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
Ellen
February 8th, 2012
6:07 pm
Maybe there is a pro-life land where Karen Handel can be its queen….
honested
February 8th, 2012
6:08 pm
Poor karen.
One can only wonder now, had she won the Governors race, would she be almost ready to quit now (after 2 years) since the job was so hard?
Just drawing a behavioral comparison.
ByteMe
February 8th, 2012
6:09 pm
“I was tasked with identifying options that would allow us to move to neutral ground around this,”
And her choice was to use a lie as the basis for the decision. And then get all pouty when no one would back up the lie in public. And then use that to attack a GOP punching bag that provides indigent woment’s services. I see a regular spot on FOX News in her future. She has the instinct for trying to sell garbage to the gullible.
cartoon
February 8th, 2012
6:11 pm
Abortion is murder plain and simple, but I’m willing to let God decide the destiny of the lost souls.
Tom
February 8th, 2012
6:15 pm
Maybe Pat wants to send her to Haiti to try to prevent future earthquakes.
julia
February 8th, 2012
6:22 pm
you just gotta love those sanctimonious womb watcher, bless their pointy little black hearts.
major snark!
You don’t believe in abortion, then don’t have one. But you darn well better not stand in the way of my having one if it is what I choose to do. And for all of the self righteous so called Christians, there are millions of poor women for whom Planned Parenthood is their ONLY option. Poor people don’t matter though, do they.
td
February 8th, 2012
6:32 pm
ulia
February 8th, 2012
6:22 pm
I do not believe in murder either but I am not willing to let a murderer go free.
double
February 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
julia they don’t matter to Romney.
jconservative
February 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
honested at 6:08
Nice point. Reminds one of Palin quitting in Alaska.
Lynnbo
February 8th, 2012
6:35 pm
What you have is two non-profits run by over paid women not doing anything to really help those who they claim to help. Stop wasting your money on either. Find another way to help someone in need.
End the hate by not participating in the politicalizing of human suffering. Don’t be fooled they don’t help those in need as much as they lined their own pockets.
td
February 8th, 2012
6:37 pm
double
February 8th, 2012
6:34 pm
julia they don’t matter to Romney.
That is because there is already a safety net that takes care of them. The truly poor receive Medicaid. He also said he was not worried about the rich. He wants to concentrate of the middle class that has no safety net or money to fall back on.
double
February 8th, 2012
6:39 pm
Nader thinks Newt should run as 3rd party,Handle could be his vice.
hl
February 8th, 2012
6:42 pm
All money is fungible so that argument is bull. In that case you shouldn’t give anyone money. We fund Israel who probably doesn’t need it and they perform abortions. NINETY-Seven percent of the money towards planned parenthood is used for health care. The reason the Komen Foundation supported Planned Parenthood is that they provided health care when no one else did. If that appalls you then open a clinic in places in West Virginia and small towns where no one else provides services.
This is not a republican issue, this is not a democratic issue, it’s a women’s health issue. Even if planned parenthood stopped abortion people would scream about contraception. The same folks screaming are against help for prenatal care and infant care. I am sickened but I know I don’t share a lot of the values that some on this site write about. I love my neighbor.
honested
February 8th, 2012
6:44 pm
Ok, now she has had her two days of irrelevant gas-bag utopia.
Unless she is going to introduce a line of urinal mints in her likeness, it is time to let her slip back into the ooze.
Lest she get the misbegotten notion that people are waiting for her next utterance.
honested
February 8th, 2012
6:46 pm
hl,
Amen!
They are already all bowed up about birth control and that issue was settled by the Supreme Court when Kennedy was still President.
hl
February 8th, 2012
6:47 pm
A couple of other points…TD check the medicaid requirements…sure your grandma can get medicaid and thankfully now children can but not many in between.
Also, too….why did the Congress MANDATE that insurance had to cover Vi.agra? Are you guys really that vain.
hl
February 8th, 2012
6:49 pm
One more thing…Romney is trying to defend his contraception mandate but I don’t think he vetoed any bills. That is actually something he could have done had he been so offended.
doofus
February 8th, 2012
6:49 pm
I’m a born again pro war, pro electirc chair, anti-abortion enigma….
doofus
February 8th, 2012
6:51 pm
boner pills is the lawd’s will, abortion pills is the devil’s work……
godisayankeefan
February 8th, 2012
6:53 pm
I always find it interesting when someone allows an abortion ban exception for rape and incest. If a fetus is a person, why is it OK to terminate its “life” based on how that life originated? This kind of moral, logical, and philosophical inconsistency reveals Handle’s true motives in wanting to outlaw abortion. She wants to punish women who willingly had sex and wound up pregnant. If she really respected life, it would be across the board. What a sanctimonious phony.
sheepdawg
February 8th, 2012
6:58 pm
Just hope she stays away from GA with her hate and ignorance agenda
Aquagirl
February 8th, 2012
7:00 pm
So Karen wrecks Komen then moves along, leaving an awful mess in her wake. Right wingers will now deify this dumb bint as a hero. That pretty much sums up why these people are idiots.
DJ Sniper
February 8th, 2012
7:04 pm
Why is the right so obsessed with abortion and women’s health in general? Like someone said earlier, don’t have an abortion if that goes against your personal beliefs, but don’t try to impose your beliefs on someone else for whom abortion may be an option.
