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February 3, 2012 in News, Nation/World
Komen drops plan to cut Planned Parenthood grants
NEW YORK (AP) — The Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity on Friday abandoned plans to eliminate grants to Planned Parenthood. The startling decision came after three days of virulent criticism that resounded across the Internet, jeopardizing Komen’s iconic image.
“We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” a Komen statement said.
As first reported by The Associated Press on Tuesday, Komen had adopted criteria excluding Planned Parenthood from future grants for breast-cancer screenings because it was under government investigation, citing a probe launched by a Florida congressman at the urging of anti-abortion groups.
Komen said it would change the criteria “to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political.”
“We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants,” the statement said.
Karl Eastlund, president and CEO of the Spokane-based Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, said he was pleased to learn of the change of direction by Komen.
“Above all, we care about the ability to keep caring for patients,” Eastlund said. “To the extent that we can continue to offer that for low income women, we are very excited to keep that relationship moving.”
Many of Komen’s affiliates across the country had openly rebelled against the decision to cut the funding, which totaled $680,000 in 2011. One affiliate, in Aspen, Colo., had announced Thursday that it would defy the new rules and continue grants to its local Planned Parenthood partner.
In addition, Komen was inundated with negative comments via emails, on Twitter and on its Facebook page. Many of the messages conveyed a determination to halt gifts to Komen — organizer of the popular Race for the Cure events —because of the decision.
Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood was reporting an outpouring of support — donations large and small, triggered by the Komen decision, that it said surpassed $900,000.
Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, thanked those donors Friday and welcomed Komen’s change of heart.
“We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria,” Richards said. “What these past few days have demonstrated is the deep resolve all Americans share in the fight against cancer.”
Through the Komen grants, Planned Parenthood says its health centers provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and more than 6,400 mammogram referrals over the past five years.
Komen, in its statement, said it was immediately starting an outreach to its affiliates and supporters to get the charity back on track.
“We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue,” Komen said. “We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics — anyone’s politics.”
Spokesman-Review reporter Thomas Clouse contributed to this report
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opiemuyo on February 03 at 9:02 a.m.
So to paraphrase, they will continue to support infanticide.
PlanB on February 03 at 9:12 a.m.
Good to see Komen will continue to support women’s health issues and refrain from having the government violate the sanctity of a persons body.
Northern_kid on February 03 at 9:18 a.m.
opiemuyo - The funds are for mamograms (I probably spelled that one wrong) for poor women.
As for a women’s right to chose whether to have a baby or not, its her choice. Your religious beliefs and decisions are YOURs and not to be pushed on others.
I have to laugh at the Right who scream about Abortion but fight for gun rights, pro-war, and OK with Bush/Cheney’s torture tactics. The hypocrascy on the Right is just stunning and laughable.
greenlibertarian on February 03 at 9:27 a.m.
Whoopsie!
Decisions based on fundamentalist thinking ALWAYS gets trumped by the law of unintended consequences. Why is so hard for the fundies to realize this, happens time after time after time.
PP’s already made up the money and then some, they should go tell Komen Cancer © to go pound sand. Komen has soiled their own brand.
nottored on February 03 at 9:47 a.m.
I agree, those that want to support Planned Parenthood (and all that entails) should fund it.
Koman should grow a pair and do what they started out to do.
Dazzeetrader11 on February 03 at 9:48 a.m.
SO instead of spending on Mammograms, PP can use they money for abortion. Just a nice shifting of funds now that PP has it’s Mammo money back. It’s just the way life works. Soon though Komens will wish it had that money back. Never bend to terrorists…thugs from the left forced it out of the Komen group.
Feminist thugs….murdering women thugs.
Diana on February 03 at 9:54 a.m.
“We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.”
There’s the caveat for the coat hangar crowd. Don’t worry, those of you who know all there is to know about women’s health care. It’s still a political decision.
meadman on February 03 at 10:04 a.m.
well Dazeed….. the reason Komen made their initial decision to not fund PP was due to “bending to the terrorists” (your term) on the right…. amazing how when the left acts in some interest it it “leftie terrorism”, but when the right does virtually the same thing that is perfectly OK with you…. amazing and pathetic..!
nottored on February 03 at 10:09 a.m.
why is planned parenthood doing breast mamograms?
Can’t Koman help another group that does mamograms for poor women that doesn’t also do abortions?
