if I used wrong numbers in any way. I have seen 3 slightly different sets now, and read that the figures shown near the top on Komen's site are different than further down in their accounting sheets. But I won't quibble whether it is 17% or 20% or 24% that they spend on research, since for me that is still too low. I imagine the number flucuates yearly. I simply don't like their marketing and advertising, and other tactics related to suing other charities, or what they consider to be research for a cure. I read one place that it was only 5.3% since one item really didn't qualify as "research". But it is up to each person to decide their own criteria when they choose to donate.
SGK lost me when I learned they sued other charities over the use of "for the cure" in their names. It stopped being about "the cure" as soon as SGK started worrying about protecting their "brand."
Equal parts disgusting and disappointing.
One organization is killing unborn babies and the other doesn't seem to know what it is doing. Can't you people find a better place to donate your hard earned money?
1% of planned parenthood funds are used on abortion. Just a fact
Actually, most PP's don't perform abortions. Most supply needed medical services at a fraction of the cost of an OBGYN and that is it. Gee, how horrible of them.
As for Komen, I was a long time supporter, until two friends with breast cancer educated me to how little they actually spend on research. Their advocacy and awareness campaigns are fine, but they don't seem to be in a race for the cure to anything.
One organization allows all women to have access to preventative health care, cancer screenings, birth control, and life options. The other wants to cure cancer without funding free cancer screenings and instead focuses on making tshirts to shoes to kitchen spatulas pink. Politics aside, any group that offers breast cancer (and any cancer for that matter) screenings to women who otherwise couldn't afford them in order to prevent cancers should be helped out by a group that aims to stop breast cancer. Planned Parenthood does a whole lot of good for the women in our country preventing pregnancy, cancer, STDs, and educating women to be healthier for the good of our country.
PP does a wide range of reproductive services for people who might not otherwise afford them, I know, I went there, even when I had insurance and donated to PP. I like how they give you factual information when you need it, since anti-choice people fling lies all over the place.
The abortions being performed aren't killing babies, because BABY is a term of endearment. If a woman is requesting an abortion, she's not requesting for her unborn baby to be killed, she's asking for her pregnancy to be terminated. You may not like abortions but they're legal, and PP has EVERY RIGHT to do the medical procedure, and women have every right to obtain the procedure, while being given factually correct information about the procedure. PP ALSO helps many women with prenatal care. They are for CHOICE, not one or the other.
djlemn
I realize facts don't matter when it comes to "Right Wing For Lifers" like yourself. You might want to try something new before you go posting anymore nonsense; it's called THE TRUTH.
tw1sted: "1% of planned parenthood funds are used on abortion. Just a fact."
I thought most supporters of Planned Parenthood were using the 3% number.
jrdrop - what I have heard is that 3% of what they do is abortion. 97% of what they do is other services. Maybe it only takes 1% of the money they receive.
Not a single baby has been killed by Planned Parenthood. Not one.
Heartlight3, thanks. That's what it is.
Everyone that advocates for abortion has already been born! I can solve 330,000 abortions last year by PP and any future abortions by the same women at a cost of $150,000. take a .50 shotgun shell. Insert it into a shotgun. Place it the abortion doctors hand. Then give the mother the same choice she is giving her child. If she is truly doing what is best for this child she will tell him to continue. Otherwise grow the Fuc$ up and raise your children or get spayed! ask a PARENT if they would lay down their lives to protect their children
You need to go to the Dr the next time you go out fking around ask him to shove one up your azz and let loose. A man is always guilty in the situation and usually refuses to help support a child so he doesn't want the child either, get it?
YES... I'll be making ALL of my donations directly to PLANNED PARENTHOOD from now on. You people are not PRO-LIFE ... pro-life would mean you would have to care about what happens to a child AFTER birth and the record shows that you all don't give a rat's ass about a child once it's born. You're all nothing more than ANTI-CHOICE... pure and simple. BTW... "murder" is a LEGAL definition and abortion is 100% PERFECTLY LEGAL despite what your warped definition of "values and morals" is. Those are YOURS and YOURS alone. Quit trying to invoke them on the MAJORITY of people who DO NOT SHARE THEM. You don't want an abortion... THEN DON'T HAVE ONE !!!
