Was Komen’s decision ‘political’? Only because Planned Parenthood can’t have it any other way (Updated)
UPDATE at 11:25 a.m.: Well, the pro-abortion rights folks’ politicization of this decision had its intended effect: The Komen organization is, at least in part, backing off its earlier decision. Congratulations, Planned Parenthood: You’ve officially turned a leader in breast cancer research into another of your subordinates.
Let this be a warning to any group thinking of teaming up with Planned Parenthood in the future: You can check in any time you like, but you can never leave.
ORIGINAL POST:
The founder and head of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure did an interview with the Washington Post that casts the cancer-fighting organization’s highly charged decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood in a different light. For starters, Komen isn’t really stopping its funding of Planned Parenthood, just sharply curtailing it: Komen will give grants to just three Planned Parenthood clinics rather than the previous 19. CEO Nancy Brinker explained the change this way: “We have decided not to fund, wherever possible, pass-through grants. We were giving [some of] them money, they were sending women out for mammograms. What we would like to have are clinics where we can directly fund mammograms.”
Whether that dampens the excitement of anti-abortion activists who’d cheered the decision remains to be seen. Judging by the comments below the Post’s story, however, pro-abortion rights activists aren’t going to accept this rationale any more than the initial explanation that Komen wouldn’t support organizations that are under investigation. This decision has already become as hyper-politicized as anything relating to abortion.
That’s the real story here. I can think of no organization, beyond political parties themselves, that is more politicized than Planned Parenthood. That’s because no issue is more politicized than abortion, and Planned Parenthood provides one in four abortions in this country. Nor are we talking about a shy political operator: During the past two decades, it has spent almost $31 million on campaign contributions and another $6.5 million on lobbying to push its cause (and, one assumes, keep government funding flowing).
Anything done in regard to Planned Parenthood, then, is bound to be deemed “political” by someone. It’s “political” for governments, or organizations like Komen, to give money to Planned Parenthood. It therefore becomes “political” for any entity to stop giving money to Planned Parenthood.
To act as if stopping the funding is any more “political” than the original decision to begin the funding is absurd.
If you disagree, tell me this: How exactly could Komen have decided to part ways with Planned Parenthood what wouldn’t have been decried as “political”? Having giving to Planned Parenthood once, was Komen bound either to continue giving forever or to suffer a smear campaign by Planned Parenthood and its supporters once it stopped?
If so, that’s not advising Komen to “stay out of politics.” It’s mob-style blackmail. Nice little charity you’ve got there. Shame if anything happened to it.
Planned Parenthood and its supporters are right about one thing: Fighting breast cancer shouldn’t be “political.” There are plenty of truly apolitical organizations and public agencies through which Komen can effectively work. But now that Komen has decided that working with Planned Parenthood isn’t the best way to achieve its goals, the supposedly anti-”political” types seem determined to make sure Komen is considered “political” from now on. And that’s a far worse sin than anything Komen committed by stopping funding to 16 clinics.
At its heart, this episode is about the broader movement to make everything “political”: the personal, the private, everything. This movement is primarily a cause of those on the progressive left, including a great many supporters of Planned Parenthood, who see no limits on what ought to be the sphere of government and, thus, politics. So, spare me the tears about a “political” action against little ol’ Planned Parenthood.
(Note: Normally, my first post on a Friday is a Poll Position question, and I was originally going to make the Komen decision the subject of today’s post. Then I decided I wanted to make a stronger statement of my own opinion on this story. A Poll Position post about a different topic will be posted later today.)
– By Kyle Wingfield
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430 comments Add your comment
Pierce Randall
February 3rd, 2012
1:21 pm
N.b., I still see “pro-abortion” in the article. I suspect someone’s not doing the job he says he is if the claim is that it changed. But what else do you expect from pundits? Rhetoric, and not much else.
Independent
February 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
“The Susan G. Komen fund caved to the liberal garbage out there. They can expect no more support from my family.”
Good work, Suan B. Komen Foundation. In one motion, you created a situation where half your supporters were going to quit supporting you, then you reverse and the other half stops supporting you. Heads you lose, tails you lose, the only way to win (quote from the movie War Games) is not to play. Too late, now!
On the other hand, Planned Parenthood has recieved a windfall of support as a result of your actions!
PP thanks you, Karen Handel!
Dirty Harry
February 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
If you think PP is just a wonderful, sincere place that truly cares about women and “planning parenthood”, you need to do your research because you have been totally deceived. In just the last few years, Planned Parenthood has racked up a record of fraud, Medicaid overbilling, criminal cover-ups, falsifying medical information, violating safety standards, encouraging prostitution and sex trafficking, medical malpractice, accepting racially-motivated donations, and huge profits.
DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!!!!
bibleman
February 3rd, 2012
1:22 pm
Abortion isn’t even murder in the Bible. You’ll note that the penalty someone accidently killing a person is much different than the penalty for causing a miscarriage. I guess it’s just easier to listen to your Pope or preacher than to read the book for yourself.
Independent
February 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Sorry, Susan G. Komen.
John
February 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
Kyle,
Your article is titled incorrectly. Shouldn’t it be “Was Komen’s decision ‘political’? Only because Republicans can’t have it any other way (Updated)”?
It’s Republicans who make PP political.
Dusty
February 3rd, 2012
1:25 pm
Churchill’s mom.
I am having a nice cup of tea. What are you drinking?
Any non-profit that loses its support, should go out of business. It obviously does not fill a need.
I hope Komen continues its good work without the meddling of political partisans. As far as I know they fill the requirements for non-profit organizations. They don’t need the aid of political instigators telling them how to run their business.
Kyle Wingfield
February 3rd, 2012
1:26 pm
Pierce Randall: Everywhere it says “pro-abortion,” it says “rights” immediately afterward. If you see otherwise, I suggesting refreshing your browser.
Independent
February 3rd, 2012
1:26 pm
Kathy @ 1:14
Hear, hear! an excellent post!
Don't Tread
February 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
“Only because Republicans can’t have it any other way”
Funny, it’s the liberal Komen supporters who threatened to pull their donations once Komen decided to stop supporting PP.
I love how liberals do things and then attempt to project their wrongdoing on conservatives.
UGA 1999
February 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
bibleman…please quote scripture. How do you think an intentional abortion is an accidental killing?
UGA 1999
February 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
Dont Tread…..I know right!!!
Aquagirl
February 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
People within the Penn State football community are, but the organization known as “Penn State” is not.
Oh, lawdy, nothing like a backtracking con for a laugh.
People are always the subject of investigations, unless you think institutions somehow act on their own. Fines and or/sanctions (if any) of the Cleary act will be leveled at Penn State, not an individual. Notice these are not the criminal charges connected to Sandusky, those are a different matter.
Please, save the jock-sniffing and backpedaling for someone who will buy it.
Dirty Harry
February 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
Kathy, maybe we should just legalize murder of all forms……maybe it will go down, too. Good grief!
Darwin
February 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
Kyle – You’re not even worth commenting on.
Will
February 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
If you EVER thought for one second that republicans cared more about getting elected than the good of our beloved republic, just spend a few moments reading the comments relating to the good economic news today. Rather than being pleased with the unemployment numbers, they are stomping their feet and holding their breath while trying to make people believe this is not really good news…and it isn’t if you only care about elections.
You know what it reminds me of? When the “surge” worked in Iraq. Democrats lost a good “talking point” relating to elections but America was saved from more deaths. Just like republicans, democrats chose elections over what was good for our country.
And the band played on……….
Kyle Wingfield
February 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Becky: As I said earlier, we’re not going to get into a discussion of who should or shouldn’t be aborted.
Dusty
February 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
John,
PLease pack your bags and go home. You are a male political instigator and liberal at that. YOU are tryng to make Komen a political issue.
It is a private financial issue pertinent only to founders and staff of Komen, a NON-PROFIT organization. I don’t think you fit into either of those categories unless there is also a busy-body slot.
yesssir
February 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Becky
February 3rd, 2012
1:31 pm
Now you know all the CONs are gonna raise their hands.
A good day for Liberals.
Libs: 2
Cons:0
gregory
February 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Kyle,
Please take a long long jump off a short dock. Look at your groups choices for President, one a compulsive wife cheater and the other one who takes jobs and sends them overseas to people that make children work for nothing Move to China and be happy, let the rest of us work to keep the freedoms we still have.
Dusty
February 3rd, 2012
1:38 pm
Darwin, @1:29
We look forward to NOT having your comments on this blog. Thank you.
GAVoter
February 3rd, 2012
1:39 pm
I can’t support Susan G Komen as long as they support Planned Parenthood in any way!
UGA 1999
February 3rd, 2012
1:39 pm
gregory….
Compulsive wife cheater – How does this equate to poor presidential choice?
One who takes jobs and sends them overseas – Please provide proof of any job Romney sent overseas.
Sounds like you are voting for Santorum?
John
February 3rd, 2012
1:39 pm
@Don’t Tread,
“Funny, it’s the liberal Komen supporters who threatened to pull their donations once Komen decided to stop supporting PP.”
