Komen Announces It Is Ending Partnership With Planned Parenthood

LA Times: Komen “Said Tuesday That It Was Halting All Partnerships With Planned Parenthood Affiliates.” From a February 1 Los Angeles Times article:

In what looks to be a break between two organizations dedicated to women's health, a national breast cancer awareness group said it would stop providing funds to Planned Parenthood centers for breast cancer examinations and other breast health services.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a leader in fundraising for breast cancer research and famous worldwide for its iconic pink ribbon, said Tuesday that it was halting all partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates because of recently adopted criteria that forbid it from funding any organization under government investigation. [The Los Angeles Times, 2/1/12]

Right-Wing Media Celebrate Komen Decision To Stop Funding Planned Parenthood

Erickson Asks RedState Readers To Donate To Komen To “Say Thank You.” In a January 31 post on his blog RedState, CNN contributor Erick Erickson wrote:

Yesterday, the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced it would stop giving money to Planned Parenthood. Conservatives have been pushing on this issue for a while.

As a result of the announcement, the left has gone on the attack. It is important that you who wanted Komen to do this say thank you. You can email them at news@Komen.org.

More importantly, you can donate to them. If you are not willing to support an organization that takes a stand you want when they come under attack, you cannot be surprised when less organizations listen to you.

So say thank you. [RedState, 1/31/12]

Hoft: “VICTORY!... Komen For The Cure To Cut Funding To Planned Parenthood Abortion Organization.” In a January 31 post on Gateway Pundit, Jim Hoft wrote: “Victory!... Komen for the Cure announced that it would cut funding to Planned Parenthood abortion organization.” Hoft further asked readers to "[p]lease take time and thank Komen for the Cure for doing the right thing." [Gateway Pundit, 1/31/12]

NRO Applauds Komen's Decision, Calls Planned Parenthood “Built On The Poison Of Eugenics.” In a January 31 National Review Online post, Kathryn Jean Lopez wrote:

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. [National Review Online, 1/31/12]

RedState: “For Years And Years, The Susan G. Komen Foundation Has Pointlessly Given Money To Planned Parenthood.” From a January 31 RedState post:

For years and years, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has pointlessly given money to Planned Parenthood, despite the fact that Planned Parenthood's claims regarding breast exams have been exposed as wildly exaggerated. Today, after years of work by pro-life activists, that ends.

[...]

The AP's phrasing here is of course [sic] - millions of unborn women have been somewhat less than “helped” by Planned Parenthood, in addition to an unknown number of women involved in the sex trafficking trade. In any event, one of America's most unabashedly corrupt and evil organizations has lost some of its funding, which is cause for at least some rejoicing. [RedState, 1/31/12]

But Komen's Decision Could Affect Access To Breast Cancer Services For Thousands Of Women

AP: “The Change Will Mean A Cutoff Of Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars In Grants, Mainly For Breast Exams.” A January 31 Associated Press article noted that "[t]he change will mean a cutoff of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, mainly for breast exams." From the AP:

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.

The change will mean a cutoff of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, mainly for breast exams.

[...]

Planned Parenthood said the Komen grants totaled roughly $680,000 last year and $580,000 the year before, going to at least 19 of its affiliates for breast-cancer screening and other breast-health services.

[...]

According to Planned Parenthood, its centers performed more than 4 million breast exams over the past five years, including nearly 170,000 as a result of Komen grants. [Associated Press, 1/31/12, via NPR]

Planned Parenthood: Komen Funds “Allowed PP Health Centers To Provide Nearly 170,000 Breast Exams.” On January 31, Planned Parenthood Action Fund wrote on Twitter that support from Komen “allowed [Planned Parenthood] health centers to provide nearly 170,000 breast exams & 6,400 mammogram referrals.” From Twitter:

[Planned Parenthood Action Fund, 1/31/12, via Twitter]

Planned Parenthood: “Planned Parenthood Doctors And Nurses Provide Nearly 750,000 Breast Cancer Screenings Annually.” In a January 31 press release responding to Komen's decision, Planned Parenthood noted that its health centers “provide nearly 750,000 breast cancer screenings annually.” From the press release:

Over the past five years, Planned Parenthood health centers with Komen program funding have provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams out of the more than four million clinical breast exams performed nationwide at Planned Parenthood health centers, as well as more than 6,400 mammogram referrals out of 70,000 mammogram referrals. Anti-choice groups in America have repeatedly threatened the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings.

Planned Parenthood's quality, accessibility and affordability make it a leader in identifying breast cancer early when there is the best chance of successful treatment. Nationwide, Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses provide nearly 750,000 breast cancer screenings annually, offering risk assessments, breast exams, breast health information and education, and diagnostic and surgical referrals. [Planned Parenthood, 1/31/12]

Planned Parenthood: “Low-Income Women” Are At “Immediate Risk” Because Of Change. In a response to Komen's decision on its website, Planned Parenthood stated:

At immediate risk are low-income women, many located in rural and underserved communities, served by 19 Planned Parenthood programs funded by the Komen Foundation. This funding has enabled designated Planned Parenthood health centers to provide women with breast health education, screenings, and referrals for mammograms -- lifesaving care for women where Planned Parenthood is their only source of health care. [PlannedParenthood.org, accessed 2/1/12]

LA Times: In Orange County, CA, “The Loss Of Komen Grants Will End Programs To Reach Out To Special Groups In Need Of Breast Cancer Education.” A February 1 Los Angeles Times article reported that the decision by Komen to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood “will end programs to reach out to special groups in need of breast cancer education”:

In Orange County, the loss of Komen grants will end programs to reach out to special groups in need of breast cancer education, said Stephanie Kight, senior vice president of the Planned Parenthood affiliate for Orange and San Bernardino counties.