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 03 at 10:17 a.m.
There policy was a bunch of crap anyways….they said they don’t donate money to organizations under federal investigation, yet they still donated money to Penn State University who is under federal investigation for covering up child molestation and rape.
It was clearly obviously they stopped donating to PP for purely political reasons and they never should have cut the funding to PP to begin with.
Nice to see women be able to get the health care deserves now.
Funny that people will now come on here and say Komen is just bending to the will of the lefties and pro-choice people……yet that is EXACTLY what they were doing when they choose to stop donating to PP. They were bending to the will of people on the right and anti-abortion groups.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 03 at 10:23 a.m.
I just have to know….the people against abortion and who want to make it illegal, you do know that even if abortion was illegal they would still be done, right?
Abortion has been around since the start of humans having babies and just because Roe v Wade is overturn doesn’t mean abortions would end.
So, I have to ask to the people who want abortions to be illegal, do you want to drive women to underground doctors, back alleys, shady basements in dangerous parts of town to able to have some illegal abortion preformed? Then, not only does you have a dead baby, you have a dead mother as well? Or if women cannot afford to go to an underground illegal doctor they will just stick a clothes hangar up in that area and preform their own abortion.
You know this will happen, because thats how it was done before Roe v Wade.
mikeln on February 03 at 10:34 a.m.
How about the feds doing a little investigating of koman. It would be interesting to see how much the people at the top of this charity think thier work is worth. Bet it’s eye opening.
Mr_Injustice on February 03 at 10:43 a.m.
Just saying aborted babies dont get cancer. Sounds like their mission statement…stoping cancer before it starts.
richardch on February 03 at 10:51 a.m.
SGK administrators have proven their lack of principles. I will not participate or donate to them again.
Diana on February 03 at 11:00 a.m.
Breast cancer = bad
Controlling women = good
misjustice on February 03 at 11:17 a.m.
Oh! Snappity, snap, snap, snap!
The power of social networking “forced” Komen to reverse their perverse decision!
YEAH!
Or, to paraphrase Dazzee: the fembot terrorists win!
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 03 at 11:42 a.m.
At least our “fembot terrorists” don’t go around killing people they don’t agree with like the pro-life crowd does.
If we are “terrorists” fighting for women’s rights using non-violence……what does that make the group fighting to make abortion illegal that promotes violence and murder?
nottored on February 03 at 11:46 a.m.
But if abortion wasn’t legal, there would be alot fewer dead babies. Think about it.
Dazzeetrader11 on February 03 at 11:52 a.m.
Libby….you’re right…the abortionist crowd just kill PEOPLE in the millions. They do it in the womb behind closed doors. These babies even have brainwaves which is more than I can say for many liberals.
The_Seer on February 03 at 11:55 a.m.
Look at the crime rate in the U.S. eighteen years (and since) after Roe v. Wade became the law of the land.
SCOREBOARD!
If you are against abortion, don’t have one.
nottored on February 03 at 11:57 a.m.
The point is that I don’t want you to have one in order not to kill an innocent baby
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 03 at 12:14 p.m.
nottored, but thats not your right tell someone else how they choose to live their life.
Dazzedone, abortion is legal so they are not doing anything wrong in the eyes of the law behind closed doors……whereas murdering an abortion doctor in church in front of people IS illegal.
johnclarke on February 03 at 12:18 p.m.
I vote for this thread to be locked.
Diana on February 03 at 12:18 p.m.
No worries, nottored. If you don’t want an abortion, don’t have one. Other than that, mind your own business.
catfuzz on February 03 at 12:19 p.m.
The pro-death terrorists win again. Keep killing those babies because they are inconvenient! Soon, we’ll be disposing of our elderly parents in the same way when they become inconvenient. “Love you, dad! But you’ve become a pain in my back-side. Time to give up the ghost so I can save a few bucks!”
misjustice on February 03 at 12:20 p.m.
YOU don’t get to decide for ME, nottored.
But thanks any who how.
At any rate, I am impressed with the response to Komen’s decision. And more than a little surprised that they reversed their decision. I still won’t be buying any of their pink ribbon crap, donating to their fundraisers, or supporting Komen in any way, shape, or form. Money grubbing hypocrites; I suspect that is the ONLY reason that they reversed themselves, it HURT their bottom line.
nottored on February 03 at 12:25 p.m.
i don’t have to mind my own bussibess and what your going to lock me out for having an opinion?
