Karen Handel and the upside of unemployment in a down economy
In this economy, most people need a job in order to thrive. But not Karen Handel. The former Republican candidate for governor may have revived her political career by quitting hers.
As a public relations disaster, the week’s aborted attempt – the phrasing is intentional — by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to sever ties with Planned Parenthood will quickly become a case study in business schools around the country.
Karen Handel, a former GOP candidate for governor , is interviewed following her resignation from Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
The nation’s largest breast cancer charity first announced it would shut off most money to the family planning organization – whose abortion services have long made it a target of pro-life forces. Then, in the face of an unexpected wall of protests, largely Internet-driven, Komen reversed itself.
As the senior vice president of public policy hired to help turn Komen into a Planned Parenthood-free zone, Handel had been hung out to dry. She resigned on Tuesday, to no one’s surprise. Komen badly needed Handel to depart, as proof to pro-choice forces that the charity’s turnabout was sincere. And Handel just as badly needed to jump into a lifeboat and cast herself adrift – to demonstrate her own sincerity.
But Handel also needed to look good doing it. The chaos of a mass news conference, with its shouted questions, might have come across as grandstanding. Also, like most unemployed people, Handel now had to think about her budget – and renting the required hall would have been expensive.
So selected journalists and a large Fox News satellite truck were summoned to the wilds of northern Atlanta, where — at the private home of her one-time campaign spokesman Dan McLagan — Handel conducted a series of quiet, one-on-one conversations. She had nothing but good to say about her former employer, unless one read between the lines.
By giving Planned Parenthood advance notice of the split, and the loss of $680,000 in grants, Handel said Komen had allowed the family planning organization to organize a “shakedown.” All invective was reserved for the GOP villain.
“Komen is a breast cancer organization. It’s not an organization that knows guerrilla campaigning and guerrilla tactics like Planned Parenthood unleashed,” Handel said.
Handel and Komen have — or had — more in common than an employment contract. Both have deep Republican roots. Komen founder and CEO Nancy Brinker served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary during the George W. Bush administration. Both the charity and the former candidate for governor have had to cope with hardening GOP attitudes toward abortion.
Komen’s problem boiled down to efforts by anti-abortion activists, even Catholic dioceses, to cast a cloud on the charity’s pink-ribbon brand. “I was tasked with identifying options that would allow us to move to neutral ground around this,” Handel said. “I embrace the fact that I led the process.”
There was no neutral ground for Handel in 2010, when the former secretary of state sought to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue. In a GOP primary runoff, rival and ultimate victor Nathan Deal criticized Handel for approving — as a Fulton County commissioner — the direction of $400,000 in federal grant money to Planned Parenthood. Told that the cash went to cervical cancer detection, Deal responded that this only freed up more money for abortions.
On a state level, Handel opposed restrictions on in-vitro fertilization. She opposed abortion — except in cases of rape and incest. Both positions put her at odds with Georgia Right to Life, the state’s leading anti-abortion group, which declared her insufficiently pro-life. GRTL president Dan Becker noted Handel’s childless status, calling her “barren.”
After this week, Handel now has pro-life bona fides that would be hard to challenge, should she decide to run for office again. She dodged the question on Tuesday. “I learned a long time ago, don’t try to predict the future,” Handel said.
Asked whether she thought she would now be accepted by pro-life forces in Georgia, Handel was circumspect. “With Dan Becker? Are you kidding me? It does not change my relationship with that one individual one bit,” she said.
But Becker himself said he was impressed by Handel’s decision to quit. “We commend Karen Handel for being instrumental in exposing the link between Planned Parenthood and Susan G. Komen,” he said.
As I was typing these final paragraphs, the phone rang. The Christian Broadcasting Network — Pat Robertson’s outfit — was on the line. They’d read Handel’s comments on ajc.com, and wanted to put a camera in front of her.
The pro-life movement may have just found a new hero. The irony doesn’t escape Handel — or anyone else.
