The Susan G. Komen Foundation clearly completely underestimated the reaction their decision to withdraw funding from Planned Parenthood would unleash and find themselves weakly trying to play catchup, with CEO Nancy Brinker giving a half-heartedly unconvincing statement in a video today, explaining the rationale behind their decision.
While pro-choicers believe the decision to sever the relationship was based in politics, Komen continues to argue that the decision was based on internal policy changes which dictate more stringent criteria for grants — which Planned Parenthood does not meet, including the fact that Planned Parenthood is under congressional investigation and does not offer on-site screening, having to refer patients for mammograms, treatment and diagnosis elsewhere. “We regret that these new policies have impacted some longstanding grantees, such as Planned Parenthood, but want to be absolutely clear that our grant-making decisions are not about politics,” Komen said in a statement Wednesday.
Komen has now apparently decided that it might be more politically correct to invent a new reason for its withdrawal of breast cancer screening funding to Planned Parenthood:
It’s now less clearwhy Planned Parenthood lost the Komen funding. Komen had initially told the Associated Press that Planned Parenthood could not receive funding because it was under government investigation. But today, in no uncertain terms, Johnson indicated that the decision actually had very little to do with an ongoing congressional probe.
“First and foremost, it doesn’t really have anything to do with that,” she said, adding that she didn’t know “very much” about the investigation because she works “20 hours a day focusing on our mission.”
So why did Planned Parenthood lose funding? Brinker says it has to do with the fact that they do not provide mammograms to women, but only provide mammogram referrals. “It was nothing they were doing wrong,” she explained. “We have decided not to fund, whereever possible, pass-through grants. We were giving them money, they were sending women out for mammograms. What we would like to have are clinics where we can directly fund mammograms.”
After thirty years of existence, one would think a charity could have figured out who they were awarding their grants to. And whether they provided the services they were donating money for. This 'reason' was announced Thursday afternoon, in a conference call with reporters, after the explanatory video was posted, over 24 hours after the initial announcement of de-funding was made. And after Komen originally stated they were withdrawing funding due to an ongoing Congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood. So is this the real reason for PP defunding? Or will Komen come up with yet another one later today?
10:33 AM: Since this diary is getting some traction I feel the need to add this disclaimer: I participated in the Ride For The Cure last October, and feel totally hoodwinked by SGK. I had reservations about doing it but was swayed by this from their website, which made it into my Ride Page:
By supporting the Ride, I am helping women in my local community. 75% of all proceeds benefit local breast cancer education and screening programs. Last year, the affiliate invested $1.4 million into the local community to reach 45,000 women from Somerset to Cape May. The remaining 25% will support innovative breast cancer research bringing us closer to the cure. I hope you will join me in support of this important event.
I convinced friends and family and even some Kossacks to donate their hard earned dollars. Never again.