Komen Cuts Planned Parenthood Grants Months After Arrival Of New VP, Who Is Abortion Foe

[deminks]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/komen-planned-parenthood-cuts-karen-handel_n_1245568.html?ref=mostpopular

Breast cancer charity giant Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Tuesday did not renew a grant to Planned Parenthood to fund breast exams. The move comes less than a year after Komen hired a new vice president, who has publicly stated her opposition to abortion, a service provided at some Planned Parenthood facilities.

Komen's new vice president, Karen Handel, had run for governor of Georgia in 2010 on an aggressively anti-abortion and anti-Planned Parenthood platform and was endorsed by Sarah Palin because of her opposition to reproductive choice. Handel wrote in her campaign blog that she "do[es] not support the mission of Planned Parenthood."

"During my time as Chairman of Fulton County, there were federal and state pass-through grants that were awarded to Planned Parenthood for breast and cervical cancer screening, as well as a 'Healthy Babies Initiative,'" Handel wrote. "Since grants like these are from the state I'll eliminate them as your next Governor." She also wrote that she opposes stem cell research and supports crisis pregnancy centers, which are unregulated, Christian-run operations whose main mission is to convince pregnant women not to have abortions.

After Handel lost the gubernatorial primary, Susan G. Komen for the Cure named her to be its senior vice president in April 2011.

(end snip)

The GOP War on Women continues. Komen will no longer get a cent from me.

[Justice wanted]

1. They lost my support.

[FarPoint]

4. They definitely lost mine as well.

The new VP is changing the charity from breast cancer cure to anti-abortion...They should disband the charity if this continues. Misrepresentation ...and fraud....

[AlbertCat]

36. changing the charity from breast cancer cure to anti-abortion

The anti-logic.... a black hole of stupidity!

This new VP seems to think this charity is all hers. And what exactly does breast cancer have to do with abortion? And, of course, one wonders if this new VP actually believes abortions are "what Planned Parenthood does". If she's stupid enough to fall for GOP lies, is she qualified to be in the hierarchy of such a charity?

Get rid of her.

[obamanut2012]

37. Especially since PP does mainly pap smears and mammograms

ie cancer screens.

[SharonAnn]

32. And mine too. I thought they had sold out to corporations, anyway.

[gademocrat7]

2. I will not send them money.

[SpankMe]

43. Don't just boycott. Also write to companies that sell pink.

I wrote an email to Nikon objecting to their sales of the pink version of their new Nikon 1 J1 camera, where they donate a part of the sales proceeds from that version of the camera to Komen.

Anti Planned Parenthood hysteria is nauseating. Lately I've been changing my charitable donations from proactive interests to defensive interests. I'm switching my finite resources from environmental and educational causes (a couple of my areas of interest) to Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center, NPR/PBS, etc.

Republican fuckstains are winning. The America we knew as kids is over. Completely over.

[ananda]

5. I sent them an email . . .

. . . at this address:

[e-mail]

Subject line: Shame on you...

Message: ... for abandoning breast cancer screening for poor women.

Re-fund Planned Parenthood immediately!

[dembotoz]

13. thanks for the email address

i used it

[Botany]

15. thanx for the email address

Need an answer sooner? Try calling our hotline, which is open Monday-Friday
9a-5p CST, excluding holidays: 877-465-6636 x2202

[democrat_patriot]

26. Thanks! Emailing now

Withholding ALL assistance until this is changed.

[Raffi Ella]

29. thanks, ananda.

[onestepforward]

42. Sent them a letter

Thanks for the email!

[gerimay]

64. Thanks

Also, saying thanks for the e-mail address. I do intend to write them, and never donate again.

[Riverman]

67. Supported and Now Dumped Komen

Sent an email todayed and told them no more money from me and unsubscribed. Been an above average donator for several years,supporting a friend whose Mom died young of breast cancer for walks in several cities. No more.

[Javaman]

6. I'll be very impressed if Komen survives another year with this move. nt

[livetohike]

7. I regret ever supporting them

How Komen could ever choose Karen Handel for the position is the first problem they have.....this is sad.

[gerimay]

65. YES

I agree - why did they ever choose this right-wing ideologue as VP. I am totally disgusted with Komen. Never will I give another penny to them. Who knows where our donations have gone before this news came out. I do really want my money back. I don't want to support this crazy pro-life crowd, and I really resent it that we have been mis-lead in this way. I think this is fraud!!!