BitterEXdemocrackkk
February 8th, 2012
7:11 pm
hey sheepdawg…hate and ignorance in Ga comes from the evil leftwingnut democrackkks.
Centrist
February 8th, 2012
7:18 pm
Karen Handel did a decent job of taking the fall since she was the point woman for the rigid pro-life policy SGK attempted. She was not alone in implementing that politicized policy.
But her media exit smells of ambition to use it for something else. I doubt she will ever be Governor, but I suspect another political office attempt is in her future.
At least this reader is tired of the issue and her for a while. There are lots of other Republicans for the AJC to attack.
bob from account temps
February 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
AND on the other side of the coin, target was praised by the gay activists for not caving in to the right wing moms and because they did not throw ellen under the bus. if only komen had the same guts.
hl
February 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Although I don’t think the Komen Foundation spends nearly enough on research (18%) or for care (10%), I do commend Nancy Brinker for the awareness that she brought about breast cancer. Personally I’d rather give to clinics at this point that provide breast exams and research centers like Sloan Kettering but Nancy Brinker needs to be recognized for her work. I don’t think Karen Handel helped her. The Komen foundation studied the issue and knew that lower income would suffer if they didn’t fund planned parenthood and Handel was okay with that. Unfortunately, the Komen Foundation had several high level folks leave because of that. What was Handel thinking?
Breast cancer is not a republican issue. It is not a democrat issue. It is not a issue that attacks only the wealthy (SGK), it’s not only an issue that attacks the poor. The Komen Foundation can only help if they aid those that need it.
Many decades ago I met Nancy Brinker and that was when she started the foundation, I feel so bad for her and what folks like Karen allowed her to be.
Ray
February 8th, 2012
7:27 pm
First of all, the money I donate to SBK should be for breast cancer research, not going to planned abortionhood. I will no longer donate knowing they have money to throw around. 2nd, good for Karen and standing up for her beliefs. 3rd, abortion should remain legal and safe, however you should have to look at an ultrasound of the life you are getting ready to take and if you are good with that and it falls within the law, its between you and God or the lack thereof. 4th, do you know what birth control is people? Its much easier, cheaper and more humane. 5th, you libs need to got hit your bongs.
Slip
February 8th, 2012
7:29 pm
Guerilla tactics? Money walking can hardly be described as “guerilla tactics”. There is broad support for saving lives, something the public obviously thought the Handel.-Komen decision did not do.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
7:30 pm
@Bob
It was JC Penny you loon.
Dave
February 8th, 2012
7:31 pm
Handel came with her political agenda, why is anyone, INCLUDING Handel, that those were rejected once known by the general public?!!!
Why does the GOP keep pretending they weren’t doing anything wrong, when their ugly, underhanded tactics are brought to light?
Karen’s political future is done, stick a fork in her.
Ray
February 8th, 2012
7:31 pm
And Jim Galloway looks like he needs to eat another twinkie….is that insensitive?
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
7:33 pm
@Ray
None of the SGK funds went to abortions. It was earmarked strictly for breast exams and mammograms.
Slip
February 8th, 2012
7:33 pm
No, Ray. That’s rude.
bob from account temps
February 8th, 2012
7:35 pm
look – thanks – but do you get the point or are you obtuse
hl
February 8th, 2012
7:35 pm
Ray..Only 18 percent goes for research so I understand your concern. Give to John Hopkins or Sloan Kittering if you are concerned about that. BTW you do know that last year they gave 600,000 out of there 300,000,000 to planned parenthood for breast exams. If you are concerned that a poor white folk or poor black folk might be save please give to someone else..
truthpaste
February 8th, 2012
7:36 pm
Life begins at conception and ends at birth, right GOP?
DJ Sniper
February 8th, 2012
7:36 pm
Ray, you sound like one of those people who think that the only time a woman seeks an abortion is because she’s just too dang lazy to raise that child. What about a threat to the mother’s life? What about a woman who gets pregnant as the result of a rape and can’t handle the thought of raising the rapist’s child? This isn’t a one size fits all issue.
Also, keep in mind that some states have passed legislation trying to mandate viewings of ultrasound or listening to heartbeats, and some of those have been declared unconstitutional.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
7:38 pm
@hl
hl
February 8th, 2012
7:23 pm
Although I don’t think the Komen Foundation spends nearly enough on research (18%) or for care (10%), I do commend Nancy Brinker for the awareness that she brought about breast cancer.
I agree on both counts. I have many friends and relatives who walk for the cure. They usually ask for $100. I give them a check for $175. Had one friend ask me why and I told her, the extra $75 was to cover SGK’s administrative costs. They were a bit shocked by that.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
The only point that matters is that your post was irrelevant …as are you.
Slip
February 8th, 2012
7:40 pm
Was it George Carlin who said, “they love the fetus hate the baby”?
bart
February 8th, 2012
7:41 pm
What a loser Handel has turned out to be! I was a supporter but no more. She was willing to put the lives of millions of women at risk for purely political reasons. How sad.
amy
February 8th, 2012
7:46 pm
if your position is that abortion is murder, i’d love to hear your position on welfare babies. the more the merrier, yeah?
nevermind that PP provides prenatal care and counseling to expectant mothers who choose to keep their children and can’t afford insurance or private health care. THE HORROR! THE SIN! HOW DARE THEY!
amy
February 8th, 2012
7:49 pm
as far as the right wing is concerned, the goverment should stay out of our lives…unless, of course, they don’t agree with how we live said lives. then they want to be all up in our business.
i’m surprised they’re letting karen handel speak without a man present. she is, after all, a second-class citizen, what with her having a vagina and all. she’s not qualified to make decisions for herself. where is the man in charge?
