Karen Handel resigns from Komen for the Cure
Karen Handel, the former GOP candidate for governor, just announced her resignation as a senior vice president for public policy of Susan G. Komen for the Cure – one week after the breast cancer charity reversed itself on a decision to sever financial ties with Planned Parenthood.
Below is the letter. Note that Handel says she is declining the offer of a severance package from Komen — which might have required her to keep silent.
February 7, 2012
The Honorable Nancy Brinker
CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure VIA EMAIL
5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250
Dallas, Texas 75244
Dear Ambassador Brinker:
Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been the recognized leader for more 30 years in the fight against breast cancer here in the US – and increasingly around the world.
As you know, I have always kept Komen’s mission and the women we serve as my highest priority – as they have been for the entire organization, the Komen Affiliates, our many supporters and donors, and the entire community of breast cancer survivors. I have carried out my responsibilities faithfully and in line with the Board’s objectives and the direction provided by you and Liz.
We can all agree that this is a challenging and deeply unsettling situation for all involved in the fight against breast cancer. However, Komen’s decision to change its granting strategy and exit the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and its grants was fully vetted by every appropriate level within the organization. At the November Board meeting, the Board received a detailed review of the new model and related criteria. As you will recall, the Board specifically discussed various issues, including the need to protect our mission by ensuring we were not distracted or negatively affected by any other organization’s real or perceived challenges. No objections were made to moving forward.
I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it. I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve. However, the decision to update our granting model was made before I joined Komen, and the controversy related to Planned Parenthood has long been a concern to the organization. Neither the decision nor the changes themselves were based on anyone’s political beliefs or ideology. Rather, both were based on Komen’s mission and how to better serve women, as well as a realization of the need to distance Komen from controversy. I believe that Komen, like any other nonprofit organization, has the right and the responsibility to set criteria and highest standards for how and to whom it grants.
What was a thoughtful and thoroughly reviewed decision – one that would have indeed enabled Komen to deliver even greater community impact – has unfortunately been turned into something about politics. This is entirely untrue. This development should sadden us all greatly.
Just as Komen’s best interests and the fight against breast cancer have always been foremost in every aspect of my work, so too are these my priorities in coming to the decision to resign effective immediately. While I appreciate your raising a possible severance package, I respectfully decline. It is my most sincere hope that Komen is allowed to now refocus its attention and energies on its mission.
Sincerely,
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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343 comments Add your comment
James Dobson
February 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
td, you don’t actually know what a breast screening is do you?
Sandra
February 7th, 2012
12:12 pm
Bottom line is this: If abortion was seen for what it really is — and abolished, EVERYTHING in this country would improve on all levels for all sides. This evil begets all other evils…………..
Lex
February 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
Brinker also needs to go. But if even a small portion of what Handel says is true, so does the entire board. And I suspect that’s what’ll be overlooked in the celebration of her well-deserved departure.
Janette
February 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
You folks that are glad she resigned are very hard-hearted. Whether you agree with abortion or not, and, don’t kid yourselves, that is your focus, she is an honorable woman who did a great job. I agree with BC supporter … and Planned Parenthood symbolizes all of those hypocrites who support breast cancer research and the killing of babies (future women!!) at the same time. HYPOCRITES!
Becky
February 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
I can’t wait for the news conference.
Disgusted American Male
February 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
Hey Td- just out of curiousity – HOW MANY UNWANTED CHILDREN HAVE -YOU- FOSTERED, MENTORED OR ADOPTED? Please do tell……..its loudmouths anti-choice nitwits like you that make me sick.
DJ Johnson
February 7th, 2012
12:14 pm
Don’t you fools know that there is a link between abortion and breast cancer? PP doesn’t even do mammography! Too many of you sound like the KKK of abortion. Go get them babies! Rip ‘em out! Who do they think they are? (Tongue-in-cheek for those who don’t recognize sarcasm.) Wow. When did so many women get to be haters of babies? It is so sad to read so many hateful opinions on a woman who only wants to PROTECT the new life who has just as much Right to Life as any of you. You are an embarrassment to women.
Tom
February 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
Anyone here on the pill?
LuLu
February 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
Planned Parenthood was not holding up its side of the bargin. The facts showed that it was not arranging for breast screenings according to the agreement when it accepted the money. The money was raised to fight breast cancer. It was not being used that way by Planned Parenthood. That is the real story, but the Korman fund didn’t want to trash Planned Parenthood and now one intelligent, caring woman is taking the fall for doing the right thing. If you honor women, you will take the time to get the facts straight. Let’s care about both of these organizations and…one woman at a time.