[livetohike]

72. I agree. When we lived in CA, my sister participated every year in

the Walk for the Cure. I even applied for a job with them! Such a huge disappointed. Well, I sent an e-mail to them and will take every opportunity on Facebook, e-mail or whatever to deride this organization.

[myrna minx]

8. They are removing their support for the most vulnerable and most in need of it.

this is so disturbing. I'm so sick of people's mortality being used as political bargaining chips to advance an agenda. I guess Komen Inc is big business and only for those who can afford the diamond jeweled encrusted pink ribbon pins and not for the most vulnerable among us. What a race to the bottom.

[Balderdash]

52. Well said! nt

[LynneSin]

9. I will never EVER give another dime to the organization

Shame on them!

[MoonRiver]

10. As a breast cancer survivor, I am disgusted.

Now poor women and women without health insurance will find it even harder to get mammograms, the test that probably saved my life.

to Komen.

[GodlessBiker]

40. More power to you! My aunt didn't survive, and she would be disgusted with Komen's action here.

[dembotoz]

11. no more support from me

[Yavin4]

12. I Have Given Them Over $1100 in the Past 2 Years

No more.

[rusty fender]

23. Mike Malloy was talking about this last night

He reports that the Komen CEO makes half a million $/yr. Maybe that's where your money goes?

[leftynyc]

14. Komen has lost me as a supporter for good

I've already written emails to the national and the local chapters. I've walked my last mile, attended my last silent auction - I will find another much more worthy place to put my time and money.

[obamanut2012]

20. Call up your local breast cancer center/women's health center

Some areas have a "wig fund" or "implant fund" to help women with costs people never think about, or even a taxi fund. All kinds of things people can do for breast cancer patients and their families on a local level.

I haven't donated to Komen for years, because they give 10% or less to cancer research, and their whole "pinkwashing" is nothing but greed (pink KFC buckets? REALLY, Komen?). Now, they are defunding an organization that often provides the ONLY place in some areas where girls and women without insurance can go to get pap smears, mammograms, etc.

Karen Handel is planning to turn Komen into an anti-choice org, a very well-funded one with a misplaced good rep.

[leftynyc]

46. Thanks for the ideas

I'll be sending an email to everyone in my address book explaining what I'm doing and why (none will be surprised). I'm spitting nails angry about this.

[laundry_queen]

58. I agree.

I stopped buying 'pink' stuff a few years back when I heard about how much really goes to cancer research AND how much the CEO made. It was disgusting. My dear aunt (by marriage) died of breast cancer and my cousin - her daughter - had a preventative complete double mastectomy and reconstruction in her 30's so she didn't get the same disease that killed her mother, grandmother and several aunts (I think my cousin tested positive for the gene). So, it is something that is near and dear to my heart, but these people are using their foundation as a way to make connections and therefore more money (1%ers probably). I agree - donate to local charities that help out women going through chemo and things like that. Donate to places that fund women's health. Stay away from greedy, anti-choice, Komen.

[Lightning_McQueen]

66. Komen has been confirmed a RIGHT-WING organization

Just a simple cursory glance of Nancy Goodman Brinker's donation records reveals all.

And Susan G. Komen was her sister.

I wouldn't even give them a penny or buy anything pink.

They never had my support since I learned SGK Foundation was a right-wing fraud.

[Sherman A1]

16. A thumbs down on them

[Borchkins]

17. ugghh

I sent a note, they won't get any more of my money.
B

[myrna minx]

19. Welcome to DU. What's the site about? I generally don't click blind links so a little info

would be helpful.

[obamanut2012]

22. It has nothing to do with anything on DU

It's spam.

[TalkingDog]

21. Is this spam or a malware uploading site?

Just wondering what it has to do with the thread.

(link goes to some sort of mock-up site)

[obamanut2012]

24. The former

[Iliyah]

25. Y'think

pro-lifers care about YOU after you are born, HELL NO.

[drmeow]

27. I e-mailed them at both

[e-mail] and [e-mail] (which is address the Red State Blog is giving out).