RCW
February 8th, 2012
7:51 pm
Planned Parenthood does more in one day to prevent abortions than Right to Life groups do in one year.
Bobby
February 8th, 2012
7:52 pm
Actually, before the SGK fiasco few people realized how right winged and into Republican politics SGK was/is. Every time I see a pink ribbon now, I think of corruption and right wing politics, not breast cancer.
janet
February 8th, 2012
7:52 pm
Mrs. Handel should try working in a day care center for low income families for 1 year at minimum wage. She has worked her way from secretarial pool to North Fulton Chamber of Commerce to Sec. of State..She has left nothing but wreckage in her wake. I just don’t understand how someone with so few educational and professional qualifications gets a job like VP at SGK with all the qualified people looking for a job? And let’s not forget her huge salary.
Will
February 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
PLanned Parenthood is the center of the abortion industry in the US. It’s a shame that so many are willing to look the other way at the slaughter.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
Ya know, given that there has been no official response from SGK, I am inclined believe to a point what Handel has been saying. That the policy direction was set well before she joined up. Not sure that Handel did not have some say before officially joining SGK, but benefit, meet doubt.
Regardless, the analysis that predicted fallout was so obviously flawed and the whole matter handled just so badly, that Handel had to go due to incompetence. Now, SGK has to reverse a major policy decision, tick off the right flank of the organization and have all of its dirty laundry in the glare of the media spotlight. Many many many folks are just incensed over this and while a tragedy for the millions of women that SGK has helped, this may well prove to be a fatal blow.
I hope the other research and care trusts and charities are gearing up some serious advertising to try and recoup some of the money and move forward with trying to beat this disease that threatens so many.
Sonny LIED!
February 8th, 2012
7:58 pm
Stupid people should STOP breeding more stupid people, then the abortions wouldnt be needed, but since stupid people continue to breed, abortions are needed, and we need YOUR money to pay for it, and thats the bottom line.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:02 pm
Look before I leap…
February 8th, 2012
7:33 pm
@Ray
None of the SGK funds went to abortions. It was earmarked strictly for breast exams and mammograms.
Do you think conservatives are that stupid or is it Dems are that naive not to know that every dollar given to PP by on outside group that pays for a legitimate health issue is just another dollar they can divert to abortion services. This is why the Federal government should cut out all their funding.
Hetch Hetchy
February 8th, 2012
8:03 pm
run for Senate, Karen, I’ll vote for you! We miss you.
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:03 pm
Will..Planned Parenthood services millions of folks a year but does perform 160,000 abortions out of the 1.2 million abortions a year so I am not sure what your point is, They do even by your standards a heck of more good than bad( although I’m not sure on the bad point) since they service millions. Take your picket sign somewhere else or better yet support low income folks who have trouble making ends meet.
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:07 pm
td, all money is fungible..I think we need to stop sending money to Israel because they perform abortions. In fact I’m going to ask my service provider next time if them are going to use the funds for abortions because abortions is what every one wants.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:08 pm
amy
February 8th, 2012
7:46 pm
if your position is that abortion is murder, i’d love to hear your position on welfare babies. the more the merrier, yeah?
How do you know this would happen? I believe that if a person knows they would have to take financial responsibility for their actions for 18 years then they would be less likely to not have the proper protection.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
8:08 pm
Will
February 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
PLanned Parenthood is the center of the abortion industry in the US. It’s a shame that so many are willing to look the other way at the slaughter.
Like most at the extreme flank, your assertion is not supported by fact.
Planned Parenthood accounts for about 1/4 of all abortions in the US and abortion is only about 3% of what they actually do.
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:09 pm
In fact if I sent money for the AJC how can I be assured that somehow some of that money will not be used for abortions. How about funds for Fox news? Do they support abortions?// OMG…I just feel so dirty.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:12 pm
Look before I leap…
February 8th, 2012
7:57 pm
“Regardless, the analysis that predicted fallout was so obviously flawed and the whole matter handled just so badly, that Handel had to go due to incompetence. Now, SGK has to reverse a major policy decision, tick off the right flank of the organization and have all of its dirty laundry in the glare of the media spotlight”
Kind of like what the Obama administration is going to do with regard to offending the Catholic church with stupid Obamacare regulations?
td
February 8th, 2012
8:18 pm
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:03 pm
Will..Planned Parenthood services millions of folks a year but does perform 160,000 abortions
Your figures are a little off. They are the leading baby killers in the country performing about 300,000 per year.
Buckhead Boy
February 8th, 2012
8:18 pm
Janet, you may be assured that Mrs. Handel will soon be hanging her high school diploma in an office at a Koch Brothers-funded “think tank”. She really does have one. That GED stuff was just an untruthful attack by her GOP opponents in 2010. It was the college part that she lied about.