And you'd love to pull the trigger, wouldn't you. Brandon?
Brandon: when you give birth, then you can post here. Until then, go away and let the adults have a conversation.
Renee, trying to water down science isn't going to help your argument. Words have very specific meanings in medicine.
@Renee you're ignoring something that is a critical factor in this debate and that is, for the bulk of the time the blastocyst--->embryo--->fetus is developing from one stage to the next, it is 100& wholly dependent on the woman's host body to live and the woman's host body is put at risk to support it's survival. It cannot, like a baby that has been born, support it's own ability to live by relying on another being to care for it.
You may also want to read up on gestational trophoblastic disease - the cells in question there fit the "pro-life" definition of baby you seem to accept.
Nothing to grapple about; Komen must remove Brinker from their organization if they intend to be taken seriously about being nonpolitical. No if's, or and about it; there will be no return of support to Komen until Brinker leaves. The lady lied and has damaged not only Komen but all those that have worked so hard in supporting this cause. There can be no middle ground.
Brinker is Susan G. Komen's sister! So it's prolly not going to happen.
Regardless, I don't a reason for anybody to support SGK, since they are now politically compromised.
Karen Handel needs to go!
Besides it's Handel, the fat ugly broad, who needs to be removed before there can be any credibility restored to Komen.
Uh....Brinker is the late Susan G Komen's sister........what's you NEXT idea?
Maybe remove Susan G. Komen, too. They removed Jobs from Apple, they can remove Susan and Brinker from Komen.
According to Komen Foundation they aren't political!! LOL
Why would they hire Ari Fleischer to interview & fill the position which led to hiring Handel?
Not political at all. See my comment at #1.30 and the link in #1.31.
Fleischer confirmed that he was involved in this!! See the quote and the link!!!
Uh, IMHO ... Susan Komen died from breast cancer. That's the reason why the "charity" was started.
judi 12.. - Komen will throw Brinker out the door as soon as it is clear that she is hurting their bottom line. In any other case it would be a sad reality. In the case of Brinker it is poetic justice.
How can you "restore credibility" when it was only an ILLUSION to begin with ? SGK is a marketing/propaganda machine operating under the guise of a "charity". I hope no one with a BRAIN ever donates to them again. It's a fraud and a sham that's been duping people for a very long time. NOW it needs to end.
I totally agree! It is sham...think about it, all that money they(SGK) has raised over the years...if half of it had gone into legitimate research either a cure would have been found or a definitive "there is no cure" answer would be reached........I encourage all people to not support SGK but to support med schools that specialize in Oncology.
Dear friends you should know that the woman who took koman to task was the director of komen in Denver and all owe her a great deal of thanks for her courage to stand her ground and oppose the national leadership ! don't know her name but it was her effort that help in the reversal !
djlemn-
stick it in your ear! I take it you want to go back to the dark ages when women had no rights?
I want to go to a time when the unborn babies rights are as important as the womans rights. Is it wrong to want to protect something as innocent and vunerable as an unborn baby?
djelmn - You want to go back to the time in post #1.12. Even one of Mitt Romney's relatives wasn't rich enough to avoid dying from the abortion prohibition back then.
Is that what you really want?
djlemn...........so it's OK that a woman dies from lack of diagnosis and thus treatment for breast cancer? Those who go to Planned Parenthood for breast exams can't afford to go elsewhere!
jijemn - You and all your knowledge surely are aware the United States ranks 15th in infant mortality or is it you just don't care - just get them born and then let them die
One of the causes of infant mortality is lack of prenatal care - which Planned Parenthood provides for pregnant women
Oh one more fact you probably don't know PP provides Viagra for men
I think there are a lot of people here who are too young to remember what it was like and how many women died from illegal abortions in the time before Roe v. Wade. Women have been having abortions one way or another ever since sex was invented. They will either be legal and safe, or illegal and unsafe. That is the only choice. Making abortions illegal does not make them go away.
djlemn #5.1 You say, "unborn babies rights are as important as the womans rights." Would you also give your sperm rights equal to yours because it has the potential to become human? I refuse to consider something the size of a BB or lima bean to have rights equal to a pregnant woman.
