Komen Foundation caught in political mess

[bear60]

Link to article
http://thepennsylvaniaprogressive.com/diary/3913/the-komen-controversy

[Matty the Damned]

Link to article
http://thepennsylvaniaprogressive.com/diary/3913/the-komen-controversy

Even better than that, check out what Margaret and Helen have to say:

http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/the-race-for-respect/

And shame on the Susan G. Komen Foundation for letting some Republican nut case from Georgia convince them to start picking on Planned Parenthood.   With men like those Virginia State Legislators in the world, we women need to stick together.  The folks at Komen might want to remember that is wasn’t all that long ago that breast cancer was another one of those women’s health issues that was feared and discussed in hushed tones, as if it were shameful.  Women should be allowed to make medical decisions with their doctors and not with their politicians. Planned Parenthood is one of the largest providers of breast cancer screenings and mammogram referrals in the nation, and that asshat Karen Handel over at Komen is about to find out that Planned Parenthood is also one of the most trusted names in women’s healthcare. I surely would like to introduce Ms. Handel’s ass to my boot.  A boot, I might add, that walked in many a Komen Race for a Cure.   Now the only walking I’ll be doing is from my door to my mailbox to drop a check in the mail to Planned Parenthood.  Women turning on other women when we already have the likes of Rick Perry to deal with…  Well I never.

MtD

[J.R.E.]

http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2012/february/377966/Susan-G.-Komen-reverses-decision-to-end-Planned-Parenthood-grants


Susan G. Komen reverses decision to end Planned Parenthood grants


   

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has reversed a decision to end grants to Planned Parenthood.

The latest announcement comes just days after the foundation said it would no longer give money to Planned Parenthood, creating a battle between two organizations with missions to help women.

In a statement Friday, Susan G. Komen for the Cure explained its change of heart:

    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.

    The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.

Many breast cancer survivors say Komen did the right thing reversing their decision.

"I think it's a good idea they reversed their position because it caused so much dissension and I was afraid Komen is such a good organization and this caused so much unrest among people," said Beth Barnett, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.

For the past five years, the Komen Foundation has given Planned Parenthood hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund breast exams.

Barbara Zdravecky, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, said earlier this week she believed the change was a political move.

The foundation recently hired Karen Handel as their new Vice President. Handel has spoken out publicly against abortion and Planned Parenthood.

Zdravecky says it backfired and ended up helping them in the long run. Since the news broke, she says they have received more than $900,000 in donations.

Barnett, who is against abortion, at first supported the move to stop giving Planned Parenthood money.

Unable to have children of her own, she adopted two girls. However, now after thinking about it for a few days, she too had a change of heart and hopes by continuing to fund this group it will save more womens’ lives.

"I don't want to see a woman that can't afford to go to the doctor not get funding, so Planned Parenthood will help a girl discover if they have cancer or not," she said.

Planned Parenthood officials said the money from the Komen Foundation doesn't go to abortions.

Those officials said money from the Komen organization has helped Planned Parenthood health centers provide nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams to women, especially in rural and underserved communities.

[bear60]

Great news.  But beware the Reublicans, especially Gingrich and Santorum.