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
Johnny Boy says
February 7th, 2012
6:16 pm
..because everyone deserves a life.”
Except for the unborn….babies, (especially poor people’s babies) need to be exterminated. They will starve and cause problems….How else do you propose to control overpopulation by undesirables ?
Do it like China and 3rd world countries, kill the baby when you find it, womb, home, wherever, just do it !!! Support PP !!!
Irving and Ann Wolsky
February 7th, 2012
6:23 pm
Should have never gotten that job with her Anti beliefs. I somehow feel this was more of a “mutual agreement” resignation with all the backlash.
Bulldog
February 7th, 2012
6:31 pm
I won’t be sending any money to Komen anymore either and have given them about $300 per year. I had no idea that money was going to Planned Parenthood. It appears Komen’s reversal is just as political as their initial decision. I doubt this organization will survive as pro life supporters won’t fund them and pro choice supporters are still upset from their initial withdrawal of the PP funding.
Juish Holbangian
February 7th, 2012
6:35 pm
It is appalling to read all the insanely hateful comments on this page from the lefties. Hate, hate, hate. Thank goodness you’re all such fans of abortion. That means there will be far fewer of you in the future.
After Outcry, a Top Official Resigns at Komen | Cancer Kick
February 7th, 2012
7:19 pm
[...] have changed their mind over cutting off funds to Planned Parenthood. Ms. Handel noted in her letter of resignation to Nancy G. Brinker, Komen’s chief executive and founder, that she was unhappy that she had been [...]
babs hirschorn
February 7th, 2012
7:32 pm
In an interview, Susan Komen’s sister, a board member, affirmed the board’s move to end funding for Planned Parenthood. I think we should all re-evaluate the Komen Fund. Their agenda is not supportive of women. Anti-choice is the tool of the political agenda, especially for poor women.
It’s time we stop making sex punitive and realize restricting pro-choice is anti- women’s rights.
Diane Downs
February 7th, 2012
7:43 pm
Good riddance to bad rubbish!
Bulldog
February 7th, 2012
7:50 pm
Hmmm…supporting funding to cure breast cancer should also support pro-choice organizations? Good luck on fund raising, my donations will be excluded.
GoodGuy
February 7th, 2012
7:51 pm
I thank Karen Handel for sticking to her belief that life is sacred. She is a brave woman. I am sure her decision was long in coming and that it did not happen overnight or even within the past month. Good luck with your future endeavors. With the integrity you have displayed I am sure you will succeed in whatever you decide to do going forward.
David
February 7th, 2012
7:53 pm
I’ve never seen so many mean spirited people in all my life. You will reap what you sow.
GoodGuy
February 7th, 2012
7:56 pm
BTW, my opinion will obviously be in the minority in these comments and I said what I did not to upset anyone or even to advocate a particular side of this very complex issue of choice. The point I want to make perfectly clear is that when someone believes something so deeply that they give up their job it should make all of us pause to consider why and respect that person for their beliefs – especially if those beliefs differ from our own.
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February 7th, 2012
7:58 pm
[...] Handel, a former GOP candidate for Georgia governor, has stepped down as senior vice-president for public affairs of the Susan G. Komen foundation. Her resignation follows a week in which the foundation first rescinded funding for Planned [...]
jytdog
February 7th, 2012
7:59 pm
Ummm why did they hire her in the first place??
Tanya
February 7th, 2012
8:35 pm
Koman supposed to help find a cure for Cancer. As a Mom who recently saw her child sucking her thumb on a 3 dimentional ultrasound monitor at the end of the 1st trimester of life I am horrified that Koman hands over donations to Planned Parenthood who has dismembered alive over 340,000 unborn kids last year alone, half of them being unborn women who should have a right to their own body. You have to be totally devoid of conscience to mindlessly support Koman at this point who give money to such an organation who does not even do mamagrams. Love PP? At least have balls to watch first trimester child dismemberment at abortionno.com so at least you see what you coldly support.
After Outcry, a Senior Official Resigns at Komen » Health News Live
February 7th, 2012
8:36 pm
[...] Handel noted in her letter of resignation to Nancy G. Brinker, Komen’s chief executive and founder, that she was unhappy over having been [...]
