This isn't over, far from it actually. I know people who want to picket the Race for the Cure, and with the flushing out of Occupy DC, you know those people are going to need something to do. So Susan G Komen, game on.
Regardless Karen Handel finally resigned, and it is about damn time, too. Apparently, she doesn't fully understand her role here, which is that of scapegoat. Don't get me wrong, this is her fault, but not completely. The rest of the board and her supervisors went along with the anti-women agenda, and I imagine they will come to rue this day. To fulfill her role as scapegoat, Ms. Handel should take complete responsibility and divert attention form the wildly inappropriate use of time and resources Komen spends on things other than breast cancer, their shady relationships, and just all around failings as an organization. Her resignation letter should have read like this, "I'm sorry for using time and Koman resources to fund my crazy right wing political agenda." Instead, please read the actual letter as obtained by AP and posted by
Jezebel:
Dear Ambassador Brinker:
Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been the recognized leader for more 30 years in the fight against breast cancer here in the US – and increasingly around the world.
As you know, I have always kept Komen's mission and the women we serve as my highest priority – as they have been for the entire organization, the Komen Affiliates, our many supporters and donors, and the entire community of breast cancer survivors. I have carried out my responsibilities faithfully and in line with the Board's objectives and the direction provided by you and Liz.
We can all agree that this is a challenging and deeply unsettling situation for all involved in the fight against breast cancer. However, Komen's decision to change its granting strategy and exit the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and its grants was fully vetted by every appropriate level within the organization. At the November Board meeting, the Board received a detailed review of the new model and related criteria. As you will recall, the Board specifically discussed various issues, including the need to protect our mission by ensuring we were not distracted or negatively affected by any other organization's real or perceived challenges. No objections were made to moving forward.
I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it. I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen's future and the women we serve. However, the decision to update our granting model was made before I joined Komen, and the controversy related to Planned Parenthood has long been a concern to the organization. Neither the decision nor the changes themselves were based on anyone's political beliefs or ideology. Rather, both were based on Komen's mission and how to better serve women, as well as a realization of the need to distance Komen from controversy. I believe that Komen, like any other nonprofit organization, has the right and the responsibility to set criteria and highest standards for how and to whom it grants.
What was a thoughtful and thoroughly reviewed decision – one that would have indeed enabled Komen to deliver even greater community impact – has unfortunately been turned into something about politics. This is entirely untrue. This development should sadden us all greatly.
Just as Komen's best interests and the fight against breast cancer have always been foremost in every aspect of my work, so too are these my priorities in coming to the decision to resign effective immediately. While I appreciate your raising a possible severance package, I respectfully decline. It is my most sincere hope that Komen is allowed to now refocus its attention and energies on its mission.
Sincerely,
There is a kind of denial there that is beautiful in a way and really disturbing. Handel is a condescending ass, and Koman, well, if Komen thinks getting rid of Handel is going to fix all this, they have another thing coming. It is about damn time people started to understand what comprehensive health care for women is because it isn't just abortions and breast cancer.
Can someone explain to me the mischaracterization that Handel is referring to here? Because I don't know how I miss understood bring an anti-women politician into a women's health organization and being mystified when she pushes to cut funding for an organization that is actually pro-women. "Unfortunately been turned into something about politics", unfortunately? Really? This is the kind of thing that conservatives love, look at the feminist making everything political, and of course it is. Poor women rely on the Planned Parenthood for everything from pap smears and medication to breast cancer screening, because women's health is never a priority unless it's abortion or some other political issue. Well, Ms. Handel, looks like we're not as stupid as you thought.
But more this week on the amazing idiocy that sweeps the nation when discussing women's health includes Obama coming under fire for the inclusion of birth control in preventative medicine. Looks like 2012 is going to be a big year for women('s health). Now, settle in for a year of debates by bros about women's health. Our champion President Obama, who largely ignores women until absolutely necessary and Newt and Romney, who, well, they just hate women. It will be fun for me to watch these three try to fake an understanding of women's health and women's issues with Obama throwing up Lilly Ledbetter and birth control every chance he gets and Newt reminding everyone that birth control leads to sluttiness. And, well, he'd know. I'm guess we'll see another woman VP from the conservatives (Palin, Bachman, any woman who hates women). Additionally, rumor has it H-Rod is not going to serve if President Obama gets a second term.
Addendum:
Romney in favor of Komen's public relations' disaster. Romney has come out in favor of Komen's decision to cut funding for the Planned Parenthood, because he's an idiot.