What I can do is to encourage others to give to other breas cancer groups that do give to planned parenthood
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 03 at 12:38 p.m.
nottored, yes, you do have to mind your own business (I am assuming thats what you meant) when it has to do with the personal choices of other people that in no way effects you.
misjustice on February 03 at 12:41 p.m.
No, I don’t want to lock you out/off of a discussion thread; just keep the heck outta my womb! You are entitled to your opinion but you are not entitled to impose your will on my girl parts.
This isn’t Taliban/Sharia Law rule, ya know? Where “men” get to decide for women…at least not YET!
nottored on February 03 at 12:50 p.m.
I do get to get in your business if I can persuade others thru the government or other social pressure to do so.
If you are pregnent, it isnt just your womb.
And no I don’t want to kill any abortion doctors
nottored on February 03 at 12:59 p.m.
I hope that this whole incident has two effects:
1.) Less money will go to lanned parenthood overall.
2.) Less money goes to Korman and more to other breast cancer groups that do not support planned parenthood.
I know you feel differently.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on February 03 at 1:03 p.m.
Nottored says, “If you are pregnent, it isnt just your womb.”
Really, who else’s womb is it? Is it yours?
Again, love the righties who hate the government to interfere on anything, except on the issues they want the government to be as big and bad as possible.
nottored on February 03 at 1:05 p.m.
it is also the babies womb
misjustice on February 03 at 1:23 p.m.
Sorry, but the opposite has happened; MORE money has gone to Planned Parenthood. The Mayor of NY City just pledged $250K and many other smaller donations are pouring in. Defunding PP will NEVER stop abortions; it will just endanger poor womens’ lives. Rich women will ALWAYS have access to safe, clean procedures; always have, always will.
nottored on February 03 at 1:28 p.m.
may not stop it but maybe slow it down
paulti on February 03 at 1:51 p.m.
There will always be a demand for abortion for various reasons (mother’s life, rape, etc) but if you really want to reduce abortions you would support comprehensive sex Ed in schools and free birth control.
greenlibertarian on February 03 at 1:56 p.m.
Anti-abortion nuts can’t make any semblance of an argument.
Planned Parenthood has prevented a million times more abortions than ANYTHING these dullard anti-abortion fanatics have.
Komen Cancer© is going down.
Amidst all the ruckus, resignations and double-talking over Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s politically charged move to pull its breast-cancer screening funding from Planned Parenthood, you should also be aware: Dallas-based Komen’s actually the subject of a documentary that opens in Canada today that takes a very dim view of Nancy Brinker’s efforts to turn the foundation into a corporation fueled by a shiny pink PR campaign. As John Anderson wrote in his Variety review in September, when director Léa Pool’s Pink Ribbons, Inc. (based on Samantha King’s 2008 book) debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival:
“Along with such commentators as author and cancer survivor Barbara Ehrenreich (Nickled and Dimed), Dr. Susan Love, Nancy Brinker of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (which has funneled $1.9 billion into fighting breast cancer and, as several people ask, for what?), the film also turns the spotlight over to ordinary cancer victims, one of whom puts the public-relations spin into very clear perspective. “The message,” she says, “is that if you just try really hard, you can beat it. Just try really hard.” Those who die, she adds, “weren’t trying very hard.”“ (continues)
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2012/02/film_critical_of_komen_pink_ri.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QPZfcYTUaA&feature=youtu.be
Benaround on February 03 at 2:23 p.m.
Hey, if Komen wants to give money to many of the Planned-Parenthood sites that DO NOT HAVE MAMMOGRAM CAPABILITY
TESTING…fine. If they want Nancy Pelosi dragging Komen into
baby-destruction…I can’t stop them. If Komen was so stupid as
to get involved with eliminating babies instead of pursuing
their mission…then I can only say…don’t ring my door-bell.
gotcha on February 03 at 3:15 p.m.
I believe our very own Patty Murray was at least partially responsible for Komen turn around.. Oh wait, that’s right she gets much of her campaign funding from Emily’s list that has no problem in destroying a human fetus. Personally I believe it should be a personal choice. However I am offended that tax dollars are used to suport it, as I want no part of it.
Diana on February 03 at 3:22 p.m.
Fellas, as much as you want to control women’s bodies and get involved in what is between us and our doctors, it ain’t gonna happen.