Here's my e-mail:

I will not donate 1 cent of money to Susan B. Komen for the Cure. Furthermore, I will GO OUT OF MY WAY to avoid purchasing "pink" products were some of the profits go to Susan B. Komen for the Cure and will write to the companies that participate in that promotion during NBCAM whose products I normally purchase and explain to them why I am boycotting their products during that period. I will not sponsor anyone who participates in a Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. In short, I will do everything in my power to ensure that not a single penny of my money ever comes anywhere near Susan B. Komen for the Cure. Instead every penny of money which might have possibly made it into your coffers, I will donate to Planned Parenthood.

I am disgusted and horrified by your hypocritical, anti-women's-health decision not to renew your grants to Planned Parenthood. Clearly the personal ideology of your vice president trumps the needs of thousands of low income women who rely on Planned Parenthood for their breast cancer screenings. Your actions indicate that you are clearly anti-women and you are not actually interested in curing breast cancer but are, instead, primarily interested in promoting reactionary policies which are dangerous to women's health.

I will fight you with every breath in my body.

[abq e streeter]

48. Outstanding letter. Thank you.

I hope you don't mind if I copy it and put it on facebook, attributed only to "a poster on one a political website I frequent".

[drmeow]

77. absolutely

Re-post where ever you like or think it will have an effect!

Thanks!

[Raffi Ella]

28. Yeah, Karen Handel can kiss my god damn ass, corrupt 'Good Ol Girl' that she is.

It's Incredible! that Komen would make her vice president. Fuck them. Not only will they not get a dime ever again from me but Planned Parenthood will get even more of my support.

[dbackjon]

30. No money from me, either

[proverbialwisdom]

31. Another epic fail.

Also, Komen has ignored the science on the role of the genetically modified food additive, rBGH, in increasing the risk for breast cancer. Why every American isn't aware of this and in an uproar over biotech food additives is beyond me.

http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=rbgh+breast+cancer&psj=1&oq=rbgh+breast+cancer&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=5351l13996l0l14209l22l22l4l9l13l0l470l3220l2-2.4.3l9l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=9fc555e179c890b0&biw=1619&bih=683

http://www.purefood.org/rBGH/rach598.htm

Unconscionable.

[prairierose]

33. Komen foundation has never gotten any support from me...

They along with most of the other "cancer research" charities have made very little progress for the past 30 years. And they do very little to help people with cancer who may need help.

I hate the tyranny of pink. For months on either side of October, we are subjected to pink ribbons every where. Has there been any improvement in breast cancer outcomes? Has there been any improvement in breast cancer detection? Do these research foundations support universal healthcare? NO,NO, NO.

But the most telling item was when the Komen foundation refused to acknowledge the growing research that connects BPA and other environmental toxins with breast cancer.

http://motherjones.com/environment/2011/09/breast-cancer-komen-bpa

And then there is the little problem of some of the products they sell for fundraising....

http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/?p=1319


I have also long wondered about the actual amount of money that goes for research from fundraising.

So this information is just another reason for me to not like this foundation because Planned Parenthood has helped me over the years and I know their history and how much money goes for programs and how much for admin. I will continue to contribute to Planned Parenthood and continue to ignore Komen.

[tammywammy]

34. Tyranny of pink

Tyats a great way to put what happens every October. I've never donated to Susan G Komen, but I'll just have to up my donations to PP.

[obamanut2012]

39. Exactly -- support local breast cancer orgs instead

Komen is nothing but BIG BUSINESS. It's like Monsanto acting like an organic farm. I loathe them.

[proverbialwisdom]

50. FYI: "Semper Fi - Always Faithful" (new Sundance documentary available for streaming @ Amazon) ties

contaminated water to the largest known male breast cancer cluster in the US, among other illnesses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semper_Fi:_Always_Faithful

Semper Fi - Always Faithful

Semper Fi: Always Faithful, is a documentary film about the Camp Lejeune water contamination. The film made the 15 film short list for consideration for a 2012 Academy Award for best documentary feature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Lejeune_water_contamination

Imagine, if renowned groups like Komen broadened their advocacy to bring pressure to bear upon Congress, maybe Lautenberg's Safe Chemicals Act, which would reform the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), would finally pass and the bills associated with the film cited above.

http://www.eenews.net/public/EEDaily/2011/12/14/3

Lautenberg still vowing to hold TSCA reform markup, but the calendar is no ally

Jeremy P. Jacobs, E&E reporter
E&E Daily: Wednesday, December 14, 2011

[zipplewrath]

35. Probably time to start communicating to sponsors as well.

Probably a good time to start complaining to their sponsors as well. I notice Kitchen Aid is associated with them. Some simple emails suggesting they stop supporting this politicially leaning organization would put the fear of God in 'em.