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:20 pm
TD..Breast cancer is not a republican issue…it’s not a democratic issue. It’s not a wealth issue. Nancy Brinker starter the organization because her sister died at 33. It’s got nothing to do with the current president. The reason she partnered with planned parenthood is because they were the only organizations in low income areas and she felt that it necessary that even the low income white and black get exams. It was started with the best intentions ever. It has nothing to do with the current President who by the way is a black Democrat. Breast cancer has nothing to do with abortion..but you you go there fella cuz you got nothing else.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:22 pm
Look before I leap…
February 8th, 2012
8:08 pm
“The reality is that Planned Parenthood—with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion—does little in the way of screening for breast cancer. But the organization is very much in the business of selling abortions—more than 300,000 in 2010, according to Planned Parenthood. At an average cost of $500, according to various sources including Planned Parenthood’s website, that translates to about $164 million of revenue per year.”
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2012/02/08/big_business_planned_parenthood_raking_in_164_million_in_abortion_money_each_year
Your figures are a little off.
Streetracer
February 8th, 2012
8:22 pm
Seems to me that the operative discussion should be why did Planned Parenthood take grant money that was earmarked for specific functions and divert it for other things. That seems to be at least pretty close to fruad
janet
February 8th, 2012
8:22 pm
@Buckhead Boy – you may be right but I have wondered why she didn’t pursue a college degree for all of these years. She didn’t have children to stand in her way. Many women, who value education as a way of advancing their careers, manage to juggle marriage, children, job and college. But of course, I did say, they value education.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:24 pm
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:20 pm
Where have I said anything negative about breast cancer? It is a very important issue and I have done the walk and donated money for the cause because I believe in the cause. My issue is with PP and their baby killing mills.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
8:25 pm
@td
Kind of like what the Obama administration is going to do with regard to offending the Catholic church with stupid Obamacare regulations?
Non-sequitur
If you plan to start this crap again, lets save some time and stop here.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:27 pm
Look before I leap…
February 8th, 2012
8:25 pm
What is wrong you can not deal with analogies when they do not fit your political agenda?
WOW
February 8th, 2012
8:28 pm
that handel is a true DEVIL! take yo old crinkle behind and sit down. One thing I agree with this state gop is they did reject one DEVIL in handel!!!!!! Be gone!!!!!!!!!
Road Scholar
February 8th, 2012
8:31 pm
“Shakedown”? Yeah, right! The court of public opinion is a bitch, ain’t it!
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:32 pm
Let’s talk about baby killers…In our country there are 47 million who don’t have to pay federal taxes. Out of those 80 percent are families of four that earn less than 30,000 a year. Twenty percent are Romney type of folks and the other eighty percent probably food stamp folks. I can’t imagine raising a family on 30,000 but maybe TD and the other TROLLS can tell us how the government helps us but not Romney who pays 14 percent in taxes.
Sorry didn’t mean to go off topic because TD and the trolls are so concerned about breast cancer.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
8:32 pm
@td
How are my numbers off?
1.2M abortions in the US
300K is 25% of that which I have stated in two separate posts. So that number is correct.
You are using funding and cost derivatives.
I said that abortions were 3% of the procedures conducted by PP, not 3% of what they spend.
Buckhead Boy
February 8th, 2012
8:32 pm
td, you mean those “stupid Obamacare regulations” just like we’ve had here in Georgia for many years that require health insurers to cover contraceptives, and without exemption? The regulations that are so stupid that they also exist in 27 other states, and against which the Catholic Church has yet to mount a successful court challenge?
Karen
February 8th, 2012
8:33 pm
Boycott Komen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:37 pm
Buckhead Boy..Nice… I’m still waiting for the trolls to tell me where the clinics are for the low income folk.
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
8:37 pm
@td
What is wrong you can not deal with analogies when they do not fit your political agenda?
Analogies are used to clarify a point or create clear understanding. Your remark serves neither purpose.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:38 pm
Buckhead Boy
February 8th, 2012
8:32 pm
You brought up a good point and I think I will start tomorrow on getting my legislature to change the rules in favor of the religious organizations. thank you.
As for the current administration, they will do some serious back peddling in the next few weeks because they know Ohio, Indiana and Penn are in play and have very large Catholic populations. Pure politics.
Ok I'll play along
February 8th, 2012
8:40 pm
@td…isn’t that how the game is played?
td
February 8th, 2012
8:40 pm
Road Scholar
February 8th, 2012
8:31 pm
“Shakedown”? Yeah, right! The court of public opinion is a bitch, ain’t it!
Sort of like that “court of public opinion” is about to make the Obama administration to back down on their contraceptive regulations?
Look before I leap...
February 8th, 2012
8:40 pm
@BB
Catholic Church has yet to mount a successful court challenge?
The courts have already settled this. They make a very clear distinction between an on-going religious concern and a secular one.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:42 pm
Ok I’ll play along
February 8th, 2012
8:40 pm
@td…isn’t that how the game is played?
You are absolutely correct. Just have to make sure everyone knows it works both ways and both sides of the argument makes people back down.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:44 pm
Look before I leap…
February 8th, 2012
8:40 pm
@BB
Catholic Church has yet to mount a successful court challenge?
The courts have already settled this. They make a very clear distinction between an on-going religious concern and a secular one.
The courts decisions will mean nothing in this case because the politics of re election is all that will matter.