djlemn #5.1 -- Good luck with that because there has never been a time when unborn babies' rights have been as important as the woman's rights. Our anti-abortion laws from before Roe v Wade were to protect women because there were so many deaths from abortions -- those laws had nothing to do with protectioning the rights of the fetus. That was before people understood about germs and cleanliness -- doctors went from one bedside to the next, sometimes having drained pus or otherwise dealt with nasty stuff and didn't even wash their hands. That caused all sorts of problems including an unacceptable death rate from abortion. That is no longer an issue and abortion is safe. Now, women's safety has become a political football and women lose because of it. The government needs to keep out of the issue other than to ensure safety standards. All the other crap they throw at the abortion issue is political and religious and has no place in government's response to women's health issues.
djlemn
Please read a bit of history before you go spouting your nonsense.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_abortion
In the United States, abortion laws began to appear in the 1820s:
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/abortionuslegal/a/abortion.htm
Even the Catholic Church has NOT always been against abortion:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_hist.htm
THere's no such thing as an "unborn baby". Technically this is a fetus, not a baby, not a person until AFTER it's born... at which point so called "pro-lifers" don't give a damn WHAT happens to it.
Reread my post - I didn't say I wanted to go back to a time, I said I want to go to a time when the unborn babies rights are as important as the womans rights.
And... You can call it a fetus, you can call it a pregnancy, you call it anything you want - bottom line is that it is a created life at conception and therefore has every right to live just like the rest of us.
djlemn -
In the Bible, God says a person should not be considered "alive" until they are one month old. He also performs tens of thousands of abortions, and orders priests to test a woman's fidelity by administering a blistering agent to see if it rots her uterus. God also says the punishment for causing an unwanted abortion in a woman should be a fine.
Nowhere does God specifically say that life begins at conception.
Why do you disagree with God?
God also said - Thou shall not kill/murder.
So I assume, then, that you are anti-war and anti-death penalty?
Komen's feeble attempt to put political ideology over women's health melted in the light of day like a vampire in the sunlight. Fact: PP saves thousands of lives as a result of mammograms. Roe v. Wade is a right that women can decide what they want to do with their bodies-period. I have an idea-if people want to overturn Roe v Wade, then they should volunteer to be put on a list for mandatory adoptions. I haven't heard this offered from any right to lifers
Great Idea, Filthy Cun7. I'll sign up now that I know Obummer will give me foodstamps and housing. I got NO problem with the free-bees. I Love my "George Bush" 53" LCD flat screen and the Sony 5.1 sound system. If I can only get Obummer to approve my 125% loan guaranteed home loan I'll be able to get that new car I need to get my newly adopted baby to the FREE clinic for some free drugs. Life is so close to being SO SO GOOD. Ya just gotta LOVE America. Don't Ya??? I KNOW I DO.......
CanusayOhYea - what a totally ignorant post. It says so much more about you than it does whatever it was you were posting against.
oh yea-rascist coward.
CanUsay ... Noticed the "clever" change of FilthyCur's name to one that includes a pejorative for a woman or a specific part of her anatomy. I don't think the "7" at the end will fool anybody - especially the moderators. I've reported you and hopefully others have as well since you do not seem to be operating under the TOS to "above all, respect others".
This is taken from Leo Strauss. The mass's need to be fed lies. Wrap them in religion, or the threat of war so the citizens will do nothing but conply. This is a basic tenent from Nazi Germany and Goebels.
Ther is also a book on "The banality of evil", which explains why the far right are so eager to comply with the neoconservatives. Taking away womens rights is one of many sales pitch's put forth by these people.
CanUsayOhYea, you're suspended for a week for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
...
dave-sunny so.cal, you're suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
Hey Sheeple. Wake up. They need to prop up the donations at PP. What better way than to create a crisis at PP and have the sheeple in this country cough up a lung for them. Marketing 101 strikes again. But I got to say, I love all you cool-aid kids. What would we do without you. You make me want to be a "Bernie" Madoff". Fools and their money need to be parted... Pathetic...
And the conspiracies against the right just never seem to end - IN THIER MINDS
When the facts won't work for advancing your agenda keep trying the BS. Only problem, most the people have begun to sort out and know the difference between the two.