[ZenLefty]

38. "We are so close to finding a CURE!"

(All we need is more donation money.)

I've heard Komen say that over and over for a long time. I'm pretty sure it's not really true, but I still donated money because I felt it did some good somewhere and somehow. Now, it looks like planned parenthood needs my donations more and I only have so much to go around.

[Permanut]

41. Email sent.....

K & R, and thanks for the alert, deminks. The Komen Foundation has a huge "Race for the Cure" here in Portland every year, and many thousands of people participate. I'll be spreading the word, and I'm betting there's going to be some backlash from Portland; bunch of lefties up here, also a bunch of cancer survivors, and a lot of Planned Parenthood supporters.

[onestepforward]

44. Nancy Brinker, the founder of Komen, is a Bush “Pioneer”

who gathered $100,000 for his campaign. She has also donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Republican candidates.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/31/susan-g-komen-charity-cuts-off-grants-to-planned-parenthood/

[obamanut2012]

47. That is verrrry interesting

[LiberalFighter]

45. Isn't the NFL part of their pink campaign?

Need to express our problem with Komen's decision on PPH and also the fact that only 10% or less is for cancer research.

[silverweb]

49. Alternatives to consider:

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]They are
(1) The Breast Cancer Site, and
(2) GoodSearch

For more than 10 years now, "click to donate" has been part of my morning while the caffeine kicks in and I like to think that over time that has added up to something of substance. The breast cancer donations go directly to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, not Susan G., and the 7 other worthy causes on the same site benefit from daily clicks, as well.

GoodSearch is a Yahoo-powered search engine that generates donations and allows you to choose which charity your donations go to. There are a whole slew of local and county Planned Parenthood organizations listed. The national organization, which sends money where it's most needed, is listed right at the top as "Planned Parenthood - Federation of America (New York)."

These are such little things and don't cost the individual anything, but multipled by millions of people participating, they can really make a difference. Both sites also have other ways to generate donations, from gift shops to shopping/dining.

Please consider using these easy, free methods to help support Planned Parenthood.

[librechik]

51. Don't tell me: her rationale is that abortions cause breast cancer, right?

can't tell you how many times I've heard that BS from RWers. I wonder if she's trying to float that in this case?

[sybster1000]

53. Komen's FB editor is busy today!

They deleted my post immediately. As a struggling student, I used PP for contraception, exams and counseling. The subject of abortion was never even mentioned. I was trying to be responsible and they helped me to do so. I have also called my local branch and the Dallas TX branch and left comments..no more $$$ for them! Women arise!

[w8liftinglady]

55. I am SO proud of you...Dallas is coming out strong against the Komen Foundation decision

http://www.dallasnews.com/incoming/20120131-dallas-based-komen-cancer-charity-halts-grants-to-planned-parenthood.ece

Hmmm...Considering 50% of Dallas females under 65 are uninsured,it's either Planned Parenthood or Parkland for women's health.These anti- human bastards would love to see both shut down.I sent dallas Planned parenthood a few bucks,too.

[frylock]

54. these assholes lost my support when they disclosed that they sue people for using the term..

"...for the cure." a portion of donations they receive are used to pay for lawyers that harass little girls selling lemonade, church groups holding bake sales, etc. fuck them. there are many more deserving charities out their that people can donate their time and money to.

[FloriTexan]

56. I just donated to PPH and sent an email to Komen...

"Shame on you for making women's health a political issue. I will no longer support your organization."

[FloriTexan]

57. Komen is now the 1% ...

Denying the poor breast cancer screening with a CEO who makes over $1 million!

[Old Guy and his pipe]

59. Dump the bitch!

Women should be able to get exams at Planned Parent hood since parenthood involves the breast for nursing a baby.

What does this bitch get off imposing her private agenda on another women's service group??

[saras]

60. It's important to see that this affects their reputation as widely as possible

Supporting them without knowing better isn't a mistake that we should let Americans make.

[madmax]

61. Signed a petition and

added my comment that they've lost my support and small donations. Also will not buy products that contribute to their Foundation. Went on to say PP provides much needed health services to poor women and very little (3%) involve abortions.