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:45 pm
OMG..I actually agree with you but for different reasons. Most Catholics use birth control. When the GA law was passed there was little or no uproar. I am so sorry that I missed your picket signs about the law saying health insurance companies covering birth control.
What does this have to do with breast cancer and are you and yours going to open clinics?????????????????????????????
Ok I'll play along
February 8th, 2012
8:45 pm
I am quite sure everyone linked in here now the gamesmanship that is about to down with appeasing the Catholic church. My only question is why is the church so into this but nary a peep on say child abuse issues?
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:48 pm
Now I get it TD is trying to change the subject because he has run out of excuses for Karen…shame,shame,shame,shame,shame,shame,shame,shame.
The unfortunate thing is that the Komen Foundation was founded to help republicans, democrats, rich and poor and let us not forget that.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:48 pm
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:32 pm
People have to make choices. Why do people choose to live in single parent households with three children and only make $30,000 per year? All the actions one takes has consequences and when the government gets out of the business of helping people not to take responsibility for their actions then this country will be a much better place.
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:49 pm
the Komen Foundation was founded to help republicans, democrats, rich and poor and let us not forget that.
Attack Dog
February 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
1. Someone forgot that… leftwingnuts are Liberals, while democrackkks were known as Southern conservatives…aka Dixiecrats. 2. Handel needs to take some of the Koch $500 million for Super Pacs and $750K for Scott Walker and start a non-profit to help rather than hurt women. 3. Santorum should be the GOP front runner.
Centrist
February 8th, 2012
8:52 pm
The politics of the emotions of abortion decisions made by women are gross on both sides. Both PP and SKG do some great things for people who request their services which is often lost.
The Obama administration plays politics with the abortion issue just like the right wing of the Republican party – read about it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/opinion/brooks-flood-the-zone.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
td
February 8th, 2012
8:53 pm
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:49 pm
the Komen Foundation was founded to help republicans, democrats, rich and poor and let us not forget that.
I think they were founded on helping breast cancer research. Maybe they should stick to that theme and support research and finding a cure.
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
TD ..My goodness…I read your comment twice and still don’t get it…you do know it was repubs that increased the child deductible right ..not that was necessarily bad.
So how do you feel about the Komen foundation funding breast exams? Not nearly enough since that’s appalling..
Old Hippie
February 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
Handel is an embarrassment to the people of Georgia and to women everywhere.
o
February 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
@td
I am not in the business of predicting administration actions. And after your SOTU prognostications, you should get out of the prediction business altogether.
PA does have a high percentage of Catholics (something around 50%) and could prove problematic for Obama IF the majority of Catholics who would have voted for Obama switch solely due to this issue. It is unclear that is the case. If there is polling on it, I’d be interested in seeing it.
OH has a much smaller Catholic population, less than 1/4.
I don’t think IN is in play. It will is safely red for 2012. But Indiana’s catholic population is even smaller as a % than OH. About 20%.
td
February 8th, 2012
8:57 pm
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:54 pm
So how do you feel about the Komen foundation funding breast exams? Not nearly enough since that’s appalling..
They should take the money from PP and spend it more on those vans that go around. I have no problem with them helping with exams as long as they stay away from supporting the baby killing factory.
o = Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
8:58 pm
damn mouse!
Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
9:01 pm
@hl
hl
February 8th, 2012
8:48 pm
Now I get it TD is trying to change the subject because he has run out of excuses for Karen…
ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding
Ya know, I am thinking that a light bulb actually appeared over your head.
Despite funding firestorm, private donations coming into Planned Parenthood in … – Sparks Today | Amazing News
February 8th, 2012
9:02 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
9:03 pm
oh my – gonna pop some popcorn!
The choice/consequence argument rerun is about to start!!!
This is one of my favorites!!!!!
Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
9:05 pm
@Centrist
I saw that – sad.
I don’t know if its because you truly have to sell your soul to rise to the top in politics or it is a matter of too many advisers yapping in your ear all day long with really bad ideas.
hl
February 8th, 2012
9:08 pm
TD..They should take the money from PP and spend it more on those vans that go around. I have no problem with them helping with exams as long as they stay away from supporting the baby killing factory….hahahahahahahahahahhaha
speechless
Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
@td
“They should take the money from PP and spend it more on those vans that go around.”
Yeah, cuz when a woman finds a lump on her breast, it’s ok to wait weeks until the mobile unit shows up.
Does your wife read any of the stuff you post on here?
hl
February 8th, 2012
9:14 pm
look before you leap..he or she lives in the magical land of fairies. food stamps and health care is bad but breast exams are even worse. There is no reasoning.
td
February 8th, 2012
9:26 pm
Look before you leap…
February 8th, 2012
9:11 pm
@td
“They should take the money from PP and spend it more on those vans that go around.”
Yeah, cuz when a woman finds a lump on her breast, it’s ok to wait weeks until the mobile unit shows up.
Does your wife read any of the stuff you post on here?
If a woman finds a lump then she should go to her doctor.
My wife lived thru communism as a child before she came to the US. She is more conservative then I am. I read to her all the time about what the topics are on these blogs and what I am posting. After reading about a topic the other night, she told me that if she can come to this country at the age of 13, not speaking English and not being in school since the 3rd grade, graduate from HS, get a degree from Oregon state and get a job and keep it for 20 years then there is absolutely no excuse for anyone else. She said those that chose not to get an education and work should starve in the streets.