Pelosi, Murray, blah, blah, blah.
johnclarke on February 03 at 3:26 p.m.
I still vote for locking this thread, but first…..do I see any women posting about “eliminating babies” ?
Oh…is it just men? Angry conservative men? Men that want to tell women what they can do with their bodies?
nottored on February 03 at 3:36 p.m.
so if I an against abortion, I am nonreasoning and angry.
Itt can’t just be that I think it is wrong.
Who gives you to lock a thread (whate ver that is)?
sorrry my typing is so bad, my keyboard is acting up
johnclarke on February 03 at 3:38 p.m.
nottored on February 03 at 3:36 p.m.
so if I an against abortion, I am nonreasoning and angry.
No, if you are a man you don’t get to tell a woman what to do with her body. If you are a woman you get to tell yourself what to do with your body. Make sense? Probably not.
Lock a thread means end this stupid argument.
nottored on February 03 at 3:48 p.m.
but it isnt ended for the babies that are getting aborted
johnclarke on February 03 at 3:58 p.m.
Well then, you can do your part by not having an abortion or causing one to be needed. Also, you could help out by adopting an unwanted child.
Thanks, have a nice day.
Traveler on February 03 at 4:00 p.m.
I just want to remind all you Planned Parenthood haters that abortion services are only 3 percent of what they do.
And because I know you’ll never visit the site (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/PPFA/PP_by_the_Numbers.pdf), here’s a sample of the other 97 percent:
nottored on February 03 at 4:06 p.m.
so if you do 97% good, that makes up for 3% bad?
RedCedar on February 03 at 4:49 p.m.
Oh, dash it all! Here we are again!
catfuzz on February 03 at 5:08 p.m.
Diana, it’s not about controlling your body. It’s about stopping legalized murder. If you make the decision to have sex, you accept the consequences of that. If you end up pregnant, you now have another human being to consider that has every right to live as you do.
Diana on February 03 at 5:14 p.m.
@catfuzz, so, in other words, you want to dictate what I do and have the ultimate say in the control of my body and my decisions.
I understand.
Pigrobin on February 03 at 5:38 p.m.
Traveler, I’m not against PP or the right to abortion but I think the stats as presented don’t tell the cold, hard story when it comes to abortions. It sounds good to say only 3% of PP’s services are abortions but let’s make sure there is no doubt about the numbers. PP (from PP’s latest annual report) provided 331,796 abortions in 2009 and 329,445 abortions in 2010. I think most of us would agree these numbers are more than a little bit shocking. For those counting, that’s 661,241 abortions in two years. Who posting here thinks that’s good? I agree, lock this thread, it’s way too disturbing.
detroitdude on February 03 at 6:00 p.m.
Liberal in right wing land nailed it succinctly with his 10:23am post and I have not read anyone respond to that and come up with a better alternative.
So say they make abortion illegal, that won’t stop it from happening. Women will still have abortions like in the old days, using any number of dangerous methods. What pro-lifers at all costs don’t get is that no matter what laws you may pass, you can’t stop it, unless of course you are advocating these women be monitored or something, which to me sounds like huge government overreach if there ever was any.
So instead, their feeble solution is to outlaw abortion, force women underground for whatever needs they might have. People, you just have to get it through your mind that it isn’t YOUR choice to make. It’s the woman carrying the child whose choice this is. I’m saying this as a guy who finds the idea of aborting a baby horrible and extremely sad. It’s not my place to make up my mind for the choices a woman makes with her body.
johnclarke on February 03 at 6:37 p.m.
There were 661,241 women that were for whatever reason - were treated by professionals. I’m not sure if people think women will stop having abortions if PP did not exist? Also, I’m curious if people think any woman ever WANTS to make the choice to have an abortion? I think not. Give off your horse all you nut jobs, and leave these poor women alone.
Pigrobin on February 03 at 7:02 p.m.
JC, do you look at PP providing one million abortions over a three year period as a good thing? I doubt it. This statistic says a lot more about a general lack of responsibility of the citizens of this country. Or maybe it says we don’t value life as much as we think we do. Or maybe we’re so stupid, we just don’t know better. Whatever it says about us, it’s not good.
misjustice on February 03 at 7:10 p.m.
Thank goodness the Affordable Health Care Act is gonna make birth control “free”; that should help lower the number of abortions.
