5 Important Lessons from the Komen/Planned Parenthood Fiasco (Don't Mess With Women's Health)

Komen reverses decision on funding Planned Parenthood
By Gary Strauss, USA TODAY
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Facing intense pressure and widening furor from a growing swell of critics, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation on Friday reversed a controversial decision to end grants to Planned Parenthood.

Komen, the nation's leading breast cancer advocacy group, had provided grants to Planned Parenthood for years, including nearly $700,000 in 2011. But in a move critics said was politically motivated, Komen said Tuesday it would no longer provide funding, based on recent internal changes that bar the foundation from providing funding to organizations that are under investigation.

Planned Parenthood, which provides breast examinations and related care to thousands of women unable to afford health care, is under investigation by Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican, who is trying to determine whether the organization is using federal funds for abortions.

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Critics had charged that Komen had decided to terminate its funding of Planned Parenthood under pressure from anti-abortion activists — a charge Komen founder Nancy Brinker denied.

Push-back came swiftly from within its own organization and outside supporters. Komen affiliates in California and Oregon opposed the decision, and in Colorado, an Aspen-based Komen affiliate said it would continue providing grants to its local Planned Parenthood site.

Others said they would boycott Komen's ubiquitous local Race for the Cure running events, which have raised millions of dollars over the years. Nowhere was the outcry more intense than on the Internet, where the decision was blasted on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.

In a statement, Komen, known for its pink-ribbon advocacy efforts, issued an olive branch, apologizing for its earlier decision but reiterating that the funding cut was not done for political reasons.

"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 foundation said in a statement released Friday morning. "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 in our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not."

Komen CEO Nancy Brinker said the foundation now has new standards for withholding funds for non-profits under investigation. They must be "criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair," Brinker said on Komen's website.

Komen's decision to cut Planned Parenthood's funding had become a political hot potato. Twenty-six U.S. senators called on Komen to reconsider its decision.

Komen drew a sharp rebuke from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who pledged $250,000 to make up the funding shortfall. Bloomberg's among scores of donors, large and small, who've pledged more than $3 million to Planned Parenthood since word of Komen's decision surfaced, spokesman Tait Sye says.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said she was grateful for Komen's reversal. She noted the outpouring of support and thanked supporters who had rallied against Komen's decision.

"During the last week, millions spontaneously joined a national conversation about lifesaving breast cancer preventive care and reinforced shared values about access to health care for all," Richards said. "This compassionate outcry in support of those most in need rose above political, ideological and cultural divides, and will surely be recognized as one of our nation's better moments during a contentious political time."

Grants by Komen over the past five years enabled Planned Parenthood to provide women 170,000 breast examinations and thousands of mammogram referrals. "With the outpouring of support over the past week, even more women in need will receive lifesaving breast cancer care," Richards said.

A source with direct knowledge of decision-making at Komen's headquarters told the Associated Press that the grant-making criteria were adopted with the deliberate intention of targeting Planned Parenthood. The criteria's impact on Planned Parenthood and its status as the focus of government investigations were highlighted in a memo distributed to Komen affiliates in December.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, a driving force behind the move was Karen Handel, who was hired by Komen last year as vice president for public policy after losing a campaign for governor in Georgia in which she stressed her anti-abortion views and frequently denounced Planned Parenthood.

Brinker, in an interview with MSNBC, said Handel didn't have a significant role in the policy change.

Although Komen's reversal was applauded by many Friday, others criticized the move. Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, said he was "deeply disappointed" and reiterated that Komen should permanently sever ties with Planned Parenthood.