One Komen grant funded outreach to Vietnamese women in which Planned Parenthood workers would provide breast health education in hair and nail salons and other gathering places for Vietnamese women. Another allowed the chapter to fund referrals for biopsies for women who had suspicious lumps discovered during breast exams at a Planned Parenthood clinic. [Los Angeles Times, 2/1/12]

Planned Parenthood Has Long Been The Target Of Right-Wing Attacks

Ingraham: “Abortion Is The Core Business Of Planned Parenthood.” On the January 5 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News contributor Laura Ingraham claimed:

INGRAHAM: But the key fact is, Bill, that Planned Parenthood really exists -- it does all these other things for sure, but abortion is the core business of Planned Parenthood.

BILL O'REILLY (host): That is their core business, there's no doubt about it.

INGRAHAM: No doubt about it. No doubt about it. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 1/5/12, via Media Matters]

For the truth about the services provided by Planned Parenthood, SEE HERE.

Doocy: “Republicans Say, 'Do We Really Want To Fund, With Federal Money, Planned Parenthood, An Organization That Provides Abortions?' ” On the April 8, 2011, edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends, while talking about the ongoing budget negotiations, co-host Steve Doocy stated:

DOOCY: However, we do understand [the budget negotiators are] close on money. And it's probably 36 to 33 to $36 billion worth of new cuts, but it sounds like the sticking point is funding for Planned Parenthood, because the Republicans say, do we really want to fund, with federal money, Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides abortions? [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/8/11, via Media Matters]

For the truth about Planned Parenthood and federal funding, SEE HERE.

Wash. Times Op-Ed: Planned Parenthood “Facilitate[s]” Child Abuse And Does Not “Fulfill Their Obligation To Report” Abuse. In a March 2, 2011, Washington Times op-ed, Steve Wagner, president of a nonprofit that combats human trafficking, stated of Planned Parenthood's health care professionals:

[The Live Action videos] show health care professionals, employed by a national organization receiving taxpayer funds, who not only do not fulfill their obligation to report to authorities these potential cases of child abuse, but actually are willing to facilitate that abuse.

It is hard to imagine conditions more conducive to the widespread sexual exploitation of American children than those in which health care professionals are willfully ignorant of the sex trafficking in front of their eyes. [The Washington Times, 2/2/11]

For the truth about the Live Action videos and Planned Parenthood's actions, SEE HERE.

Fox Nation Hyped Video Suggesting Planned Parenthood Puts Babies In Blenders. On March 9, 2011, Fox Nation promoted an ad by anti-choice group The American Life League which showed a bunny being placed in a blender, claiming Planned Parenthood did the same thing with human babies. From Fox Nation:

[Fox Nation, 3/9/11]

Beck: “Hookers? ... Who Depends On Planned Parenthood?” On the April 11, 2011, edition of his radio show, Glenn Beck, along with his co-host Pat Gray and producer Stu Burguiere, repeatedly mocked MSNBC anchor Lawrence O'Donnell for getting emotional while reading an email from a woman who described her need for the services offered by Planned Parenthood. Beck responded by asking: “Hookers? Who? Who depends on Planned Parenthood? I have to have -- I've got 400 abortions that I have to have. I have to have these children aborted. I'm depending on Planned Parenthood. Lawrence O'Donnell has friends that depend on Planned Parenthood.” [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 4/11/11, via Media Matters]

O'Reilly: Planned Parenthood Is “Non-Vital” Because “Nobody's Life Is Affected” By It. On the April 7, 2011, edition of his Fox News show, discussing budget negotiations with Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Bill O'Reilly argued that there's “a continued resistance by the Democratic Party to the deep cuts that are necessary to get the nation back on the road to solvency.” O'Reilly advocated for defunding “non-vital” organizations like Planned Parenthood because, he claimed, "[n]obody's life is affected by Planned Parenthood." [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 4/7/11, via Media Matters]

Fox & Friends Dismisses Planned Parenthood Services Like Pap Smears Because You Can Get Them “At Walgreens.” On the April 9, 2011, edition of Fox & Friends, discussing what co-host Brian Kilmeade called a “bizarre” speech by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on how important it is to keep funding Planned Parenthood, Kilmeade and co-host Steve Doocy attempted to dismiss the importance of Planned Parenthood funding by claiming that services like pap smears are available “at Walgreens.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/9/11]

For the truth about Walgreens and pap smears, SEE HERE.

Erickson: “Planned Parenthood Killed Almost As Many People In 2009 As Live In Cincinnati, OH.” In an April 8, 2011, post on his Twitter feed, Erick Erickson highlighted a story on Beck's website, The Blaze, reporting that “Planned Parenthood performed one abortion every 95 seconds last year.” Erickson wrote:

[Erick Erickson, Twitter feed, 4/8/11]

Huckabee: “I'm Not A Fan Of Planned Parenthood. I Think It's 'Planned Barren-hood,' For The Most Part.” On the April 9, 2011, edition of Fox & Friends, then-Fox News contributor Mike Huckabee falsely claimed that Planned Parenthood is “primarily an abortion provider,” saying, “Look, I'm not a fan of Planned Parenthood. I think it's 'planned barren-hood,' for the most part. And I don't appreciate the fact that they are primarily an abortion provider, even though they claim to be about women's health.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/9/11, via Media Matters]