You're right. It's so awful that this organization that provides healthcare services to people at little to no cost is getting donations. What is this world coming to? /end sarcasam
Actually, I am so far right I'm looking at my left shoulder. It's not a conspiracy against anything but low donations. It is brilliant left wing marketing. They get front line National exposure to their cause and PP gets $3million+ donations in the last 3 days. Open your eyes amp. Keep it on the money trail and you will see the truth...
Damn dude, your so smart. You just gave me a raging clue, now only if you could get one.
CanUsay
I AM looking at the money trail, and it shows that whatever Komen started as, it is now just another "big business"interested only in how much money it can suck in. It has plans on how to minimize the out flow of grants so it can keep more for the higher-ups of the company. In six months or a year, they'll try to quietly stop PP and probably several other grants again, with the aid of Karen Handel.
If they wanted to get back in the good graces of people they'd have fired her. So, I guess YOU'LL have to support Komen in the manor they want to stay accustomed to. But you probably still have your first dime. LOL
Can-
I am stunned...STUNNED I say, to discover you figured out how to operate a keyboard. Bet you had help though.
I am no longer supporting SGK. My donations and support will go directly to Planned Parenthood.
You stupid ass!! All you are doing is killing future democrats. Keep up the good work. PP gets my donation!!!
brandon - your mother said your hotpockets were ready and to come up from the basement
brandon will be gone on Monday (and good riddance - so will canusay)
No more donations from me!
What's worse:
A. Men lying to women;
B. Women, marching to the fore with the Komen banner, STILL lying to everyone;
C. It's a tie.
I would not want a daughter of mine to follow the Komen role model of continuing deceit. If any man gave her the Komen Treatment, she should march him right out the door--no second chances. I am proud trust and integrity come first among women in my family, daughters-in-law too.
Komen may find employee disillusionment and distrust sparks a new program:
THE KOMEN RACE FOR THE DOOR
Hey, if they can use tax dollars taken from me against my will for wars where people are killed then they have no right to say that tax dollars (or charity) can't be used to kill babies if their mothers find it convenient! You go girls!
This matter concerns the support, or undermining, of breast cancer screening for early detection of breast cancer. It may also involve women's health such as cervical cancer screening, or primary care. Komen and federal funds are not used for any purpose you seek to ascribe. Political twisting and distortion of the issue here (such as your broadside) was part of the undoing of Komen in this fiasco. Despite what you say, the rationale of the "investigation" was never the real reason (as Komen was forced to admit after lying about it).
What would Susan G. Komen, dead at 36, have said about this course of conduct and the compromise of hard-fought credibility of an organization bearing her name? Because there still is no cure--the purpose after all--we can only guess.
No need to worry about your tax dollars I think PP is going to have plenty of their own money to do what ever they please with.
Up to 2011, it was unthinkable that women would betray women on critical issues of women's health such as breast and cervical cancer screening--and lie about the reason.
Happy New Year.
Women have been betraying women for a long time. Some women criticize each other's parenting, ostracize those who dare to breastfeed in public (or at all sometimes), have a huge lack of sympathy for so many plights women find themselves in...nope, that is nothing new. It's just another topic to add to the list.
How about we all support each other instead of bashing and criticizing, fellow women? We need each other.
As if the Government hasn't been telling us since time began what we can and can't do with our bodies. When was the last time you saw a working girl not be harassed? Pathetic... Roe V Wade's got nothing to do with it. It's about keeping the people down so the few can have the m_ney.... Pathetic..
I proudly stand with PP. Donated to PP tonight and plan to do it every year now. The majority will not bow to the extremist right wingers.
Watermoon: On this, we agree :)
-- VS.
I am a man, and as a Man I have no opinion of Abortions. I'll let woman decide among themselves what is right or wrong. As for Planned Parenthood, even if their founder was a racist Nazi supporter, I think they do good work(now). They provide a lot more than just abortions, and give people (especially young people) a safe place to go.
when you use the term that the founder was a racist nazi supporter, you display your ignorance. sanger worked with blacks in harlem (especially the founder of the NAACP- DuBois). do some reading
They showed their true colors! And it's not pink. Sad. But they're off my contribution list.
Hope the Florida Congressman takes a hit as well.
No more contributions until that troublemaker from Georgia is FIRED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would expect her resignation early next week.
