AMERICA - Fallout Over Komen Charity's Decision (Updated)

"What's Behind Komen Charity's Split From Planned Parenthood?" PBS Newshour 2/2/2012

Excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour): And to the fallout over a decision made by one of the country's best known breast cancer charities.

On Tuesday, the Susan G. Komen Foundation revealed that it would stop providing grant money to Planned Parenthood clinics for breast screening. The foundation said it would no longer give money to any group under investigation by any branch of the government. Planned Parenthood is the subject of an investigation led by Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns.

The move sparked a political firestorm, and at least one official from within the Komen organization has resigned.

For more on all this, we turn to Shari Roan, who is covering the story for The Los Angeles Times.

Another excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF: But, just finally, Shari Roan, in a broad sense, again, what does this represent, this battle now out in the open between these two significant organizations, both of which support women's health?

SHARI ROAN, The Los Angeles Times: Right.

I think this is what's astonishing to most people, is that these two iconic women's health organizations are now -- now appear to be on opposite sides of the fence. And many people who support one organization have often supported the other.

Certainly, on a local level, Planned Parenthood affiliates work very closely with their local Komen affiliates. They support each other's fundraisers and events. And this is causing a lot of people to be very uncomfortable and to really feel like they have to choose sides.

So it's a really unfortunate development. And I think it's going to linger on for some time, as people try to decide where to put their support in the future.

So, the Komen Foundation gives in to the Gestapo tactics of Republican's and anti-abortionists.

UPDATE

"Komen Charity Reverses Planned Parenthood Grant Cuts" PBS Newshour 2/3/2012

Excerpt

HARI SREENIVASAN (Newshour): The about-face came after two days of anger from many women and supporters, and after the breast cancer charity offered two different explanations for its decision.

First, Komen leaders said they would cut grants to Planned Parenthood because of a new policy barring money to organizations being investigated by the government. Then yesterday, Komen officials cited concerns over how Planned Parenthood provided mammograms and other follow-up services.

This morning, Komen's founder, Nancy Brinker, apologized in a statement saying: "We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons, or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not."