Planned Parenthood praises Komen for 'clarifying' grant criteria....

[Tx4obama]

Planned Parenthood praises Komen for 'clarifying' grant criteria, looks 'forward to continuing our partnership'

Planned Parenthood Federation of America just released a a statement by president Cecile Richards:

The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity.

During the last week, millions spontaneously joined a national conversation about lifesaving breast cancer prevention care and reinforced shared values about access to health care for all. This compassionate outcry in support of those most in need rose above political, ideological, and cultural divides, and will surely be recognized as one of our nation's better moments during a contentious political time. Planned Parenthood thanks each and every person who has contributed to elevating the importance of breast cancer prevention for so many women in need.

In recent weeks, the treasured relationship between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and Planned Parenthood has been challenged, and we are now heartened that we can continue to work in partnership toward our shared commitment to breast health for the most underserved women. We are enormously grateful that the Komen Foundation has clarified its grantmaking criteria, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Komen partners, leaders and volunteers. What these past few days have demonstrated is the deep resolve all Americans share in the fight against cancer, and we honor those who are at the helm of this battle.

Planned Parenthood has been a trusted partner with the Komen Foundation in early cancer detection and prevention services. In particular, Planned Parenthood helps the Komen Foundation reach vulnerable populations -- low-income women, African-American women, and Latinas -- especially in rural areas and underserved communities where Planned Parenthood health centers are their only source of health care. With Komen Foundation grants, over the past five years, Planned Parenthood health centers provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and more than 6,400 mammogram referrals. With the outpouring of support over the past week, even more women in need will receive lifesaving breast cancer care.

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/02/planned-parenthood-praises-kom.html

[immoderate]

1. Smooooth!

"Now that your temporary insanity is passed..."


--imm

[barbtries]

2. i'd rather kick them,

but PP is reacting very graciously, which i suppose they have to do.

[hamsterjill]

3. Attention Republicans:

Don't mess with my reproductive health.

Signed,

The sane women left in this country.
(And we vote and we make our voices heard. If you doubt that, look what just happened!!!!)

[Missy Vixen]

4. As Emma Stone's character in Easy A said, "Buuuuuuuuurn!"

There is nothing SGKF can say in response to this carefully-crafted statement that won't make them look like idiots.

Congratulations to PP, in the business of saving lives for almost 100 years!

[leftynyc]

5. Nice statement

but I still have crossed komen off my list....maybe if they fire that PR person I'll reconsider. Until then, every dime will go to PP.

[TBF]

16. Komen is off my list until Handel is gone - along with the board that hired her. nt

[leftynyc]

18. Same here

I mean, she's supposed to be their PR person and look at the banner job she has done pissing off everyone. Pretty incompetent, I'd say.

[rocktivity]

6. Komen has promised only to give PP the money they were promised this year.

...We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

...Amending our criteria will ensure that politics has no place in our grant process. We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants...
link

Given what appears to be their definition of what's "political" or "criminal" in nature (and I have no idea what they mean by "conclusive&quot , I don't feel as good about this as I should.


rocktivity

[eyewall]

8. agreed

It still remains to be seen if the ongoing criminal investigation of Penn State will disqualify them for their Komen kontributions. I felt that PSU's grant was the real reason for Komen's reversal but in light of their clarifications it would seem that Penn is still unqualified by Komen's own rules. Is the PP re-funding an attempt to get the media to lay off re/PSU?

[Patiod]

11. I hope not.

I hope they don't cut off funds to Hershey Medical Center, which does great things for cancer patients in Central PA.

It seems as it the rule was instituted to give them a reason to cut off funding to PP, and as other recipient orgs that are being investigated come to light, the new rule is biting them in the ass.

(Note: "Penn is still unqualified" ---> Penn not short for Penn State. Penn is a . Ivy League school in Philadelphia which is full of pretentious dickheads. Definitely NOT the same as the cow college out in the middle off the state.

[eyewall]

15. Thank you Patiod

I did not know that. My apologies to Penn State.

And yes, I agree it would be tragic for Komen to pull the funding for ANY cancer research because they tried to hide a stupid politically motivated attack against Planned Parenthood. Penn State's problems have nothing to do with their medical research or community medical assistance programs. SGK has painted themselves with a stain of hypocrisy that will not be removed by mere PR statements. Their politically motivated officers must step down if Komen is to have any future credibility at all.

I briefly lived in Philadelphia and never managed to adjust to the quirky method of ordering a cup of coffee (if you do not specify Black coffee, you get coffee with cream). I seem to have forgotten anything I previously knew about the Ivy League/Big Ten etc. after losing interest in collegiate basketball.

[The Second Stone]

9. just as interesting is "conclusive"

criminal investigations are never "conclusive", jury verdicts are.

[realFedUp]

7. Wonder who gave them the sage advice

Sure helps their PR going forward but their name will always have that WTF feeling.

[avaistheone1]

10. That is the million dollar question.

I would like to know too.

[katty]

12. just donated to PP

[peace frog]

13. 'Clarify' THIS, Komen

[Kber]

14. Class Act

[murphyj87]

17. The Komen group has always been on the wrong side of the politics of breast cancer

This film opens today (although the typical American censorship of free expression will likely prevent it's showing in the US):

http://www.nfb.ca/film/pink_ribbons_inc_trailer

[matt819]

19. I know what PP does. Can someone tell me what SGK has accomplished?

Not trying to be funny here. Yes, SGK provides funding in the millions (tens of millions? more?) for programs related to breast cancer research and women's health. Apart from the funding for PP, what has SGK's funding accomplished? Or is it just a fund-raising machine, with research and women's health an incidental beneficiary?

Along the same lines, this has prompted me to think of all the Jerry Lewis telethons for muscular dystrophy that I watched when I was a kid. He raised hundreds of millions of dollars. Has MD been cured?

Edited to add: Just saw the post above this one regarding the pink ribbons film. I guess my answer will be there. I suspect the answer is that women's health is incidental to fundraising.