To read more on the topic, check out the AJC’s Atlanta Forward section.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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191 comments Add your comment
UGA 1999
February 9th, 2012
9:41 am
Great job Karen. Way to stand up for what you believe in.
UGA 1999
February 9th, 2012
9:42 am
Mahopinion……YES!!!
Elizabeth
February 9th, 2012
9:47 am
Pro-life = pro MORE government spending to take care of all the unwanted kids. So if you’re pro-life, you are also supporting MAJOR tax increases.
That’s why Tea Partiers CAN’T be Pro-Life. They can only be PRO-FETUS. Because once they’re born, Tea Parties stop caring…
td
February 9th, 2012
9:51 am
Elizabeth
February 9th, 2012
9:47 am
Why is it the governments job to “take care” of people? Do you not believe that people have the some personal responsibility to take care of themselves?
Truth
February 9th, 2012
9:54 am
I have an idea – It is called Adoption!
Deliver the baby and give it up for adoption.
Truth
February 9th, 2012
9:56 am
Elizabeth:
Ever thought if you didn’t have abortions, then how many workers would be in the workforce today paying Social Security taxes, buying houses, etc. Maybe it makes economical sense to not abort people and instead give them up for adoption where then can be raised in a good environment giving them opportunities to succeed in our society.
Real American
February 9th, 2012
9:59 am
That’s a nice thought Truth, but do you know how many wards of the state between the ages of 1-16 there are in Georgia alone at this very moment?
Tom
February 9th, 2012
10:00 am
td, your god disposes of way more embryos/fetuses than all the adoption providers on the planet could ever imagine. Do some research on the estimated number of pregnancies that result in spontaneous abortions, misscarriages and stillbirths.
Your god is, was, and will forever be the most prolific killer.
Real American
February 9th, 2012
10:00 am
Why didn’t any reporter ask Handel about other grantees that she also recommended to have their grants rescinded as well? Weren’t there others that would have been affected by the new criteria?
td
February 9th, 2012
10:00 am
Real American
February 9th, 2012
9:59 am
Very few that were given up at birth.
UGA 1999
February 9th, 2012
10:04 am
Tom…..is your soul really that dark?
zeke
February 9th, 2012
10:05 am
10-4, Sonny LIED!! First of all, the Supreme Court failed in it’s Constitutional authority when it MADE A LAW THAT ABORTION ON DEMAND WAS LEGAL! THEY MADE A LAW WITH THE ROE RULING! THAT IS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL! ONLY CONGRESS IS ALLOWED TO MAKE LAWS ACCORDING TOT THE CONSTITUTION!! THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED!!!
Ik
February 9th, 2012
10:06 am
How did she get to be hired anyway as VP, Public Policy when she has no basic education and quite frankly is not smart. She was pathetic as a Fulton County Commissioner. She asked questions that exposed her ignorance and lack of understand of how things work.
She was more interested in posturing on divisive issues.Did she ever get to write policy papers as VP, Public Policy for Komen. That is the downside to Politics where an iliiterate can run for public office. Maybe the constitution should be amended to require a minimum bachelors for any public office. At least it might increase the quality of discourse.
Am sure she will get another job. I hope so as well because afterall we dont want people to suffer.
Am happy Nathan Deal is our Governor and not Ms Handel.
Truth
February 9th, 2012
10:07 am
Real American:
I do not know so please give me the exact # that were given up at birth?
I do know of 5 couples personally who have adopted children from out of the country and would have liked to adopt newborns from America. All of these couples have stable home environments also to give children the opportunity they need to succeed.
Tom
February 9th, 2012
10:10 am
“soul”?…sorry, not into fantasy/mythology, UGA. Always enjoyed learning about the various deities and other mythological beings and creatures invented by our species throughout recorded history, though. Good stuff.
Real American
February 9th, 2012
10:10 am
Why are you only asking for the number given up at birth? They don’t count when they’re older?? Its ok if the child is 5 or 11 and living in an orphanage – only newborns are adoptable??
