NEW YORK — For leaders of the nation’s pre-eminent breast-cancer charity, it was a firestorm they didn’t see coming — and couldn’t withstand.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Friday abandoned plans to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood. The dramatic retreat followed a three-day furor that resounded across the Internet, in Congress and — perhaps most tellingly — among Komen affiliates who openly rebelled, suggesting the leadership had bowed to anti-abortion pressure.
“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.
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.
“We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political,” Komen said Friday. “That is what is right and fair.”
As a result, Komen said, “we will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants.”
Komen officials were unavailable for further comment on how they came to change their plans. There was no indication that the organization had come under pressure from its corporate partners. But many of Komen’s own affiliates nationwide had objected to cutting off the grants, which totaled $680,000 in 2011. An Aspen, Colo., affiliate announced Thursday that it would defy the new rules a nd continue grants to its local Planned Parenthood partner, while all seven of Komen’s California affiliates said they “strongly opposed” the planned cutoff.
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 donations, large and small, that totaled $3 million between Tuesday evening and Friday afternoon. Planned Parenthood said the funds would be used to expand its breast health services, which already provide nearly 750,000 breast exams each year.
Planned Parenthood’s president, Cecile Richards, said in a telephone news conference that she was astonished by the flow of donations and the often emotional support expressed for her organization on the Internet.
“This was simply a story, when it broke, it just caught fire,” she said. “This kind of political bullying — folks are just saying, ‘Enough.”’
Anti-abortion groups had pressed Komen for years to end its partnership with Planned Parenthood, even to the extent of recalling pink Bibles that were benefiting Komen and boycotting its Race for the Cure events.
Abortion foes applauded earlier this week when the funding cutoff was reported, and were dismayed by Friday’s turnaround.
“The Susan G. Komen Foundation has caved in to the demands of radical abortion apologists,” said Douglas R. Scott, Jr., of Life Decisions International, which had been mulling whether to remove Komen from a “boycott list” of Planned Parenthood partners.
Scott said Komen should have anticipated a backlash once word of its funding cutoff plans became public.
The charity, Scott said, “has either engaged in a nasty ruse … or it is led by the most naove people on earth.”
Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, accused Planned Parenthood of employing a “scorched-earth strategy to force compliance with their pro-abortion agenda.”
“I don’t find it surprising that Komen is dancing around trying to get their way out of this,” said Yoest, a breast-cancer survivor. “Who wants to go up against a billion dollar organization which is perfectly capable of using thug tactics against even their friends?”
In Washington, Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., said he would press ahead with his investigation of Planned Parenthood, including assertions that it has improperly used public funds for abortions.
Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania and a staunch for of abortion, said he was disappointed by Komen’s shift. “It’s unfortunate that public pressure builds to provide money to an organization that goes out and actively is the No. 1 abortion provider in the country,” he said.
But members of Congress who support abortion-rights were elated by Komen’s statement.
“It’s a great day when our deeply held belief that breast cancer can only be wiped out if we all work together has triumphed over right-wing politics,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
It’s possible that Komen may, in the coming years, find ways of cutting ties with Planned Parenthood by other means. Komen founder and CEO Nancy Brinker, in a news conference Thursday, spoke of shifting more grant money to organizations which provide mammograms themselves — in contrast to Planned Parenthood’s practice of referring women elsewhere for mammograms.
Asked about this Friday, Richards said she was optimistic the renewed partnership would endure because of the close relationships between many Komen and Planned Parenthood local affiliates.
Nowhere was that solidarity more evident than in Aspen, where the Komen affiliate had placed an ad in a local newspaper declaring that it would defy the national edict and continue grants to its Planned Parenthood counterpart.
Marcia Goshorn, president of the Komen board in Aspen, said she was thrilled at Friday’s turnaround by the national leadership.
“I think they listened, and I’m proud of that,” she said.
Komen 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’s statement said. “We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics — anyone’s politics.”
Experts on the nonprofit world followed the week’s events with keen interest and marveled at the rapid spread of the backlash against Komen.
“It is very tough for non-profits that are caught in these culture wars to figure out what to do,” said Stacey Palmer, editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. “I think they (Komen) underestimated how many women who supported them really cared deeply about this issue … I don’t think they expected that kind of reaction.”
Among those welcoming the Komen shift was New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who made a $250,000 donation to Planned Parenthood after the funding cutoff was announced.
“I’m glad that in the end they came to the right decision,” said Bloomberg, who told MSNBC he will also continue to support Komen and urged others to do the same.