Disgusted American Male
February 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
ahh Sandra…another nitwit….and you Sandra…HOW MANY UNWANTED children have you Mentored, Fostered or adopted? huh? How many????
rex dogma
February 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
she got called out! Good job ajc.
hnbc
February 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
Karen Handel will never accept responsibility but will always find a way to blame someone else for her troubles … this decision was made before I joined the board, no one objected at the November meeting, blah blah blah.
If no one objected, why did board members resign over the Komen decision? Handel wants to end abortion rights for women, she doesn’t care who that might hurt.
Thankfully she is not the governor of Georgia although we don’t have one who is a tremendous improvement.
Just stay hidden, Karen. That suits you.
Becky
February 7th, 2012
12:17 pm
You know, when you can’t spell and can’t use grammar and punctuation, your opinion is moot. Go ahead and look it up!
jimh
February 7th, 2012
12:18 pm
We voted for Karen twice in the runoffs for Gov. We have walked (as a family) three years running for Komen and my wife organised our last two walks with her employer. Looking at the way this diabolical was misHANDELd we are considering going back to the March of Dimes. Oh yeah, I want to thank those of you who voted for Deal — I could not imagine how our state would be run with her at the helm!
Bob Ferrer
February 7th, 2012
12:18 pm
“… the need to protect our mission by ensuring we were not distracted or negatively affected by any other organization’s real or perceived challenges …”
How ironic.
Joseph Anthony
February 7th, 2012
12:19 pm
That’s what you get when you mess with Planned Parenthood. Partner with Planned Parenthood, and they own your soul forever.
Ron Curtis
February 7th, 2012
12:21 pm
Right-wingnuts and cons believe that life begins at conception and ends at birth. They want to force women to give birth rather than have an abortion but after the baby is born they want nothing more to do with it. Typical cons.
Peace
February 7th, 2012
12:22 pm
Learn from this lesson: If you donate to the SGK ‘for the cure of breast cancer’, you’re giving indirectly to Planned Parenthood and supporting the murder of innocent babies. Might as well direct your generosity to the U.S. Treasury.
The Love Handels
February 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
Lisa makes a good point. Why is SGK even giving their funds away to other organizations?
P.J.
February 7th, 2012
12:25 pm
Janette,
Do you throw a few coins out to the poor each year and say to yourself, I feel like I’ve done the right thing? It seems you’re more concerned with protecting a fetus’ life than an actual human being. You can read many accounts of women who took advantage of Planned Parenthood’s free mammogram screenings. You falsify your characterization of Planned Parenthood when only 3 percent of its services went to abortions.
Tom
February 7th, 2012
12:26 pm
Peace, you’re simply not very bright, are you?
The Love Handels
February 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
Roddy White – no he ain’t so brite.
Yeah c’mon.
P.J.
February 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
I second that Tom. Peace, you’re not very bright.
Matt Smith
February 7th, 2012
12:29 pm
If you want the Komen foundation to “refocus its attention and energies on its mission,” you might consider NOT adding fuel to the media fire… NOT releasing your resignation letter to the public… NOT meeting with reporters this afternoon in Atlanta.
Just a thought.
tman
February 7th, 2012
12:30 pm
It is amazing so many people and organizations are under investigation by the do nothing Congress. i may be under investigation. They can’t manage thjemselves or the country. This is a womens right and health issue and people were trying to impose their personal agenda. She had no rigth being there in the first place Ms Handel watch where she goes and the next move she makes. The republicans have been most disrespectful to women not saying Democrats aren’t either but the republicans are blatant with it and don’t even try to hide it it is shameful. Women beware.
honested
February 7th, 2012
12:31 pm
Now, how many other ‘charity brands’ need a good dose of sunlight?
yellowdog.
February 7th, 2012
12:32 pm
o yes, there is a god…….somewhere……….Amen to this decision
GoodJobKaren
February 7th, 2012
12:33 pm
Very proud of Karen for stepping up and ridding herself of Komen. Komen showed themselves to be cowards and allowed themselves to be bullied by those who want to continue to murder unborn children. Komen has lost all credibility and has forever lost any chance of receiving donations from the conservatives in our state, who make up the vast majority of the population and ever greater majority of donors to charitable causes.
Planned Parenthood is an abortion factory, I will continue to pray for those misguided liberals who support and enable the culture of death for our Lord to show them the truth.
Peace
February 7th, 2012
12:35 pm
Tom, PJ – I guess PP wasn’t around when you were conceived.
Denny
February 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
Guess it’s okay to lie in a resignation letter. The best thing about this resignation letter is,.. well, she resigns.
gnomeboy
February 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
well, The liberals got their way as usual, by using the “mob mentality.” I guess “Democracy” does work!