Pro-life my azz.
td
February 9th, 2012
10:16 am
Real American
February 9th, 2012
10:10 am
In relation to the abortion debate one would assume that all the saved children would be given up at birth. My answer back to was to point out that children given up at birth in this state are being adopted.
Is it better for a human being to live in a orphanage or to be dead?
ScottNATL
February 9th, 2012
10:17 am
Senator Handel…who wants to bet she runs against Saxby
2/9: Decision. A reversal. A resignation | Atlanta Forward
February 9th, 2012
10:17 am
[...] To read more on the Handel’s response, check Jim Galloway’s Political Insider. [...]
Real American
February 9th, 2012
10:23 am
td, save it. You and “Truth” played yourselves. You showed exactly what many people on this blog have pointed out. You only care about conception to birth…but damn a child’s life once here. You could give a rat’s azz about the thousands of children languishing in orphanages, just as long as you can control a woman’s body, its all good. Talk about hypocritical stands. Whatever God you believe in, I wants no part of that callousness. But thanks for clearing it up for anyone who had a doubt. “Pro-life” is just a nickname.
In the words of the great Denny Green – they are who we thought they were.
Svenzo
February 9th, 2012
10:32 am
I e-mailed Komen that I’d contribute another $100 if they’d fire Handel, but she quit so…?
One could make the case that Handel threw away her gubernatorial chances by trying to friend the anti-abortion gang. They don’t friend anyone back. You lose more than you gain.
deegee
February 9th, 2012
10:33 am
I agree with gopisayankeefan. If you believe that abortion is okay in the case of rape or incest, then you believe that abortion is okay. Following Handel’s logic, it would be alright to dismiss a murder case because the deceased was conceived by rape or incest.
Kiteman
February 9th, 2012
10:43 am
Hmmmm. She is well-qualified for dog-catcher, having never completed a full term in any elected office and having only a GED. Then again, that is an insult to dog catchers.
td
February 9th, 2012
10:45 am
Real American
February 9th, 2012
10:23 am
What righteous indignation coming from you. It appears to me that you would rather see a child murdered and given no chance then to give them a chance to be raised in an orphanage.
I do not think most of this nation wants any part of that religious view (secular humanism).
Mick Dee
February 9th, 2012
10:55 am
No worries for Karen Handel. She’ll copy Newt Gingrich and get rich as a spokesperson/lobbyist for 1%ers like the Koch Brothers.
UGA 1999
February 9th, 2012
11:01 am
Mike….and?
UGA 1999
February 9th, 2012
11:26 am
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/46316454/ns/today-today_rossen_reports/
AMEN!!!
Azziz
February 9th, 2012
11:30 am
One wonders whether Handel, Becker, Deal and the rest of their hardcore right wing brethren realize they’re driving people away from Christianity and the GOP with their antics.
You really have to be gullible and weak to allow these people to tell you how to live your life.
Mahopinion
February 9th, 2012
11:55 am
Of course the easiest way to prevent an abortion is to prevent the unplanned pregnancy in the first place…hence the availability of BIRTH CONTROL.
Rex Dogma
February 9th, 2012
12:38 pm
What’s up with all this coverage of Karen Handel. She does not merit this. Just another political parasitic leach. She’s worthless.
Kiteman
February 9th, 2012
12:40 pm
I think any rational person agrees that birth control (pills, depots, condoms, etc.) are preferable to abortion. Unfortunately, the evangelicals and Catholics don’t want any of that. Basically, they think humans should just procreate ad infinitum, ad absurdem, ad nauseam in order that they may preach and convert them to paying members. This flawed reasoning causes problems with overpopulation, starvation and other “inhumane” things, e.g., increased crime, war for territory, etc. When this is pointed out, they note that a good portion of land in the world is not populated (guess we’re supposed to live in the Sahara, or the Himalayas) and that “technology” will provide ways to get the food we need. Yet, they even decry the superiority of science and technology as encroaching on the “spiritual life”. Hence, religious people cannot be taken seriously in ANY argument.