Philiopo
February 8th, 2012
9:27 pm
Look before you leap- Is there really any difference between Target and JCPenney? I Think Not!
td
February 8th, 2012
9:30 pm
hl
February 8th, 2012
9:14 pm
look before you leap..he or she lives in the magical land of fairies. food stamps and health care is bad but breast exams are even worse. There is no reasoning.
Can you not comprehend what you are reading my friend? I am all for breast screenings and my wife gets one every year. I am not for any organization that funds PP and their baby killing organization.
hl
February 8th, 2012
9:30 pm
Last comment ..Nancy Brinker started an organization to honor her sister and some made it political but it wasn’t her. She tried to direct money to folks that would use it for early detection. Unfortunately TD and others dirtied it. They didn’t offer alternatives because they don’t really care.
Sad really..but they have to live with themselves.
fultonpeach
February 8th, 2012
9:46 pm
Haven’t ever given to Komen because of their link to PP. I am glad that my friends are finally learning it and also PP and Livestrong. When I give to a charity, I want to know where it is going. Only 24% of Komen funds go to research. Anyone know of a more direct way to donate to RESEARCH?
hl
February 8th, 2012
9:48 pm
td…I feel sorta bad for you because pp saves a lot of lives but you are so closed minded you don’t see it. Just google the number they help each year.
You don’t agree so I do hope you find a clinic that helps folks with precancerous tests and go with it. It is not Komen because they don’t spend there money towards that.
Good luck to you though.
WAW
February 8th, 2012
9:52 pm
So a lady, who is a clerk at a Catholic Hospital run buy a for profit hospital management company, gets pregnant because her insurance will not cover the pill because the property owner of the building has a religious objection to it. She finds out that she has breast cancer on top of that and Planned Parenthood is the only people who care about her? Something’s wrong here and I think it’s Right Wing Social Engineering and the party of No spinning.
Carol
February 8th, 2012
9:54 pm
Sounds like a perfect spot for her. They pay well and she gets to play herself: the self-righteous hater Christian.
Bored..
February 8th, 2012
9:57 pm
Three days of this, Jim. Time for a new topic.
President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho
February 8th, 2012
10:00 pm
Watch Idiocracy. Pro-lifers might learn something. Then again, probably not.
Truth Squad
February 8th, 2012
10:07 pm
I think Team Obama deliberately picked this fight because; 1) it’s the right thing to do; 2) most states already had such a regulation in place; 3) the current Supreme Court refused to take up the issue; 4) the culture wars turnoff Independents; 4) most Independents are women, especially single women;6) the use of birth control by active women is nearly universal; 5) this guarantees that the eventual Republican nominee will have to embrace the fiasco at SGK, PP, as well as endorse the personhood amendment, and cheerlead the war on contraception.
Oh yeah, the anti-gay stuff just doesn’t sell like it used to in the 90’s.
There’s still time for the Republicans to pull away from the cliff’s edge. I wouldn’t hold my breath that they will.
YourStripesAreShowing
February 8th, 2012
10:11 pm
Having read Mr. Galloway’s work for many years it has always been clear that he is a die-hard leftie, but at least usually his work is entertaining and often informative. This column, however, is one of the nastiest little “hit” pieces he has ever done.
Karen Handel is a normal decent human being, who unlike so many in this forum is not a raving lunatic on one side or the other of the abortion “debate”. It seems very unlikely that she will in any way profit from this recent turn of events, and very unlikely that she will ever try to serve the public again in any high-profile position. It is no wonder our government is so screwed up when decent folks like her are treated like this and hounded out.
Mr. Galloway, shame on you! You should be grown up enough to be above this nasty hatred and name calling. Maybe it is time for you to consider retirement as well.
vuduchld
February 8th, 2012
10:12 pm
Ok, so the Komen minions hired a bimbo and she turned out to be…a bimbo, why is this news?
Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
10:16 pm
@td
If a woman finds a lump then she should go to her doctor.
You really don’t get it, do you?
Ya know, I don’t think this one of those times where you are being intentionally intellectually dishonest, I think it is actually wholesale ignorance on your part. Or hysterical blindness, who knows.
Normally, when I leave these blogs at the end of the day, I am chuckling because the image I have of you looks very much like when I watch my dog chase his tail. Tonight I am just sad for you.
I am not a religious nor particularly spiritual person, but tonight here is my prayer for you:
May you never know hunger nor face a challenge that forces you into a choice between feeding OR sheltering your family.
May all your enterprises be profitable and rewarding.
May all your choices be good ones
May you never need the help of a stranger
May you and your family be forever free of plague, locusts, floods and blight
Amen
atlfunlver
February 8th, 2012
10:18 pm
Another backwards a@# political wonk from Georgia that puts us in the national spotlight as village idiots…thanks and go away (or get a Jenny Craig gig)
Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
10:19 pm
@Truth
There’s still time for the Republicans to pull away from the cliff’s edge. I wouldn’t hold my breath that they will.
Well this is not for the entire GOP, but for the right-wingers, they can’t see the cliff unless they look in the rear view mirror.
Look before you leap...
February 8th, 2012
10:23 pm
Philiopo
February 8th, 2012
9:27 pm
Look before you leap- Is there really any difference between Target and JCPenney? I Think Not!
