Karen Handel Resigns from Komen

The AP is reporting that Karen Handel has resigned as vice president for public policy for Susan G. Komen for the Cure after the massive public relations disaster caused by withdrawing funding from Planned Parenthood.

Whooooooooooooooops!

Buh-bye.

Update 1: Care of Deeks, here's her resignation letter.

Update 2: And here is a piece, via @Clinic Escort, by Clara Jeffery "on why nothing short of a board shakeup at Komen will do."

Komen relented. Sorta. Maybe. But not really.

Facing a lot of well-earned negative press and criticism this week and then responding with what has to be the biggest PR disaster I have ever seen, Komen released a statement today saying that they will continue to fund Planned Parenthood:

Our only goal for our granting process is to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer. Amending our criteria will ensure that politics has no place in our grant process. We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.

It does not say, however, for just how long they will be funding those grants. At least through the current grant cycle and then what? Planned Parenthood will have to re-apply. As Greg Sargent reports:

I just got off the phone with a Komen board member, and he confirmed that the announcement does not mean that Planned Parenthood is guaranteed future grants — a demand he said would be “unfair” to impose on Komen.

And they are still claiming it was "not political". Uh-huh.

This is certainly good news for those who need the funds to access breast health care. However, with Karen Handel (for example) still employed there, this is certainly not a change of heart within the organization. It's a PR move.

Cecile Richards, President PPFA and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, released a statement in response that said (in part):

“In recent weeks, the treasured relationship between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and Planned Parenthood has been challenged, and we are now heartened that we can continue to work in partnership toward our shared commitment to breast health for the most underserved women. We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Komen partners, leaders and volunteers. What these past few days have demonstrated is the deep resolve all Americans share in the fight against cancer, and we honor those who are at the helm of this battle.

While I am deinitely glad the funds will be there, this year at least, for those who need them, I, personally, am even less inclined to encourage anyone to donate to Komen (and I was not inclined before). Komen spends--as all non-profits--donation money on administrative costs. A donation to Komen is assisting funding the salaries of the likes of Karen Handel. There are other organizations out there that are not lead by arch-conservatives nor push massive pinkwashing consumerism. As far as I know, Planned Parenthood still has their Breast Health Fund open that can be donated to directly.

Quote of the Day

"Just like a pro-abortion group to turn a cancer orgs decision into a political bomb throw. Cry me a freaking river." -- Jade Morey, on Twitter. Who is Jade Morey? I do not know. However I do know who retweeted, and thus supported and endorsed that sentiment: Karen Handel (that's a link to the screenshot, as Handel tried to scrub it later by deleting it).

Karen Handel is the Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Susan G. Komen For The Cure. She is also a failed gubernatorial candidate for the state of Georgia, anti-choice, and a supporter of de-funding Planned Parenthood (as she promised to do so if she became governor). Incidentally, she was hired on less than a year ago.

Komen Follow-Up

On Monday, Shaker Jane wrote a guest post about Susan G. Komen for the Cure's new funding guidelines that signaled the end of their funding to Planned Parenthood. The story is now getting wider attention, as Komen has confirmed they will no longer fund Planned Parenthood.

Komen says the key reason is that Planned Parenthood is under investigation in Congress — a probe launched by a conservative Republican who was urged to act by anti-abortion groups.

Pro-life. Sure.

To quote Jane: "Call your local Komen office (find yours here) and let them know what you think of their new funding guidelines. Donate to your community's Planned Parenthood (find yours here) and ask that your gift be put toward unfunded breast health care."

Chipping Away at Breast Healthcare

by Shaker Jane, a proud abortioneer who is grateful every day for her Planned Parenthood colleagues and their work to protect reproductive rights.

[Content Note: This post discusses reproductive rights (de)funding.]

Late last year, leaders from Susan G. Komen for the Cure met to discuss their decision to end the breast health care funding received by one of the foundation's largest grantees. There were no findings of patient dissatisfaction, clinical errors, or financial mismanagement, but the decision was final: Patients seen in 2012 will be the last to receive Komen-funded care.

Wondering why Komen will no longer support these lifesaving cancer screenings and breast health education sessions? Because they're provided by the highly trained doctors, nurses, and medical assistants at Planned Parenthood health centers.

Until now, Komen stood by the grants it gave to Planned Parenthood—over the past five years, between $500,000 and $700,000 that helped affiliates like mine to provide nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and referrals for more than 6,000 mammograms. Komen grants funded care for people in rural, low-income, and underserved communities, where Planned Parenthood is often the only source of health care.

Opponents of safe, legal abortion care, who consistently put their narrow political agenda ahead of our health needs, have repeatedly threatened organizations that partner with Planned Parenthood. On January 1, Komen bowed to this anti-choice pressure and added the following criteria to its funding guidelines:

• Applicant is not currently debarred from the receipt of federal or state funding.

• No key personnel of applicant or any of its affiliates has been convicted of fraud or a crime involving any other financial or administrative impropriety within the last year.

• Applicant or any of its affiliates is not currently under a local, state or federal formal investigation for financial or administrative impropriety or fraud. ("Affiliate" means any entities that control, are controlled by, or are under the same control as applicant or independent entities operating under the same name or brand as applicant.)

Each of the new requirements clearly targets Planned Parenthood, referencing continued defunding efforts and the ongoing Congressional investigation launched by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-[insert cleverly contemptuous "r" adjective here]).

Ironically, even by these politically motivated measures, we're still eligible, but Komen appears unwilling to discuss the issue, despite numerous requests from Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Cecile Richards, and donors and supporters of both organizations.

As the nation's largest reproductive health provider, our primary concern is always our patients, who desperately need the services Komen grants support. We're working with other funders to fill the gaps in care that Komen's decision creates, and our donors and advocates have pledged to support us as we try to replace these critical funds to ensure that our patients continue to get the care they need without interruption or delay.

So get out your teaspoons! Call your local Komen office (find yours here) and let them know what you think of their new funding guidelines. Donate to your community's Planned Parenthood (find yours here) and ask that your gift be put toward unfunded breast health care. And breast-havers, do your annual self-exam!

[Commenting Note from Liss: There are legitimate criticisms to be made about some of Komen's awareness- and fund-raising strategies. This is not the thread for that discussion.]