The Susan G. Komen Foundation may have apologized and retracted its decision to pull funding for Planned Parenthood, but it appears the ordeal — now being called the worst public relations disaster in the organization’s history — is likely far from over.
In an interview with Lawrence O’Donnell, Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards discussed doubts now cast on Komen's long-term survivability. Richards emphasized the "very good" relationship with the Komen foundation since the reversal of their decision.
"I think what this is all about is people saying, 'We can’t let bullies bully the Komen Foundation and force them to quit working with Planned Parenthood.' Just like we can't let bullies who are now trying to fight against the president's coverage of birth control," Richards said. "I think this is a time when women and men are standing up and saying, 'this is a war on women's healthcare and it's got to end.'"
On Monday, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he's not in favor of giving grants to Planned Parenthood because they also provides abortion services.
Komen insiders told Huffington Post on Sunday that Karen Handel, Komen's staunchly anti-abortion vice president for public policy, was the main force behind the decision to defund Planned Parenthood. According to the website, Handel developed the new grant guidelines with the sole purpose of defunding Planned Parenthood, telling staffers, "If we just say it’s about investigations, we can defund Planned Parenthood and no one can blame us for being political."
After widespread public outrage and the urging of more than 20 members of Congress, Komen administrators reversed the decision and publicly apologized. Petitions are now circling for Handel’s resignation.
“If Handel resigned that would do a lot to mend the fences,” The Daily Beast’s Michelle Goldberg said on The Last Word. “Komen does important work. As long as this is a single aberration, I don’t think it’s the kind of thing they can’t recover from as long as they make it clear that this was a mistake and they’re serious about recommitting to their mission of supporting women’s health.”
The silver lining of the whole mess has been an outpouring of donations to Planned Parenthood. When Komen announced they were cutting funds, Planned Parenthood immediately started the Breast Health Fund to make up the difference — no small feat, considering Komen gave the group around $680,000 last year and $580,000 the year prior. Besides a huge wave of support on social media, Planned Parenthood received $400,000 in just 24 hours, from approximately 6,000 donors. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged to donate $250,000 and Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong Foundation offered up a $100,000 grant.
Komen’s future funding of Planned Parenthood is still up in the air, but today, the financial future of the women's health care provider seems at least secure.
In a Very Last Word video after the show, Richards thanked viewers and supporters, adding "we shouldn't put politics ahead of women’s health."
[UPDATE: Top Komen official Karen Handel quit her job today after the funding controversy.
— By Quinn Wonderling
Leave a Comment:
Let me introduce you to Linda:
Forget Komen and all "they" stand for.
Planned Parenthood is backed by the liberal tyrants who want to stamp out religion and the first amendment. Obama says many "cling to their guns and religion." what he really should have said is "religion is the opium of the people." america must replace him next november.
Not well at all. Most women know that the republicans could careless about women's rights and Planned parenthood. They are against abortion rights, birth control, Breast cancer research, and other important issues to women.
No. (with a honk of my horn to Nancy Reagan)
Stay in the stone age troll.
Is it true that Mr O'Donnell went to St. Sebastian Catholic School? He certainly doesn't talk like a Catholic. If he went to A Catholic School he didn't learn much. Please tell him it does not matter what Catholics believe or what they do. It matters what the Church teaches. He sounds really dumb sometimes so I'm hoping I am mistaken about his high school
Republicans are against birth control because where would Newt get the poor disadvantaged kids to clean the schools for his stupid idea.
Hey, aunti, that was a personal attack! Where's Tyler, when you need him, huh?
An idiot is someone who can't express themselves without insulting or attacking others and who think they are the only ones enititled to an opinion.
It would have been better for Aunti to just let everyone assume that this word described her than to continue to blog and prove them right.
aunti baby killers banned, flameout.
Report the comment. I'm not omniscient.
Lawrence when will you and your team have former Bush administration officials Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett on to discuss the situation with Iran? Flynt is also a former CIA middle east analyst who quit the Bush administration before the invasion of Iraq because he diagreed with the invasion. Hillary has directly negotiated with Iran. Their website is RACE FOR IRAN. When will you and your MSNBC colleagues try to inform the American public about the facts on the ground in Iran and not allow unsubstantiated claims about Iran to be repeated on your programs? Please have Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett on your program to discuss Iran. That is if you want an educated public.
Cecil Richards is so intelligent and eloquent. I think she has the ability to make it to the White House as the first woman President. I am sure the majority of women will support her
Do superpacs raise funds and advertise Congressional Investigations points of view?
Do superpacs raise funds and advertise Congressional investigations points of view?
Shame!!
ODonnell is a graduate of St Sebastian School. He often talks about his "Catholic faith" today while piling praise on to Planned Parenthood. he had the President of Planned Parenthood on his show. The President of Planned Parenthood on his show she referred to "those" who are opposed to the new insurance regulations as "bullies" the "bullies" are all the Bishops of the United States and even Pope Benedict. How did the graduate of St. Sebastian's and this "catholic " responded to hearing Pope Benedict being called a "bully" a big smile and "You should be the ambasssador to the United Nations" . In Ireland such Catholics were referred to as "soupers" because of the soup they would have recieved during the famine; we should refer to ODonnell as a winer for all the wine he will recieve from his friends from Hollywood and New York. Please spread the word especially to alumni of St Sebastians.
Patrick
the point should be - why in this country need exists to even have health based charity? This is way overdue for universal healthcare
Can't believe we are still arguing over birth control--if one chooses NOT to have children and the medical community has something that works, WHY can't we have it payed for by ones insurance--insurance will pay for 8 viagra a month but not for birth control-really doesn't make any sense to me.
There is also a doctor to see the jobs of the same subjects of the same hospital in a variety of site. This site is a site survey of physicians Tenshoku consultant was working at the company introduce specialist physician,
<a href="">婚期 占い</a>