In the end, he said, “this is maybe a refresher to all of us” that both groups “do great work.”
This is a good day for American Women!
In five years of support from Susan G Komen, Planned Parenthood provided nearly 170,000 breast exams and 6,400 mammogram referrals. Planned Parenthood does amazing work whether you’re willing to admit it or not.
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. This is the statement that PP is putting out, how do YOU know it’s true.
Girl, that’s a weak argument you’re presenting.
What would lead YOU to believe it’s not?
Why not? They should and most l8ikely do, keep a valid set of books, inlike some organizations I can think of (beginning with A, N, KB, etc.).
How do YOU [caps yours] know it’s not true? And we should trust you why?
At the same time they performed 300,000 abortions!
Smart decision. See you at “The Race” in september.
You won’t be seeing me at the race. They said it; they meant it. Politics has no place when it comes to life threatening illness.
Whether you are pro or anti abortion, the issue was that Planned Parenthood could not show that the money it was getting from Komen donations was going ONLY to breast cancer related activities. The money was put into a general funding that was used for everything from breast cancer to abortions, which is why there was a big uproar. If PP had used proper accounting and not the slush fund approach, this was all avoidable.
That is NOT true…they have very clear and accurate records showing what funds are used in what area. They do have the proper accounting procedures and have been through this so many times via our Congress which would rather worry about a woman getting heath care services than trying to improve the economy or help the joblessness. Don’t keep repeating the lies of the right.
I am sorry I was a bit rude there.As an RN who has worked at Planned Parenthood in the past, it annoys me to no end when people repeat the “talking points” of the right without doing some research on their own. Every right wing investigation into Planned Parenthood charges the same thing…that monies isn’t keep from abortion services. Then the investigation ends because there is nothing to the original charge. Only 3% of the services of Planned Parenthood is for abortions whether surgical or the abortion drug. That means 97% are for other services for the poor and those with no insurance who have to go somewhere. If the 3% had gone to PP and gotten birth control maybe then those services would be over with.
Although their annual report shows a nice pie chart where 3% of the services are Abortions, PP is not unlike many of the companies that cannot show a traceability of $$ in to $$ out. Since the Sarbannes Oxley act, public companies must now do this, but non-publicly traded organizations such as PP do not need to do this and thus do not as there is significant change and cost to their accounting systems.
And you’ve done the audit?
How do we know PP doesn’t cook their books?
for the same reason we don’t know why people make inane comments
I’m sure they’re audited. So, unless the auditors are malfeasant (or working for the RTL gorups), there’s no reason to doubt the figures. Oh, and I’m not supporting any audit of the auditors. That foolish move would be up to you and had better not involve any tax-payer money. Hear that, Rep. Stearns? This means you.
And you know this how?
Oh and get a new stock photo. This one is getting old.
….
Too bad the Komen group backed down. Where is the “choice” for babies????
and how many have you adopted?
Abortion is a selfish act. There are thousands of families wishing to adopt who find they must go out of the country to adopt an infant. It is sad to think how cold and callous people have become. Just because a woman becomes pregnant with a child she doesn’t “want” is no reason to take the life of that fetus. There are too many options available to prevent pregnancy for that to be a valid excuse – pills, IUDs, tubal ligation. If all those methods fail, then perhaps this pregnancy is simply meant to be.
How many Mothers will be saved, to watch their babies grow up. It’s time we started worrying more, about we have born, then those who have not been. I’ve known 5, women that have had abortions; only 1 was single, 3 had them because their life was in danger, the other because, because she and her husband, didn’t want another child.
That is so sad. I cant imagine being the woman who valued their own life more than that of their child. Even before my kids were born i would’ve gladly died so that they could live, even if it meant they would grow up without me, at least they would grow up knowing that i loved them THAT much. There is actually a 17 yr old that passed away recently of cancer that did just that. She forwent her own treatment so that her child would be born healthy. Her child will never know a greater love than what God himself bestowed through his mother.
There is a big difference when you are dying of cancer which has nothing to do with dying from a life threatening situtation which has to do with both the mother and the unborn fetus dying. Also, you wouldn’t be talking about kids pural if you decided to have your first child than die….
I am a Christian and can’t stand it when people use religion and bring God into this….he is the ulimate judge to woman and their moral judgements….not you….So quit playing God. There is a place in the bible that decribes you and your followers and you know it if you really practice your faith.