What I am happy to see is that the citizens who have quietly supported a womans right of reproductive freedom, stood up in force and very vocally to show their feelings. I hear so much from the ones that would deny the rights of women when they bar access to Planned Parenthood and other clinics that provide necessary medical assistance of all kinds. I always knew that many more quietly support PP in the background and I was thrilled to see the masses step up and declare that we won't let the silly FAR RIGHT loonies make these decisions for us! Keep sending money to Planned Parenthood!
Here here ...I sent in my $200 two days ago and will do at minimum that much every year from now on.
Very sad. Very pathetic. Very stupid. However, I feel better seeing people SGK on notice!! And every small donation to PP makes a difference.
And here I thought it was all about curing breast cancer. Time to move on to a charity with an honest objective...
Well done Komen. You made me get off my fat ass this morning and go round to Planned Parenthood and give them a big check.
There are many fine comments here about the ethical and moral error of cutting off Planned Parenthood. Ignoring the ethical issue for the moment and focusing on the practical issues leads me to ask: What were they thinking? Did they listen to an argument from Ms. Handel and not consider the consequences? Do they have a Marketing Manager? Did they consider the likelihood that the vast majority of their contributors are pro-choice? I cannot think of a more poorly considered decision by a major organization in recent years.
And the answer is no. They thought like many others that the evangelical right and their war on abortion and birth control is much bigger than it is. They also forgot that liberals give with their hearts, and a move like this would have an impact on their corporate sponsors. No corporation wants a boycott of their products, and this is why they changed their minds temporarily. They really like their six figure salaries.
and IF their donations drop, they might even give less - right now it's 58 percent overhead so only 42 goes "out". That's almost as low as some scam fund raisers. They won't lower salaries for sure...
duplicated somehow - deleted
I think Komen supporters need to understand that there is a bigger management issue here that supersedes even the contentious Planned Parenthood/abortion thing. I believe that a lot of those who supported their decision with regard to PP are sincere and feel very strongly about this issue. However, in terms of providing financial support for an organization, it's important to also consider the credibility and strength of their leadership before entrusting funds to them. Komen mismanaged their obligation to protect the organization in such an appalling way that they have demonstrated fatal incompetence. It's possible that with a little skill and some basic PR savvy, they could have gotten what they wanted without the backlash. Instead, they took an issue that was bound to be contentious and threw gasoline on the flames all by themselves--this was a totally self-inflicted injury. There are two ironclad rules for cause-oriented organizations:
1. Don't politicize your mission, and
2. Never, ever under any circumstances politicize your mission
It's pretty simple stuff, but Komen failed to get the memo and this is the outcome. Donors to breast cancer or any other cause don't care about the personal beliefs or political agendas of an organization's board members, nor should they. Their support is for the work of the org in furtherance of its mission. Abortion prevention is not within the scope of Komen's mission. Komen either needs to amend their mission to clearly include this if that's what they intend to do, or stay out of it entirely. They can't have it both ways, collecting donations for one stated mission while instituting internal policies in support of a different 'secret' mission. Given their charter, making political statements about abortion prevention by withdrawing support from providers is extraneous to their mission. By announcing a policy in violation of their mission to support a political position that is not officially part of their mission, they very publicly violated their own charter. Dumb, much? Then they doubled down on the damage by pretending it was not politically motivated when it clearly was, adding insult to injury to donors who were already feeling a bit 'baited and switched.'
Regardless of how you feel about the specific issue addressed by their policy, there is no question that Komen's board handled this incompetently at best, and at worst violated public trust and possibly state and federal laws forbidding nonprofit's to have conflicts of interest or engage in (excessive) political lobbying. They failed in their governance, which should raise serious questions for supporters about whether they want to entrust donations to people who seem unable to properly manage themselves. If they continue to behave in a reckless manner, i.e. using millions of donated dollars to sue other nonprofits and politicizing their mission, any donations to them will have diminishing returns as crisis management and attorneys fees to cover their own self-inflicted wounds will take up increasing chunks of the budget. Until they clean house at the top, there is no assurance their dreadful PR blunders of the past few years won't continue unabated.
Michele at #25.4 - Very nice analysis. You clarified some of my thoughts by squaring it up nicely and keeping it objective. Thanks!