I actually would not know, my wife is a die-hard Nordstroms fan.
Makes AMEX and Nordie’s happy, I am a GAP kinda guy.
But I like Ellen, might pop into JCP just for yucks, right near Nordies, I can browse there while my sugar pop does her best to stimulate the ecnomony.
Dave
February 8th, 2012
10:42 pm
I find it amazing that there are people here who will quote Jesus when justifying a women having an abortion. It’s your body, but never forget it’s a beating heart and your soul.
Planned Parenthood benefits from Komen’s politics – WilliametteLive.com | Rss News Desk | Daily News Magazine
February 8th, 2012
10:45 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
honested
February 8th, 2012
11:12 pm
Now that a few days have been spent ruminating over karen handel, can anyone identify any useful accomplishment she has provided to her home county or the State at large?
All I am aware of is a rigid, misguided, misleading ambitious climber unconcerned with the degree of damage she inflicts on any entity that allows her entry.
Rockerbabe
February 9th, 2012
12:20 am
I don’t believe a thing Handel says, nor do I believe the bishops either. Komen fell victim to Handel’s political beliefs. Politizing women’s healthcare on any front is going to dust up a storm everywhere.
Brinker says she made mistakes in Planned Parenthood case – Washington Post (blog) | Rss News Desk | Daily News Magazine
February 9th, 2012
1:23 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Georgia graduate & native
February 9th, 2012
2:22 am
Why do all the Republicans whine so much about how everybody is unfair to them? Whine, whine, whine! Newt Gingrich blames the media as do all the rest of the spineless Republicans. Stop making such stupid decisions when all you do is support corporations and their wealthy benefactors. The Republicans get the less educated worked up about abortions and gay marriage, while they steal the public blind. For proof, see Mitt Romney’s tax returns and way hello to his millions in the Cayman Islands.
Lib in Cobb
February 9th, 2012
5:12 am
Abortion is legal, no one will force anyone to have one. Three percent of all the services provided by PP are abortions. PP helps those people who have no where else to go. Handel is gone and that is good.
Handel’s actions were the equivalent of throwing bloody towels at those entering a PP facility. Shame on you Karen.
Those who are pro-choice forced Komen to reverse it’s original decision, much like Bank of America’s decision to charge $5.00 per month for the use of a debit card.
Road Scholar
February 9th, 2012
6:24 am
If you don’t want an abortion, do not have one!
If you don’t want birth control, don’t buy it!
Where does it say you have to do it; but hospitals should make all proceedures/drugs available to all…if they want it.
GodHatesTrash
February 9th, 2012
6:32 am
There is a special place in Hell for sanctimonious christianists like Handel, in a crowded room full of santorum.
Mountain Man
February 9th, 2012
7:06 am
RCW – “Planned Parenthood does more in one day to prevent abortions than Right to Life groups do in one year.”
How right you are! The trouble with the anti-abortion crowd is that they are anti-contraception, too. The greatest weapon in th battle against abortion is contraception.
woodrow
February 9th, 2012
7:12 am
Handel should not have a position of authority. I’m glad she resigned rather than getting fired. Komen has suffered enough of her hijinks.
Double Zero Eight
February 9th, 2012
7:18 am
Maybe Karen will have the time to get her college degree
to enhance her chances of being elected governor.
Edward Ruffin
February 9th, 2012
7:21 am
Karen should have been this clear about her pro-life stance prior to and while running for governor. It would have been a great help to her.
Middle of the Road
February 9th, 2012
7:22 am
“Dems are that naive not to know that every dollar given to PP by on outside group that pays for a legitimate health issue is just another dollar they can divert to abortion services.”
So you are saying that if Komen doesn’t give PP a grant for mammograms, they will continue to do the mammograms and not do abortions? Even though the purpose behind their organization is “planned parenthood”,, in other words, not having babies you don’t want. They would be perfectly in line with the intent of their organization to just cut the mammograms and keep the abortion funding. Komen, on the other hand, has its purpose as preventing and treating breast cancer, and it is in line with their organization’s goals to fund mammograms and get as much early detection as possible. That is why (apparently) they decided to fund the PP mammogram initiative in the first place. Sounds like they were apolitical in the first place, then the right-wingers started saying don’t contribute to Komen because they are linked (however tenuously) to PP. Then politics came in and they hired Handel to try to appease the anti-abortion crowd, which she initially did when she contrived to strip PP of its grants. Then the backlash came because now Komen WAS political, and the pro-choice people started withdrawing donations. Then Komen backtracked and now BOTH groups are mad at them for getting in the middle of a political war.
So the net result of Handel’s actions: reduced contributions for Komen from both the left and the right, and increased contributions for PP from the left. Smart move, Handel!
Edward Ruffin
February 9th, 2012
7:23 am
And while I’m here………..all you pro-death people in the above comments, us pro-life people could care less about your bodies. We don’t give a rip if you slice your belly open, get a tattoo, pierce your nose, jump off a cliff. Abortion is about a baby and whether or not that young life gets a chance to live.