Oh, but ya’ll don’t like birth control being “free” and more available either. There’s just no pleasing you people, is there?
misjustice on February 03 at 7:19 p.m.
Funny thing about Komen’s politickin’, they helped raise over 3 million dollars in donations for PP within the 72 hours following their “decision” to with draw grants to PP.
WAY TO GO, Komen!
greenlibertarian on February 03 at 8:31 p.m.
Gotta love these fakers like pigrobin who say they support the right to abortion, and then get all indigent with PP when they provide (a declining) number of such.
Hypocrites.
Abortion should be RARE, SAFE, and LEGAL.
Pigrobin on February 03 at 9:30 p.m.
How am I a hypocrite? Even though I think a woman has a right to abort a fetus, we can’t escape the reality or gravity of that act. Further, I’m just stating facts that show a fairly sad situation in this country. I think the number of abortions is a damning statement of our callous regard for life but maybe you rejoice in it. And I’m fairly certain I’m not indigent or indignant, if that’s what you really meant. Hey, but you said I’d rot in hell or was it burn in hell not too long ago. By the way, I didn’t argue with you on that either; I figure I’ll be meeting you there. I know I’ll burn for this too but can’t help myself. Since the Super Bowl is a couple days away and we all love those commercials, I was thinking Planned Parenthood has an opportunity to capitalize a lot more on all this publicity. How ‘bout these for catchy little ads:
“Planned Parenthood: Over One Million Abortions Served” (since Jan ‘09)
or
“Planned Parenthood: One Million Satisfied Customers”
or simply
“Planned Parenthood: Millions and Millions Served”
What’s your favorite or do you have one of your own to share?
JBlim on February 03 at 9:37 p.m.
catfuzz: “Diana, it’s not about controlling your body. It’s about stopping legalized murder. If you make the decision to have sex, you accept the consequences of that. If you end up pregnant, you now have another human being to consider that has every right to live as you do.”
So why do the anti-choice folks want to force a raped teenager to have a baby? When did she choose to have sex with the rapist? When did she decide that life begins at the moment of conception? Sounds like a religious notion to me. But right-wingers have no problem using big government to force their religious beliefs on other people.
nottored on February 03 at 9:52 p.m.
rape or incest is the hardest situation dealing with abortion.
Also when the mothers life is in jeapardy.
I can’t tell a woman to choose the life of the baby over her own life. That is her decision.
In rape or incest, it isnt the woman or girls fault, but there is still another life at risk. I would hope that the baby isn’t killed, but it would be hard to tell her she can’t.
greenlibertarian on February 03 at 10:11 p.m.
“Jesus loves the little blastocysts,
all the little blastocysts of the world!
Red and yellow, black and white,
straight or gay it’s all alright,
they are equal in His sight,
Jesus loves the little blastocysts of the world!”
Spokalou on February 03 at 10:45 p.m.
Don’t see the moral high ground in forcing women to have children they don’t want and can’t care for. There are worse things than not being born.
catfuzz on February 03 at 10:49 p.m.
Rape or not, abortion kills a living human. I will never support abortion in any circumstance. I don’t really care what you all have to say about it either.
JBlim on February 04 at 7:04 a.m.
catfuzz says “I don’t really care what you all have to say about it either.”
The notion that a blastocyst of 100 cells is a living human is an extremist religious one. Would you force a 14 year old girl, raped by her father, to drop out of school to grow this incest-blastocyst?
misjustice on February 04 at 7:11 a.m.
Catfuzz coughed, “I will never support abortion in any circumstance.”
Not even to save the life of the host/woman?
Not even if the host/woman finds out that the fetus has a terrible birth defect, one that the fetus will die from, and that inducing/aborting the fetus is medically required to save the host/woman from a medical complication that could threaten her life?
REALLY? How compassionate!
nottored on February 04 at 8:43 a.m.
compassion would be to not abort the child, (through self sacrifice), bring it to term, and if you cant raise the child, let another couple raise it and love it.
noncompassion would be to go out and have unprotected sex and get rid of it without a thought and just call it a bunch of cells.
nottored on February 04 at 8:45 a.m.
by the way greenlibertarian - you were once just a blastocysts
JBlim on February 04 at 10:53 a.m.
nottored says: noncompassion would be to go out and have unprotected sex . . .
… while being raped. You forgot that part.