In a shocking move Tuesday afternoon, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the country’s most famous breast cancer charity, pulled its grants for breast-cancer screenings from Planned Parenthood. Komen claims that their reason is that Planned Parenthood is under investigation from Congress, but as it’s well-understood on both the left and the right that the investigation, headed by Rep. Cliff Stearns, is a nuisance investigation that will almost surely turn up nothing, this excuse sounds lame indeed. The likelier explanation is the one offered by Planned Parenthood, that Komen caved under relentless pressure from anti-choice activists who oppose Planned Parenthood for offering abortions as well as low-cost contraception and STD prevention and treatment. In addition, Komen has a history of not playing nice with other women’s health organizations. Planned Parenthood has created an emergency fund to replace the Komen grants, to keep the breast-cancer screening service from being interrupted.
State Rep. Carol Alvarado is a lot nicer to them about this than I would have been. Far as I’m concerned, it’ll be a long time before I even think about giving another dime to them. Jezebel, TBogg, and Kos, among many others, have more.
My concern is how many people (nationwide) will lose their jobs because of this decision? This grant funds provide jobs and services for communities. Because of some political banter/discussion this change was made. I will not contribute to Susan G. Komen and I am searching for ways to help counteract this decision. If Susan G. Komen is so committed to women’s health and breast cancer prevention, how are they going to continue to serve the community by offering screenings for the under-served populations?
I wonder if they had any idea what kind of backlash they were going to get. Talk about stepping on your brand big time; they couldn’t have done more badly if they’d planned it.
I’m almost thinking that new senior VP who’s so anti-choice was a mole planted at the Komen foundation to destroy it from the inside. (Well, not really, but I’ll bet the rest of the Board is asking some sharp questions today.)