Middle of the Road
February 9th, 2012
7:24 am
Hey, maybe Planned Parenthood should hire her. She has done a good job for them so far…
Middle of the Road
February 9th, 2012
7:30 am
Pro-life is a misnomer, about as bad as pro-abortion. No one is pro-abortion, many are pro-choice. Most anti-abortionists call themselves pro-life but that is too broad of a reach. Are they pro-life when the death penalty is being discussed? Most are not. Are they pro-life when wars are being contemplated? Most are not. Are they pro-life when aid to starving children in Africa is contemplated. Most are not. So they are not really pro-life, they are just pro-life in the womb.
And for you anti-abortionists that quote scripture to justify your opposition to abortion, I challenge you to quote Jesus’s words to justify war.
Abraham Linkin
February 9th, 2012
7:35 am
The problem that liberals have in this country is that conservatives have big mouths and an even bigger need to open them. The conservative/Christian/Republican/whatever you want to call it movement is VERY PROACTIVE about getting themselves heard, and pushing their agenda onto the American people. Unless and until there is an equal liberal PR campaign against these factions, the U.S. is headed to the backwoods.
Just look at the Alliance Defense Fund website. They were quoted in this and the Proposition 8 articles. Conservatives are organized, have money and will go to any length to ensure that YOU hear what they have to say. Come on Libs. Sitting back and letting someone else do the grandstanding is only going to cost you.
Middle of the Road
February 9th, 2012
7:45 am
The anti-abortion crowd lost when Roe vs. Wade came down. So they have switched to guerilla tactics, sort of like Al Qaeda. They switched to targeting the doctors who performed abortions, sometimes with bullets, and sometimes with protests. They sought to make it impossible to get an abortion by making sure a doctor would not want the hassle of doing one. Then they started loading up the procedure with additional requirements. Must have a 24-hour waiting period, must view an untrasound, must listen to anti-abortion propaganda, must stand on one foot, clap your hands and recite the Gettysburg address backwards. Then they started to try to cut the money off. That is where funding for PP comes in. They think if they starve PP to death, it will remove one avenue that women have for abortions.
Whay can’t they just accept that women want abortions and concentrate on keeping them from getting pregnant in the first place? Or go adopt 20 black kids so they don’t end up in orphanages.
American
February 9th, 2012
7:46 am
Handel’s next move will hopefully be OUT OF GEORGIA….
Middle of the Road
February 9th, 2012
7:49 am
“all you pro-death people in the above comments”
I love it – because I am pro-choice, I am now labeled pro-death. Even though the Supreme Court has ruled that abortion is not murder. If I cut off my arm, is that murder – it could grow into a human being under the right circumstances (a good cloning lab).
Tom
February 9th, 2012
8:07 am
Anyone who believes SGK grant monies to PP are funds “they can divert to abortion services” understands neither the concept of “restricted assets” and the accounting requirements of not-for-profits, nor FASB 117.
RAMZAD
February 9th, 2012
8:20 am
This can only be a bonanza for liberals, like me, and Obama’s re-election. Here we have a Right Wing pouffed fowl with no children, no vulva, no clitoris, and no brain telling independent women what they can not do with their vulva and clitoris.
I do believe that this has sent many Right leaning women back to the political drafting table. God bless you Karen Handel. More women will see that Republicans have nothing but draconian chains and sexist dogma for them.
J Throckmorton Malcontent
February 9th, 2012
8:39 am
Ms.Handel can lead the campaign of the righteous against tattoos and tattoo parlors–after all, that’s clearly a no-no in the Bible (Leviticus 19:28–right after the “man w/ man = abomination” verse). More of the reactionary effort to enforce Biblical based law should be focused on this, it’d do almost as much good as what they’re achieiving now.
Tom
February 9th, 2012
8:43 am
Logic, reviews for the supplanting of restricted assets for other uses is one of the primary procedures in the audit of a NFP or government entity.
td
February 9th, 2012
9:19 am
GodHatesTrash
February 9th, 2012
6:32 am
There is a special place in Hell for sanctimonious christianists like Handel, in a crowded room full of santorum
So what you are really trying to say is that God is going to sit in heaven and tell Karen that she is in trouble and going to hell because he favors peoples rights to murder his creations? You my friend are a fool if you believe that one.
clyde
February 9th, 2012
9:20 am
Karen Handel is a little sweetheart,isn’t she?She’d make a great mother-in-law.
td
February 9th, 2012
9:21 am
Democratic Man
February 9th, 2012
8:26 am
We supporters of women want free abortions. After all, its not a person…it’s a choice. It doesn’t matter if the abortion takes place after 6 weeks or 7 months…it not a person!
Did not Hitler make similar statements about the Jews to justify murdering them?
td
February 9th, 2012
9:24 am
RAMZAD
February 9th, 2012
8:20 am
This can only be a bonanza for liberals, like me, and Obama’s re-election.
You do realize that the only reason Obama is sitting in office today is because Christians stayed home four years ago? If they would have come out in the same % in 08 as they did in 04 then McCain would be President.
Mahopinion
February 9th, 2012
9:25 am
The problem with Handel is that she gets caught in lies and keeps digging.
On second thought…that’s the perfect resume for a politician.
Mahopinion
February 9th, 2012
9:30 am
Still didn’t get any answer from the anti-choice people that I asked the other day, so I’ll pose it again.
Would you still fight for the rights of the embryo if you knew it was going to be gay?
** crickets**
td
February 9th, 2012
9:38 am
Mahopinion
February 9th, 2012
9:30 am
Tried to respond but Jim will not allow the response.
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.