"pro-life" breast cancer foundation defunds screenings for poor women

[Sasha]

get ready to rage:


Komen Defunds Breast Cancer Screenings for Poor Women (http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/01/komen-defunds-breast-cancer-screenings-for-poor-women)

Posted by Cienna Madrid (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/cienna-madrid/Author?oid=22119) on Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 8:09 AM

The nation's largest breast cancer charity, the pink-ribbon-festooned Susan G. Komen Foundation, has succumbed to right-wing pressure and defunded Planned Parenthood of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants—$680,000 last year (http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ap-exclusive-amid-abortion-debate-komen-cancer-charity-halting-grants-to-planned-parenthood/2012/01/31/gIQA5LbffQ_story.html) and $580,000 the year before—money that primarily paid for breast exams for poor women.
Over the past five years, Komen funds have enabled Planned Parenthood health centers to provide nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and referrals for more than 6,400 mammograms. Now Komen says they've withdrawn their support because Planned Parenthood is under investigation by Congress (an investigation launched by right-wing, anti-choice groups) but the issue, as always, comes down to abortion.
“At the heart of this issue is the shameful ‘investigation’ of Planned Parenthood by House Republicans trying to score political points and appease their extreme right-wing base," said Senator Patty Murray in a statement. "Komen should not allow these sort of partisan games to put women across America at risk... this decision will cut women off from the health care providers they rely on for critical preventive care."
Senator Murray is half right, but it's not just about bowing to political pressure. It turns out, Komen is staffed by powerful anti-choice assholes. Here's what Komen's SVP public policy director, Karen Handel, had to say about Planned Parenthood in 2010, while (unsuccessfully) running for governor in Georgia:

"Let me be clear, since I am pro-life, I do not support the mission of Planned Parenthood (http://web.archive.org/web/20100921093610/http:/blog.karenhandel.com/2010/07/karen-handel-on-life-and-planned-parenthood/). During my time as Chairman of Fulton County, there were federal and state pass-through grants that were awarded to Planned Parenthood for breast and cervical cancer screening, as well as a “Healthy Babies Initiative"... I'll eliminate them as your Governor." Wow! What a socially responsible person hag.
It's clear that Handel and her Komen cohorts are no longer racing for a cure—they've stopped for a water break and to wage a holy war on Planned Parenthood, and they're willing to sacrifice the heath of thousands of women in the process. But hey, maybe next year they'll charitably donate a few thousand pink coffins to us poor ladies who relied on Planned Parenthood's free breast cancer screenings for early detection.
I think Komen should be reminded that their charity war chests come from thousands of women (and their families) who also donate to Planned Parenthood, support breast cancer research and women's right to comprehensive health care, and don't like being fucked with. Planned Parenthood is accepting donations to continue its breast cancer screenings HERE (https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3773&3773.donation=form1&autologin=true&s_src=SGKFundraisingDirected_0112_c3_e1N&JServSessionIdr004=y5ir9cc235.app202b).
Meanwhile, Komen is hosting its annual, local fancy-assed Grace Notes Gala at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel (http://www.komenpugetsound.org/get-involved/komen-activities/grace-notes.html) on Saturday, March 3. Wouldn't it be fun if they had to race through a picket line to get to their $300-a-plate buffet?
*Thanks to all pro-lady Slog tippers everywhere for filling my inbox with frothy rage.

Link (http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/02/01/komen-defunds-breast-cancer-screenings-for-poor-women) | Comments (21) (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Comments?oid=12191062&category=slog)

[Decolonize The Left]

Yeah, my girlfriend told me about this. Fucking insane.

- August

[Marquess]

The only way I can accurately respond is with this reaction face.

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/212/166/1323020628001.jpg

[Ocean Seal]

Canceling breast exams for poor women. It makes me sick that people still believe in charity.

[Marquess]

They've reversed their decision.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/03/politics/planned-parenthood-komen-foundation/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

[bcbm]

They've reversed their decision.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/03/politics/planned-parenthood-komen-foundation/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

awesome. there was a lot of people pissed about this, even a lot of the state directors within the foundation. sounds like planned parenthood got a huge surge in donations too

[Princess Luna]

I always hear the the majority of people in America oppose abortion, but the scale of the backlash against Komen and the support for PP seems to show otherwise. Though it may be a large number of people oppose abortion, but are not willing to throw women with breast cancer under the metaphorical bus.

[Sasha]

They've reversed their decision.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/03/politics/planned-parenthood-komen-foundation/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

Well they claim PP can apply for a grant again, nothing on wheter they intent to actually give it. And no change in their removal of millions of dollars worth of grants for research that uses stemcells. (so much for "for the cure")
And still they got a overhead of 75% with half a mil going in salary to the bigoted ***** ceo.
Donating to pinkribon is a waste of good money.

[dodger]

Well they claim PP can apply for a grant again, nothing on wheter they intent to actually give it. And no change in their removal of millions of dollars worth of grants for research that uses stemcells. (so much for "for the cure")
And still they got a overhead of 75% with half a mil going in salary to the bigoted ***** ceo.
Donating to pinkribon is a waste of good money.

Some years ago my brother applied for a job at a charity, he got the job. Very pleased for him, 8 years unemployed due to bike accident. He dropped the bombshell, he declined. I was shocked. His history and circumstance, in deep recession. I was compelled to ask ,why? The whole organization is corrupt and immoral. But,but,but..."No way, matey!" Our sister got to hear and tut-tut-tutted, got full details of all the scams. 6months later, I saw her in a brand new Land Rover Discovery, You guessed right, she(Lady Geldoff) had set up her own charity. Converted to Catholicism and visits several places each year, in quite exotic locations. Much more to tell, but you already seem very well informed. Even with efficient 'honest' charities the actual amount received or spent on the end user is pathetically small. I wont mislead as I cannot completely recall the exact figure. Your link made depressing reading, just a few rays of sunshine.

Good sound advice psycho, keep yer hard earned money in yer pocket. Indeed I will endeavour to, just some of the sharks circling us.

[runequester]

Im going to go ahead and guess this in the end has less to do with cancer screening specifically, and a lot more to do with limiting, not just abortion, but access to contraceptives and general education.

If women can avoid being pregnant in their home, dependant on their man like god intended, we can't well keep them in their place, right?

[TheGodlessUtopian]

More background information from Martin Sayles...

http://www.martinsayles.com/2012/02/10/the-komen-planned-parenthood-debacle/