The Susan B. Komen Foundation's February 1 announcement that it would no longer provide grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates added fuel to the flame of a long-burning political fire. Although Komen spokeswoman Leslie Aun attributed the change to a recently adopted Komen policy that prevents the organization from providing grants to recipients under governmental investigation -- as Planned Parenthood currently is -- some advocates of the well-known health giant are crying foul.
Here's a look at what Americans on both sides of the aisle are saying about Komen's choice.
"I think it is just wonderful that they are no longer funding PP. I could not support Komen before, but now I'm excited to, as are many others as seen by their 100 percent increase in donations since the announcement. I truly believe the tide is turning in America. With medical technology it's impossible to deny it's a life. While some may be comfortable turning a blind eye to the tragedy of abortion, only the most extreme pro-abortionists could actually want to financially support it." -- Christie Heywood, physician assistant and mother, Stratford, Conn.
"I'm really unhappy with Komen. They have benefited from great marketing and pink awareness, so they get wonderful funding from both public and private sources. When [my friend] Carol was sick, I was disappointed it was so hard to find teal "fight ovarian cancer" items. Because of Komen's visibility they are really helping to defeat breast cancer. Their money comes from women of all levels of wealth, ages, and cultures. I think it is mean-spirited to deny their support to Planned Parenthood, the only place many poor women can get breast exams, because of the ethics/politics of one of their executives. I am afraid they will find their "Race for the Cure" events may suffer in backlash, and hurt the women who need it most even more." -- Carolynn Harrison, retired marriage family therapist, Pleasanton, Calif.
"It's important for low cost, reliable health care be available to all Americans, regardless of who you are or where you live. I'm saddened that an organization I once supported is not as pro-woman as they marketed themselves to be." -- Karen Melloshy, analyst, Oakland, Calif.
"This past year I wanted to run the Komen 5K for the Cure in honor of a friend fighting breast cancer, and was grieved to learn of Komen's connection with Planned Parenthood. I knew I could not support Komen as long as it funded Planned Parenthood, for even if all of the Komen money did indeed go toward breast cancer programs, it would then free up money in the Planned Parenthood budget for abortion and related services. Komen's choice to stop funding Planned Parenthood opens the organization up to a huge new demographic, as approximately half of Americans identify themselves as pro-life. Already many abortion opponents are signing up to race and are sending in donations to an organization they can finally support without hesitation. Hopefully their voices and money will more than make up for the support lost by those who have chosen to abandon breast cancer victims in political protest." -- Jennifer Biddison, web consultant, Rockville, Md.
"I've been disappointed with the Susan G. Komen Foundation for awhile. Their charity has become a "brand" and they've sued other non-profits for using pink, using "for the cure", and have aligned themselves with companies whose products contribute to cancer (KFC chicken, soda companies, etc.) I was very disappointed when I read that Susan G. Komen will no longer serve women at Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is used by 1 in 5 women during their lifetime. The services provides are breast cancer screenings, pap smears, contraception (which prevents abortion), and counseling services. For the past two years, I haven't donated to Susan G. Komen, and I will continue to avoid donating to this foundation." -- Tracie Schwertley, teacher, Chicago
"Having no health insurance, I have no option but to go to Planned Parenthood. I've been going there since I was 18; Now I'm 32. I don't know when the last time it was that I visited a private doctor. I've never needed to go anywhere else. I feel lucky that if I think I have a health issue that I can go to PP. If I didn't have them I'd feel a lot more insecure about my health in general. It's stupid that Komen is pulling funds. Millions of women like me need them to operate fully so that we feel like there's a health center we can rely on. Planned Parenthood is a god send. Komen needs to take a deep look at what they're really backing." -- Celia Aurora, actress, Los Angeles
"The Susan G. Komen organization is a standalone organization in cancer research and is for promoting life and about extending life eradicating cancer. The Planned Parenthood simply is if you aren't ready to become a parent yet even though you have had consenting sex you can end that. I don't understand the common ground here. I believe if Susan G. Komen wants to cut the funding to the programs at Planned Parenthood it is simply their option to do so. I personally hope that Planned Parenthood goes bankrupt as they are already morally bankrupt taking innocent lives. I have a child who was seriously ill and have fought every day for her life. Killing is killing is murder no matter what you want to define it as. God help those who defend murder because they will be judged." -- Paris Golec, business owner, Mission Viejo, Calif.
"What irked me most was that Komen had the temerity to suggest it wasn't about politics when it clearly was. Like Tim Thomas a week ago, just have the stones to say what you really feel." -- Chip Crawford, systems engineer, Columbia, Md.
"I'm not one who makes a decision without researching it. The sound bites off the media and by congresspeople have made this an issue regarding Conservative Republican verses Liberal Democrat values. From what the CEO of Komen said, it is an issue where PP no longer fit their criteria for a partnership. The goal of Komen is to provide for the most with the dollars they have. My thought is PP is only getting those women who want/need abortions. Komen has found other more direct community programs which reach a higher percentage of low income and teenage women, those who may need family counseling and those who don't." -- Elizabeth Dallmann, mother, Pleasanton, Calif.
"Planned Parenthood uses 3 percent of its budget to provide abortion services. The rest is used for many other areas of women's health. Many women rely on PP for all their health care and abortion is not something that many of them will use. But if they cannot get breast cancer screening because of Komen bowing under political ideology... many women will die unnecessarily. This, I believe, is so not in the spirit of why Komen was founded that I can only see political machinations in it. And I say this not only a breast cancer survivor, but also as a voting Republican. I will not give any more support to Komen. I will give money to PP and I will give it in honor of so many women for so many reasons. I suspect that Susan G. Komen is ashamed of what her name has become." -- Kunni Biener, attorney, Damascus, Md.
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