I know a lot of people who use their faith as hypocrites…they walk in the front door of their church Sunday morning and praise the Lord. Than they walk out the back door and go home and
beat their wife or their children or molest them. Or tell their wife that she is the reason that their life is miserable and rotten and that is why he beats her..and than 24 hours later go out and give a speech on family values and talk about how people treat people, how important it is in keeping the family together and up holding God’s commandments…….You read about those every day in the BDN and other papers….
Reading of a pattern of public hyprocisy, most — but not all — of it on the political
right. Preachers of family values practice adultry. Those who warn against
miscegenation, adultry and the sins of Sodom practice same. The list goes on…
— Rep. Bob Bauman, R-Md., sponsored the original Family Protection Act in
the House. Bauman was an early leader of the conservative God-family-country
movement, a former president of Young Americans for Freedom. Wife Carol was, as
well, an early, zealous YAFer.
Bauman’s career in Congress imploded after revelation he had propositioned a
17-year-old boy. He did not ask forgiveness, but came out, wrote a book, and
took to the lecture circuit with a new male partner.
Extremely unfortuante choice. Equally unfortunate that some treatment that some treatment more benign to the fetus was present. Hopefully some Komen money goes toward research (as does ACI money).
This unfortunate mother to be was only 17 (I’ll avoid fruther commnet since I don’t know the case). Solomanic call at the least, but if her life could have been saved, she could have lived to have probably have more children (unless, of course, her condition and treatment precluded that). Her love was indeed heavenly, but you neglect to say who’s taking care of the baby. And the father. And friends and family.
in none of these cases was the fetus viable, and would not have lived to term, each women had small children, they made the choice that was best for them. you have no right to judge any of them.
And we start being concerned more with the health of women in general, especially mothers.
Guess she couldn’t get her tubes tied.
yes she did after the abortion, as was her right.
Too late! I’m done with SK. Find a woman with breast cancer and give her your check.
Excellent.
Even better, directly support an exam clinic to provide exams to those who can’t afford them.
Even better stand up for PP. Help it out against the repub onslaught of lies and inuendo.
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000 provides states with funds for women with no or inadequate health insurance, and whose incomes are – last I looked – up to 250% above the Federal Poverty Level. (Many women are eligible for the program, if they only knew about it). States differ in what can and cannot be provided. Treatment can be provided. Even cross-state treatment. It’s been possible.
So, people should know the program exists, but under just about every name you can think of, so it can be hard to find the right name. In Maine it is http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/bcp/ Remember, you can argue what is and is not offered. In Maine, there is a list of providers. That is not the case elsewhere.
Anyhow, Komen is not the big doer for this sort of thing at all. And, to Komen for this change of ‘heart’ cough cough spit — “too late.” And, Planned Parenthood might well consider divesting itself from the pink machine. There is obviously enough support without the association.
Thanks for the info. The last paragraph is debatable so I’ll let it ride.
what do breast cancer and planned parenthood (otherwise known as the org.started to eliminate black babies,look it up,) have to do with each other ,i dont get this!
Take the blinders off and ditch the misinformation. It was founded to provide family planning to the indigent, illiterate, immigrants, etc. This included provison of contraceptives (misgguidedly illegal) and family planning counseling to the asame audience (and more, even unifnformed middle class, etc.). As dignostics for breast cancer became available (and the costs rose), their concern for women’s health extended to provision of exams to the less fortunate. A concern for women’s and family health, get it?
Wrong why don’t you wake up and read the hisTory of planned parent hood the founder said we don’t want them black people think were trying to wipe them out unquote it is what it is ask black leaders they know like herman Cain for instance
—– Reply message —–
“We do not want our mission marred or affected by polotics- anyone’s polotics.” Perhaps these so-called leaders should have considered that before caving to the hate-mongering anti-abortion lobby. Please remember, the Republican party cares very deeply about unborn children. It is at birth that their care and concern ends.
Wise move. Apparently the local chapters utimately call the shots. This is as it should be because that’s where the rubber meets the road.
I was not award that Komen was not only under fire with verbage, but the victim of threats of withdrawl of donations by the ultra zealots and even boycotts. If the zelots contiue with these tactics, I’ll have to increase donations to Komwn causes (after checking with the local groups, of course).
Komen “caved in”? (more like wrongly caved in to begin with). PP had a “scorched Earth policy? Thug tactics? More like the RTL groups policies (and trying to force Komen into joining their ill-advised and misdirected crusade).
Good to hear the PP is continued to be supported and that the increased donations will go into their breast health fund.