Middle of the Road
February 9th, 2012
12:45 pm
“I have an idea – It is called Adoption!
Deliver the baby and give it up for adoption”
Except that there are already tons of kids waiting for an adoption that will never come. Granted these are black kids, older kids, and kids with medical problems, but still unadopted anyway.
Middle of the Road
February 9th, 2012
12:49 pm
“I do know of 5 couples personally who have adopted children from out of the country and would have liked to adopt newborns from America.”
Just not the black ones. And certainly not older kids or those with medical problems.
Bernie
February 9th, 2012
1:40 pm
Jim, I think you should go and have a talk with the higher ups at the AJC on Karen’s behalf. Surely she will
So far, with your most deluisonal comments of support, you are doing a good job of it, but with Kareen’s expertise I have no doubt, she can finish the job completely. There is no great learning case study to be learned from this event.
come up with a very good policy to finish the AJC off as well.
Other than , The hiring of Unqualified Political wannabes can be a very dangerous decision for any organization. As a matter of fact, anyone that is not qualified via education and related experience should not be made Vice-President Of Public Policy, period.
missmollie
February 9th, 2012
2:14 pm
Karen, I salute you for your recent decision to get out of this controversial issue. I do believe you
have a place in State/National government. To the GOPers who still “fight” her; go back and read what the Ga Legislature did to her and look at the final vote count for governor. A beautiful picture above. I hope you have been involved in “higher education”… Use this national media to advance
your career. I hope you come back to Georgia or maybe you can get EE’s job???
Bernie
February 9th, 2012
2:58 pm
Karen, why not forward your resume to the Taliban. You both have very similar issues regarding women.
As their Public Policy Director, you could along with your many GOP supporters provide strong leadership to defend their actions against the Women of America. I am not so sure they can pay you as mush as your last employer. But certainly, you can have a choice of all the many colors of Burka’s your litttle tiny dark heart’s desire. Maybe you could even start your on line.
Julia
February 9th, 2012
3:38 pm
She can become a hostess at the nearest Cracker Barrel.
Michael Bregnan, M.D.
February 9th, 2012
3:55 pm
As a board certified physician, I take an interest in Ms. Handel’s words and actions.
After carefully reviewing her platform in the Georgia gubernatorial race and her recent remarks associated with the SGK incident, I believe the best thing for her to do would be reality television.
Perhaps she could be on a show that features self-righteous egomaniacs who are backed into a corner and attack the show’s host or other contestants at the end of each episode. Also, I believe she would fit the criteria for being a contestant on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”
GET REAL
February 9th, 2012
3:56 pm
Hey, td, where are all of these orphanges you talk about? If it were left up to neanderthals like you and UGA 1999, you wouldn’t want orphanages funded by the state to care for all the babies whose mothers were denied abortions. Are you willing to pay additional state taxes to open orphanages? Yes or No.
Michael Bregnan, M.D.
February 9th, 2012
4:01 pm
As a board certified physician, I would encourage everyone to consider the following:
every time a woman and her physician make the decision to terminate a pregnancy, they effectively reduce the number of people who could potentially fully gestate and become sexually mature and later obtain a safe and legal abortion. So, the end result is of course fewer abortions. And I believe that regardless of how anyone feels about contraceptive rights, everyone believes that reducing the total number of abortions performed is a positive step for America.
td
February 9th, 2012
8:56 pm
GET REAL
February 9th, 2012
3:56 pm
Hey, td, where are all of these orphanges you talk about? If it were left up to neanderthals like you and UGA 1999, you wouldn’t want orphanages funded by the state to care for all the babies whose mothers were denied abortions. Are you willing to pay additional state taxes to open orphanages? Yes or No.
Yes, and then make sure Child support does income deduction orders on both parents until the full cost of the state caring for the children is paid off. Actions have consequences and everyone must take responsibility for their actions.