Kiteman
February 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
Gotta admire those people who think they know when “life” begins. Science is not sure. Life, by every definition, cannot begin until the organism can support its basic functions on its own, save nutrition. By that definition, 21-22 weeks gestation is about when life begins. So, clearly, a fertilized egg does not mean “life” although it has some features of it. It still needs the womb of the mother to keep it alive.
Better yet, let’s point to the hypocrisy of the evangelical Retardican position on welfare mothers having babies and more babies while receiving government aid. A true conservative would say that should be prevented. No more mouths on the taxpayers’ nickel. Isn’t abortion the most practical, cost-effective way to resolve that? Adoption is not a realistic answer because not everyone would want the child, so he ends up in an orphanage anyway. Such an upbringing encourages delinquency, so by outlawing abortion, we have contributed to the crime problem.
Clearly, anti-abortion people have not read the great book Freakonomics and the section on what is responsible for the relative decrease in crimes 35 years after Roe vs. Wade. I would suggest that anti-abortion pseudo-conservatives read it to get some perspective.
A true conservative wants as few people on the public dole as possible. Then we want to outlaw the public dole, eventually, after all have been properly weened. Anything contrary to that philosophy (like the Retardican anti-abortion message) is not conservative by any means.
td
February 7th, 2012
12:37 pm
Disgusted American Male
February 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
I have been a foster parent, so have you?. How many is none of your business. As far as unwanted children, is it more important to be able to protect the right for someone to not be have to be responsible for ones actions at the expense of a death sentence to a human being? That is a sick choice in my opinion.
JennaSmith
February 7th, 2012
12:37 pm
After reading some of these comments, I just felt like pointing out that whenever Planned Parenthood receives money, it doesn’t just go into one giant account to be used willy nilly wherever PP wants to use it. There are multiple accounts each with their own rules and regulations as to how it can be dispersed. Grants from Komen, for example, were used (at our affiliate) to provide breast cancer screenings and referrals for further breast health care. To get a mammogram down here, you have to be referred. If you do not have a doctor, health insurance, or money to have that initial screening, you cannot simply pick up the phone and set an appointment for a mammogram. The PP affiliate that I worked for utilized the grant money to provide these screenings and referrals to women who would otherwise not be able to afford or access them elsewhere.
As for other monies, donations are earmarked for specific programs. One of those programs was a “reproductive equity fund” which went solely to subsidizing the cost of an abortion for low-income women. A donation that was not earmarked went into the general fund but the general fund did NOT go toward subsidizing abortion costs. To pretend that Komen giving a grant to PP means that PP can use other monies to pay for abortions is incorrect and grossly inaccurate. If PP does not have the funds in its specific accounts for breast screenings/referrals, then it simply cannot provide that service unless the woman can pay it off ahead of time. Likewise if the reproductive equity fund is empty, then the woman must find a way to cover the full cost of her procedure herself. The general fund is not used to provide abortions, nor are monies received from grants that very often have stringent requirements as to how they can be used as well as accountability measures to ensure the money is being utilized as intended.
Basically, PP getting a grant for breast screenings/referrals does not increase the amount of money PP can use to help women subsidize an abortion. It just doesn’t work that way. There are regulations regarding every dollar that comes in and how it can go out again. Only those dollars specifically earmarked to the reproductive equity fund can be used to subsidize abortions and very often, they do not have enough money for the demand. The majority of women who choose an abortion typically end up spending quite a bit out of their own pocket whether they have it or not.
Tom
February 7th, 2012
12:40 pm
Peace, how are grants made specifically directed to breast screenings and mammogram referrals to non-PP facilities paid for with grant proceeds “supporting the murder of innocent babies”? And don’t parrot the moonbat hysteria, give us specific instances in which SGK grant funds funded activities related directly to abortion services. Lemming.
Tom
February 7th, 2012
12:41 pm
Jenna, prepare for some “liar! liar! pants of fire!” and “burn in hell baby-killer!” replies.
Gwen McArthur
February 7th, 2012
12:42 pm
Instead of a heartfelt apology, this comes across as “I’m sorry that you (the public as a whole) have a problem, but…”. I also find it interesting that she feels the need to broadcast that the decision regarding Planned Parenthood was an agreed upon and vetted corporate decision that was made with a flagrant disregard for potential fallout. Let this debacle serve as a lesson to you, Ms. Handel and your (now former) cohorts, weighing “personal opinion” against the greater good will ultimately fail.