Don’t think it was only liberals but even if that’s the case, it’s their right. Just as the conservative organization, One Million Moms” went after JCP for hiring Ellen DeGeneres, an openly lesbian, as a spokesperson. It was their right but conservatives lost on both issues.
Joe Mama
February 3rd, 2012
1:40 pm
Don’t Tread — “Funny, it’s the liberal Komen supporters who threatened to pull their donations once Komen decided to stop supporting PP. I love how liberals do things and then attempt to project their wrongdoing on conservatives.”
I’m afraid I don’t understand. Could you please explain what ‘projected wrongdoing’ you’re referring to?
governement take over
February 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
you people need to get off of planned parenthood. they are very legit. they havent been under investigation. they dont perform abortion unless someone life is in danger like personal life, financial life or their mental state. they made sure everyone is above age. They have taken care of many liberal politicians with government money they have gotten. they have only used komen money of breast exams. are you kidding me. here the government goes again black mailing komen and now they had to back off so pp can keep getting more and more money. i never was aware that komen supports pp but can guarantee one thing. they will never get another cent from me or support from me in anyway because they didnt have the back bone to stand up for what they believe in. what a joke PP is and the political correctness that has turned our country into a spineless, liberal,immoral and unethical nation. i hope everyone that is againist PP will continue to keep the pressure on the govt to continue to investigate PP and will take your money and support businesses that only support those businesses that you agree with. let the liberals and PP supporters do all the walking for susan komen.
John
February 3rd, 2012
1:44 pm
Dusty,
“It is a private financial issue pertinent only to founders and staff of Komen, a NON-PROFIT organization. I don’t think you fit into either of those categories unless there is also a busy-body slot.”
Are you saying that when you donate money to a NON-PROFIT, you don’t care how they use your donation?
Dumb and Dumber
February 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
Poor Kyle — accuses everyone else of politicizing the issue and then he promptly puts his own partisan-hack spin on the issue.
People who believe that women should have the right to control what happens to their bodies as opposed to a partisan majority in a state legislature? They are “pro-abortion” according to Kyle– by that same insipid line of reasoning, people that oppose abortion are “pro-coathanger abortions” because that is the reality they prefer.
Komen hiring a highly partisan and unqualified Karen Handel and then, as a result of a highly partisan House “investigation” … no politics there, right Kyle.
So Kyle is agaisnt government intervention when it comes to abuse of consumers by banks, investment managers, wall street types (let the market work!) but when it comes to individual privacy and the right of women to control their bodies, Kyle wants government intervention.
I wonder if Kyle would allow a rape or incest victim to abort a child conceived from that rape or incest? Probably not. We all know that women are incapable of making the “right” decision when it comes to that.
The good news is that younger voters look right through this fraud and history will, despite the efforts of the “pro-coathanger” crowd, show that giving women choice over how and when they reproduce is consistent with our freedoms of americans despite the efforts of Kyle and other right-wingers to force their religion on others.
Caligirl50
February 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
The issue here is that Planned Parenthood has been demonized as an “aportion clinic”. The truth is, that is only about 3% of it’s services are aportion – legally. The rest of their services are delivering needed low cost birth control, reproductive information and help with family planning for couples. In college, as a poor student supporting myself, they were more than helpful for me by giving me low cost women’s medical care. And they were the first ones I went to when I wanted to be sure I gave good information to my preteen daughter.
On the other hand, when my mother was suffering from cancer, SBK was less helpful than my local pharmacist! Trust me, my donations have NEVER gone to SBK. I refuse to wear any of their clothes or pins (HAVE you looked at what they spend for administration?). My dollars do go to Planned Parenthood.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
February 3rd, 2012
1:46 pm
SGK – just shut the doors and open back up in another name. you are going nowhere now.
Tiberius - Your lightning rod of hate!
February 3rd, 2012
1:46 pm
Aquagirl, in case you missed any of my comments on many of Kyle’s threads, I am not a “con” on this issue. But that would require reading skills you apparent lack.
The only conservative views I have on abortion is that government; A. shouldn’t use tax dollars to pay for them, and B. shouldn’t be in the business of making policy about them.
If women want to have abortions, let them have as many as they want. Just don’t ask me to pay for them.
Kathy
February 3rd, 2012
1:48 pm
Hey Dirty Harry@1:29pm,
There are about 95,000 people awaiting kidney transplant. Let’s legally require men (and women) who are a tissue type match to donate their extra kidney to someone who would otherwise die.
Not on the living organ donation list, DH? Then, by your own standards, you are a murderer.