David
February 7th, 2012
8:38 pm
babs hirschorn says, “It’s time we stop making sex punitive and realize restricting pro-choice is anti- women’s rights.”
Babs you have a mental disorder.
WiseGal
February 7th, 2012
8:38 pm
I hope you all get what this article is saying. She has resigned because of the Charity reversing its decision to end funding to Planned Parenthood. She believes that the decision to end the funding was the right one and when Komen caved to political pressure and reversed its decision, she feels it was contrary to their Mission and that they went against their own policies and best interest by reinstating the funding to Planned Parenthood. I very much agree with her and I applaud her backbone and her convictions, virtues that are very rare today. God bless her. But apparently, if Komen is going to give up all its integrity to political pressure from those who love abortion, then she wants no part in it. Good for her.
I think those who love abortion should remember that they are only here because they managed to escape it.
Karen Dittman
February 7th, 2012
9:06 pm
Enter your comments here
Rose
February 7th, 2012
9:20 pm
Very interesting comment from Handel “…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…” So she is admitting that the granting strategy was indeed changed just so they could “exit the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood”. This is in direct opposition to the statements made by Komen when the news of the defunding hit the media. Then, the story was in essence…. ‘we changed our funding policy, and now Planned Parenthood doesn’t qualify for our grants! sooo sorry! This has nothing to do politics, or pressure from right wing politics…!
So Karen, were you lying then, or now?
SallyBGood
February 7th, 2012
9:21 pm
Boohoo. This is me crying you a freaking river. I’m 61 years old and therefore remember life before Planned Parenthood. There is no way of calculating the number of lives this fine organization has saved.
WTH??
February 7th, 2012
9:23 pm
In the whole grand scheme of things, the funding that Komen was giving to PP was not going to shut the organization down. While significant, it was a drop in the bucket of their overall budget.
This was all political. Much ado about nothing.
WTH??
February 7th, 2012
9:26 pm
Why is it necessary that Komen provide the grant to PP? Why not some other organization? When you give your money to these organizations, you are giving up the right to decide where it ultimately goes. You’re better off sponsoring an individual – at least 100% of your money is spent on that human. Komen will never recover and that’s probably a good thing.
After Outcry, Karen Handel Resigns From Komen Rhonn Mitchell Rhonn Laighton Mitchell
February 7th, 2012
9:52 pm
[...] Handel noted in her letter of resignation to Nancy G. Brinker, Komen’s chief executive and founder, that she was unhappy over having been [...]
Jawaralal Klapzoom
February 7th, 2012
9:56 pm
She was wise to shun the severance package. Rather, she should have given the organization her entire wealth to make up for her perfidy and rightwing destructioinism. Don’t let the swinging door hit her in the too_ _ _ on the way out, eh?
Letuscount
February 7th, 2012
9:57 pm
I wonder how many babies have been aborted since this thread started?
Luis
February 7th, 2012
10:34 pm
Unfortunately, this is just one of many issues wrong with the SGK for the Cure. I will continue to send my money to other organizations, and not to a group that has allowed itself to become a political organization. I encourage other people to find an organization that is truly out to benefit women. Healthcare should not be politicized.
The Lesson of the Komen/Planned Parenthood Brouhaha – شبكة النيل الإخبارية
February 7th, 2012
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The Real Lesson of the Susan G. Komen Fiasco – شبكة النيل الإخبارية
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February 7th, 2012
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February 8th, 2012
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Happy thoughts
February 8th, 2012
2:21 am
SHE made it about politics and in turn almost ruined everything the foundation stands for. Her leaving is the best thing that could happen to the Susan G. Komen foundation.
Of course the downside is that she’s going to play the victim roll and milk it for all it’s worth, fooling not so bright republicans into thinking she’s some sort of martyr and use it as a platform for her next escapade. Unfortunently, the only loser in this situation is the fight against breast cancer, as Karen ‘the victim’ Handel will make it about everything other than that.
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February 8th, 2012
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Nancy
February 8th, 2012
8:59 am
The focus may now, at last, be on Planned Parenthood, a deserving organization instead of the controversy attached to Karen Handel!
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February 8th, 2012
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