Ann
February 7th, 2012
12:42 pm
Bye bye, Karen Handel. And take your lies with you!!!!!
gsueagle
February 7th, 2012
12:42 pm
Komen lost a great person. may God continue to bless her and Komen.
yogabird
February 7th, 2012
12:43 pm
In response to MN Jean Komen does not only raise money for “cancer cure research & treatments” they raise for screening, education and awareness as well — Planned parenthood was providing breast cancer screening to those most in need — the poor and uninsured. You make it sound like PP was using the Komen funds for something else– (and we all know what that is) PP provides a continuium of care to some of the most vulnerable women. Yes it includes abortion but alsoincludes clinical breast and gynecological care, family planning and contraception. As a survivor I walked sixty miles and raised a lot of money, but have watched them continue to slap their name on any product just to earn money — often those products are not healthy for women (pink buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken) See http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org Don’t get me started on the executive pay –paste this into your browser and get an education: http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content/AboutUs/Financial/KOMEN%20PARENT%20PDC%20wout%20PW.pdf
td
February 7th, 2012
12:46 pm
Kiteman
February 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
Better yet, let’s point to the hypocrisy of the evangelical Retardican position on welfare mothers having babies and more babies while receiving government aid. A true conservative would say that should be prevented. No more mouths on the taxpayers’ nickel. Isn’t abortion the most practical, cost-effective way to resolve that? Adoption is not a realistic answer because not everyone would want the child, so he ends up in an orphanage anyway. Such an upbringing encourages delinquency, so by outlawing abortion, we have contributed to the crime problem.
The most cost effective solution would be voluntary sterilization in return for support. If people would be held accountable for their actions (like paying the state back for supporting their children) then you would see a great deal more responsibility with people.
quake
February 7th, 2012
12:46 pm
Too bad Komen didn’t have the guts to fire her, given that they had the stupidity to hire her in the first place. And because of that, Komen loses, and women lose. I hope Handel is proud of herself. Total fail.
marty
February 7th, 2012
12:50 pm
To this, I say ‘Hooha!’ If this decision was not political, as she has claimed, then what is the ‘controversy’ that she refers to each and every time she names Planned Parenthood?
PS–the SMALLEST part of what Planned Parenthood provides to women is abortion. And–those who choose to have them are making their own decision about their own lives–not YOUR life. So, please get over it.
GaBlue
February 7th, 2012
12:50 pm
yogabird,
Well stated. I had problems with SGK before the PP scandal hit. Like, how much does it cost to run radio ads every 15 minutes in morning drive time? Seriously? Their advertising/marketing budget is HUGE, and yet, we’re still getting our tatas slammed between two hard slabs and nearly twisted off just to get a picture that might indicate a lump in there. They’re no closer to identifying the cause of this horrid curse, let alone really curing it. They’re STILL treating it by nearly killing a woman just to kill cancer cells, and women are still dying horrible, painful, long-suffering deaths by the “drugs” they help push on us with a hefty dose of false hope.
Like yeah, the bucket o’ fried chicken is going to help? Geebus, we really have to be stupid to believe that.
Marvin Gardens
February 7th, 2012
12:50 pm
“Neither the decision nor the changes themselves were based on anyone’s political beliefs or ideology.”
Conservatives rationalize lying the same way cults do. It is called “Heavenly Deception.”
Disgusted American Male
February 7th, 2012
12:51 pm
GoodJobKaren ……another one, HOW many children have YOU ADOPTED,or FOSTERED or MENTORED? HUH? How many??????? …..and remember they all can’t be blue eyed,blond and WHITE!
jonny bakho
February 7th, 2012
12:53 pm
How much did this charity pay her? It should be an honor and privilege to serve on a charity board. Charities should not give money intended to help those in need to wealthy people who don’t need or deserve it. Our governing elites are failing to serve and take take take from the rest of us.
delores jones
February 7th, 2012
12:57 pm
One down, one to go …. when will Brinker do what is best for Komen?
Kiteman
February 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
Ah, td, voluntary sterilization is not COST-EFFECTIVE. Voluntary sterilization (tubal ligation or partial salpingectomy for the woman) costs approximately $4000, including surgeon and OR costs. Abortion costs about $750. Which do you think the welfare queen is going to get? Be realistic. The good news is that the more abortions the welfare queen gets, the more likely she will make herself sterile because of intrauterine adhesions, a condition known as Asherman’s syndrome.
Lastly, the big hole in your argument comes when the utopia we true conservatives want is finally realized (ie, everyone is self-supporting). If the former welfare queens–now good, productive workers–are in a good position to procreate and want to have another child, your voluntary sterilization program would prevent that and perhaps cause a decline in population and, subsequently, national productivity. National trade deficit. That’s another discussion.
honested
February 7th, 2012
12:59 pm
Just another example of ‘republican leadership’ in action.
These are the sort of people GA elects to attend to important business.
Sad.