This war on womens rights is really getting out of hand. The next court maybe the do or die for Roe v. Wade. The very thought is unbearable.

[customerserviceguy]

62. It's more than just this

Any cancer-oriented organization that uses "for the cure" in it's name gets sued by the Komen mafia:

http://community.wegohealth.com/profiles/blogs/lawsuits-for-the-cure

I found this out months ago. Instead of using resources from Komen and the or the targeted institutions to actually fight fucking cancer, they divert money and time to silly-ass turf battles over the ownership of three ordinary English words. They lost my financial and moral support when I found that out.

Sometimes non-profit organizations collectively forget why they formed in the first goddamn place. Komen seems to be one of them.

[gerimay]

63. I Want My Money Back

I intend never to support Komen again. I never thought politics would get in their way to fight breast cancer. Today's news certainly changed my view of them. I will give my support to Planned Parenthood instead.

[Horse with no Name]

68. I just dissolved the team that I have participated in

in the memory of my best friend who died of breast cancer.
I will never again support SGK in any shape, form or fashion.
I will go out of my way not to purchase pink shit and I just put my pink ribbon scrubs in the trash.
This is so disheartening.
Handel was appointed by this foundation to serve a single purpose. She did the job she was paid by donor funds to do.

Now, they need to feel the backwash of what they have done.

I know I am not alone.

[CoffeeCat]

69. I bet Komen loses lots of dough over this...

Besides losing funding from people like us, who are disgusted with this political decision--they've
now tainted the Susan G Komen name and pink ribbon with their logo on it. Companies aren't
going to as freely place that ribbon on their products now. Controversy like this makes companies
nervous.

Now they've tainted their symbol--the pink ribbon with the Komen logo. It is on many, many
products. Companies don't want a symbol on their product that pisses off half of America.

This was a horrendous, awful move from a PR standpoint and also from a fundraising standpoint.

They'll lose so much money over this.

Moreover, think that the corporations that do carry that pink Komen ribbon on products. That ribbon
was there because of marketing relationships that were cultivated by marketing and PR executives from
Komen and manufacturing partners. Isn't that going to be just a tad bit difficult for Komen to
forge new partnerships with these manufacturers when many women work in high-level
marketing and PR positions in these large companies?

Just how many successful, corporate, female executives are going to be in a hurry to support
Komen now that they have done this to Planned Parenthood. They'll be shut out, by many.

Leave it to a staunch, rabid pro-lifer to not *think things through.* It's all about the emotional
appeal that sounds good at the moment. Don't bother thinking too hard about the reality.

I think this decision to hire this new vp was one of the worst HR decisions I've seen in a long time.

[SoCalDemGrrl]

70. You can also call them at 1-877-gokomen -I did and it felt good!!

[SoCalDemGrrl]

71. I have contributed for many years in honor of my friend, a survivor ,but NOT A CENT MORE....

This is absolutely one of the worst moves by Komen.

To politicize an organization that until now was thought of as in existence to help women

with breast cancer issues is beyond the pale.

I NEVER EVER thought that I would regret contributing to Komen and the 3 day Walk and runs that I have

done over the years in honor of a wonderful friend who is a 10 year survivor. But I certainly do now.

[johnlal]

73. If there is any doubt about Karen Handel's motivations...

Look at her Facebook page. It is filled with thanks and congratulations from pro-life supporters. She does not attempt to correct them or to clarify that this was not politically motivated or an attack against Planned Parenthood. It also appears that there are no critical comments from women's rights advocates, as there are on this page. Maybe Nancy and Karen can get together and get their stories straight.
https://www.facebook.com/karen.handel1?sk=wall

[stlsaxman]

74. How can we make an impact on grocery chains that support Komen with their "pink bag" campaigns?

There must be a way to let local grocery chains (Schnucks & Dierbergs here) that during their next Komen drive we will shop elsewhere.

Any groups working to that effect?

[stlsaxman]

75. a list of "Partners"

http://ww5.komen.org/Donate/CHCPartners.html

[EFerrari]

78. That should be an OP.

Thanks for the link!

[FloriTexan]

76. Not one mention on the local tv news about this...

last night nor this morning. Amazing! The Dallas Morning News (paper) has covered it.

[countryjake]

79. Kick!