SaveOurRepublic
February 3rd, 2012
1:49 pm
I’ve never given a dime to SGK, nor will I ever (now that they’ve cowered to the murderous Planned (non)”Parenthood”).
Independent
February 3rd, 2012
1:49 pm
“bibleman…please quote scripture. How do you think an intentional abortion is an accidental killing?”
Please quote the scripture about abortion – I don’t remember ever seeing that term in the Bible. And don’t use the “millstone” quote, since Jesus was clearly referring to small children, not fetuses.
kaylee94
February 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
Omg srsly? so duuuum.
who cares about unborn babbies??
even when they are born they cant even sit up or talk.
if a girl get pregant and doesnt want it thats her choice. DUH!!!!!!!!!
VoiceOfReason
February 3rd, 2012
1:51 pm
@Caligirl50
That 3% you mentioned of Planned Parenthood equates to 25% percent of all abortions in the country which is 332,000+ per year. How you like them deadly apples????
UGA 1999
February 3rd, 2012
1:51 pm
independent…..So you believe that Christ didnt care about the value of human life?
The Man
February 3rd, 2012
1:51 pm
Let me get this straight. A ultra-right Republican Congressman initiates an investigation of PP at the behest of anti-choice zealots. Komen, having just hired as their new policy leader a prominent Republican politician and self-avowed pro-lifer who has publically advocated defunding of PP, comes up with a new policy eliminating funding for organizations being investigated. Such policy currently impacts exactly one of 200,000 organizations receiving funds from Komen. But we are told by Ms. Brinker that of course this was not a political decision. OK, I call BS. Now finish the job and get rid of Handel. Komen does not need political hacks, Democrat or Republican, on its payroll.
yesssir
February 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
“I’ve never given a dime to SGK, nor will I ever”
Soooooo, what you belly aching about….they wont miss you.
pistol pete
February 3rd, 2012
1:52 pm
I guessing that Karen Handle will be looking for a new opportunity (job) after this fiasco.
She and the Octomom will be touring with Sarah Palin in the get a clue express.
Woofy
February 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
Let there be no mistake, the original decision was political and so was the reversal. Why did politics need to come into play in the first place. The Komen foundation is in the business of funding education, research and screening for breast cancer. Breast cancer affects Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, religious folk and non-religious folk. Why does EVERYTHING have to be politicized??? DAMN!
UGA 1999
February 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
pistol pete….There we go, great job…..there are the sexist comments we expect from the left.
Sion
February 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
I am just curious: I thught Komen raised money (lots if money) for breast cancer research. Why are they GIVING money to any other group?? Help me here.
Jose
February 3rd, 2012
1:55 pm
Don’t use PP but I am Thankful that it available for the women that do use it or need it. I am for women that can make their own decision on whether not they want to have babies or not. Planned or not planned. It is their bodies and their families to be make that decision together and not by anybody else.
I don’t think any woman today wants to have ten to fifteen children like the old days. For the people that want to encourage this practice have no clue in today’s society of caring for this size household in today’s economic climate.
If you look behind the curtain, the war on women has nothing to do with PP or any other organization that giving service to women. It’s about white women and birth rates. Since the census report, they found out that there was a decrease in birth rate for white women. The war on women started. If it was any other race, business as usual. Like all census reports in the past, no laws would have hit floors in state capitols across this country or in Congress but this case it is different. They see the need to make the change to stop the trend of low birth rate for white women. Look at who’s introducing these Bills, all white women and men.
So, stop using breast cancer for the excuse to attack women. We know the real cause for the attacks.
Go figure!
Ernest T. Bass
February 3rd, 2012
1:56 pm
Dumb and Dumber @ 1:45
Extremely well said.
Thank you sir.
Independent
February 3rd, 2012
1:57 pm
“So you believe that Christ didnt care about the value of human life?”
We haven’t established that it is a human life yet. I am sure your OPINION is that Jesus would consider an embryo a human life; I disagree.
clyde
February 3rd, 2012
1:58 pm
I am absolutely sure that Komen’s motives were lily white and Planed Parenthood is the bad guy here.Keep repeating that until you believe it.Over and over if necessary.
we must all be wrong. . ..
February 3rd, 2012
1:58 pm
just more denial on the part of the right. The country is swinging left thanks to the over reach by conservatives, and you just can’t stand it. tough. If anyone politicized this, it was Komen. Independent thinkers are now wise to the tactic of projection.
VoiceOfReason
February 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
@Jose
You are racist and I have reported your comment.
UGA 1999
February 3rd, 2012
1:59 pm
independent….So you feel that life does not begin until a fetus is 9 months old?