Rep. Speier Pulls Support From Breast Cancer Foundation Over Decision

[cal04]

Rep. Speier Pulls Support From Breast Cancer Foundation Over Decision To Sever Ties With Planned Parenthood

Yesterday, America’s most well-known breast cancer organization Susan G. Komen succumbed to right-wing pressure and ended its partnership with Planned Parenthood, pulling around $600,000 in grants that allow the women’s health organization to provide breast cancer exams for low-income women. Today on the House floor, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) — a “big booster” for the foundation and a participant in its iconic Race for the Cure event — announced that she would no longer support the organization over it’s decision.

Noting that the foundation based their decision to sever ties on anti-choice advocate Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) “spurious congressional investigation” into Planned Parenthood, Speier blasted Komen for falling into the trap of a “political sandbox.” “A hearing has never been held,” she noted. “I guess it means that Susan G. Komen has become a 501(d)(4), because no longer do they want to be providing nonprofits, they want to become a political advocacy group,” she said.

Watch it:
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/01/416425/rep-speier-pulls-support-from-breast-cancer-foundation-over-decision-to-sever-ties-with-planned-parenthood/

Speier also pointed out the particular irony of another nearly simultaneous statement from the Komen foundation noting that the rate of breast cancer screening for women without insurance is around 38 percent. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood provided 700,000 screenings for low-income and uninsured women last year alone. By bowing to right-wing fear-mongering, Komen is helping to cripple one of its own key efforts.

Komen issued an updated statement on their decision, “Grant making decisions are not about politics—our priority is and always will be the women we serve. Making this issue political or leveraging it for fundraising purposes would be a disservice to women.” Maybe the organization should take its own advice.


Komen foundation blasted for cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood
(snip)
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) said on the House floor that she could no longer support Komen, the charity known for its pink ribbons and products.

“I have been a big booster of the Susan G. Komen organization,” Speier said. “But not anymore.”

(snip)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Komen was cowering at the prospect of a GOP “witch hunt.”

“I was perplexed and troubled to see the decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut off funding for life-saving breast cancer screenings through Planned Parenthood because of a political witch hunt by House Republicans,” Boxer said in a statement. “I truly hope that they will reconsider this decision and put the needs of women first.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/208167-komen-blasted-for-cutting-off-planned-parenthood-funding

[Missy Vixen]

1. For those who may not remember, Rep. Speier is the very courageous woman

who described having an abortion on the House floor in response to yet another clueless Republican male.

Congratulations to her for making this move.

[niyad]

3. and thank you for reminding us about this

[Missy Vixen]

4. I wish I lived in her district

It was astounding to me that any woman would have to discuss what was obviously a heartbreaking decision between herself, her spouse, and her doctor on the floor of the United States House of Representatives with a male who will never sustain a pregnancy himself.

[Starry Messenger]

5. I live in her district.

She does indeed rock.

[la la]

6. also wounded during the Jonestown Massacre...

Rev. Jim Jones...Guyana...

[niyad]

7. I had forgotten about her being there. will never forget jonestown, though

[niyad]

2. hey, komen, you made that decision based on politics--you SAID it was based on politics. we have

it on tape, we have the press releases, everything that said you did it because of politics.

nice try, but we are not nearly as dumb and forgetful as the people with whom you are now in bed.

[saras]

8. Nah, they're right-wingers now - words don't MEAN anything.

[niyad]

9. or, "words mean what I say they mean"

[roody]

10. love her!!