The Associated Press reports:
The nation’s leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates — creating a bitter rift, linked to the abortion debate, between two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women.
This Komen–Planned Parenthood relationship has long been a target of pro-life activists and, media bias aside, this appears to be a remarkable turning point. Planned Parenthood may have trained the AP well — and has been as American as apple pie to Republicans and Democrats alike for all too long — but it has really seen itself exposed in new and deep ways since Lila Rose started her gutsy undercover work.
The “icon” is broken, the myth is being shattered. Planned Parenthood’s foundation is built on the poison of eugenics, and its business is death, however well-intentioned they make it sound. To take issue with Planned Parenthood is not to be unkind to women. It’s to seek something better.
Of course, Planned Parenthood is sticking with its talking points. President Cecile Richards today writes in a fundraising e-mail:
We know our opponents put their ideology over women’s health and lives. What we never expected is that an ally like the Komen Foundation would choose to listen to them.
As Richards points out, Komen is not the National Right to Life Committee, the Susan B. Anthony List, Feminists for Life, or your pro-life organization of choice (pun intended). And Planned Parenthood’s “war on women” rhetoric is only looking shriller and emptier this evening.
My wife and I did the Komen walk a couple of years ago; a friend of ours had breast cancer (she's doing very well now, finished her reconstructive surgery last summer). Worthy cause, but I was put off by the haranguing over the P.A. system about the supposed "epidemic of breast cancer in this country."
Please. Spare me the dramatics. Breast cancer is not an epidemic, at least not on the U.S.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI just made a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I made it a memorial contribution. As the occasion, I put "Breaking ties with Planned Parenthood". I hope they get lots more like mine.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGotta love the AP: "two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women".
I concur with that appraisal for the Komen Foundation. As for Planned (non)Parenthood, that's like saying:
"The Nazis, an iconic organization that has assisted millions of Jews."
(No offense intended to my Jewish friends.)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI know it's not nice to gloat ...so I'll just feel really really really really good about now purchasing the yogurts I'd avoided.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOops! Guess it didn't go so well, did it?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI KNEW there was a reason I'd been hesitating on my usual end-of-December charitable giving. (I've had a tough time giving to the usual pro-life suspects after they left Personhood out to dry. Fine, if that's your judgement, go ahead and avoid Personhood, but I disagree with Mr. Bopp as a matter of tactics and principle.) Result: I've got a $1,000 just sitting around waiting for a charity to strongly recommend itself to me.
Excuse me. I have a donation to make, and a thank you letter to write.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTo be fair, the Komen Foundation avoided endorsing any pro-life cause and said that the only reason they withdrew funding was because of the congressional investigation. I'm not familiar with all the ins and outs of this, but it sounds like if PP gets through the investigation then the funding may resume. Still, it's good news and maybe we will see the end of Planned Parenthood? If they keep losing funds like this, how long can they keep going?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI just made a donation to Koman. I made it a memorial contribution and the event I cited was "Komen breaking ties with Planned Parenthood". I hope they get bombarded with contributions today.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI don't really have spare money to donate right now, but I started following them on Twitter and tweeted my support. Hopefully that helps too! It was a ridiculous alliance to begin with, when so many studies indicate abortion increases the risk of breast cancer. Maybe now they can admit that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"To take issue with Planned Parenthood is not to be unkind to women. It’s to seek something better."
So what have you developed that is better? What have you figured out to replace the thousands upon thousands of breast examinations that PP did?
Nothing?
That's pretty much what I figured.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThank you. The fact that people like these are actually celebrating the fact that so many women will now be denied possibly life-saving cancer screenings is just sickening.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, please do elaborate on "something better". It is so easy to self-rightously aplaud an action, and then to walk away with satisfaction. How about suggestions for solutions?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo we're completely ignoring the good that PP does and focusing on the abortion aspect?
Leave it to a conservative to shoot first and never question what they believe in.
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds." ~ 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDid you know that 90% of the care PP provides is preventive, primary care? Just read it on their website.
(I guess the other 10% is murdering children.)
Who knew! They are 90% good! Where's my checkbook? I guess I'll make my PP donation check out for $90 instead of $100. If they want the last ten, that baby killing will have to go!
Your moral equivalency argument is stupid and disgusting. There is no amount of free health screenings, "education", birth control or anything else that these monsters do that negates infanticide.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes it is truly amazing that so many women will now be denied healthcare! What a beautiful day this is! All those cancer screenings provided by Planned Parenthood will thankfully cease to be and we can all celebrate the lives that will be shortened thanks to this glorious decision!
Remember, folks, life is precious !!!!!!!!!!! (unless you are not a fetus and have a uterus).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe other options for women are plentiful. Now Komen can give the money to organizations that actually provide a full array breast health services such as mammograms.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePP doesn't do screenings, they refer. Heck, even I can refer someone on where to get a mammogram. I'm supporting Komen's mandate to combat cancer whatever the source, and will support Komen itself as long as they follow their own mandate, and don't fall back into covering up for PP.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePlanned Parenthood saved my life by treating a urinary tract infection that I could not have afforded care for at a time when I worked full-time for a minimum wage employer that failed to provided any healthcare benefits. I could barely pay rent, let alone a doctor or the ER. Left untreated, it would have spread to my kidneys. Please remember that when you crow about the possible demise of Planned Parenthood.
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