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[POLL] Area Response to Komen Reversal Swift

Local responses to Susan G. Komen's reversal are coming in already . Let us add your voice. What do you think?

Earlier today, after a crush of negative response to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced plan to withdraw further donations to Planned Parenthood, the organization made an abrupt about face– issuing an apology and pledging to restore funding grants used for breast health screenings.

Komen said it will clarify their funding policy to specify that to make clear that "disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political." Planned Parenthood is currently under congressional investigation and Komen cited that proceeding as the reason for discontinuing their support. 

Local voices are already weighing in on the development.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today issued the following statement:

I am pleased Susan G. Komen for the Cure has reversed its decision to stop providing grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer detection.  The strength of women’s health advocacy is rooted in its nonpartisanship, and there must be no doubt that organizations will stand on the side of awareness, research, treatment, and support – not ideology.

I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Planned Parenthood, and other organizations dedicated to advancing women’s health.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted:

Glad to see @KomenForTheCure has apologized and will restore funding of @PPAct! Saving women's lives must be our priority, not politics.

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-Westchester/Rockland/Bronx) criticized the decision on Feb. 1 to withhold grant funding from Planned Parenthood because of the “highly-politicized persecution by the Republican-led House of Representatives.” He released the following statement today: 

“The Komen Foundation deserves credit for changing their mind and choosing to stand up to the political gamesmanship which too often passes for governing in Washington.  Both the Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood share a mission to improve health care for American women, and to eliminate cancer in our lifetime. Organizations fighting for the same cause need to stand together, and not be wedged apart because of political ideology. While Komen deserves the criticism it received for their initial decision, they deserve credit for swiftly seeing the error of the ways.”

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, who , quickly reacted to Susan G. Komen's change of heart on their Facebook page:

The outpouring of support online for Planned Parenthood and women in need of breast cancer screenings has been astonishing, and because of it, the PP Breast Health Fund has received more than $3 million from thousands of people across the country in only three days. Every dollar we received for this fund will go directly for breast exams and diagnostic services, as well as breast health outreach and education. And now with the Komen announcement, even more women will receive lifesaving breast cancer care! We look forward to continuing our partnership with Komen partners, leaders and volunteers, and supporters like YOU. Thank you so much for your voice and for standing with us!!

Less than 20 minutes ago, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization released the following statement:

Statement from Susan G. Komen Board of Directors and Founder and CEO Nancy G. Brinker

We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives.

The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. 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.

Our only goal for our granting process is to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer. 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, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.

It is our hope and we believe it is time for everyone involved to pause, slow down and reflect on how grants can most effectively and directly be administered without controversies that hurt the cause of women. We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics – anyone’s politics.

Starting this afternoon, we will have calls with our network and key supporters to refocus our attention on our mission and get back to doing our work. We ask for the public’s understanding and patience as we gather our Komen affiliates from around the country to determine how to move forward in the best interests of the women and people we serve.

We extend our deepest thanks for the outpouring of support we have received from so many in the past few days and we sincerely hope that these changes will be welcomed by those who have expressed their concern.

 

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Watchdog February 6, 2012 at 04:48 pm
PATCH., Lanning, your post shows your true colors. It is very interesting to me that such a large group of people can have such a focus on the topic of abortion, the killing of innocent babies. Makes you think that this topic of abortion is not really about women and their bodies bu a hot button to be pressed whenever they want to attack groups who do not agree their left wing, radical message. WHERE IS THE OUTCRY ABOUT THE THREATS OF VIOLENCE against Komen?
ammiel schwartz February 6, 2012 at 09:53 pm
Komen of greater NYC, to whom I complained and suggested they split from the national unit just sent me this email:
http://www.komennyc.org/2010_Redesign/images/spacer.gif We are very pleased to report that Susan G. Komen for the Cure headquarters in Dallas has reversed its position concerning funding criteria for grantee organizations. Thank you to all of you, our passionate supporters, who have called, emailed and posted on our social media sites to register your feelings about this unfortunate turn of events. Komen Greater NYC leadership has been working behind-the-scenes to express our own views and yours on this subject and we are happy to report that the Komen National Board of Directors heard our concerns. We feel that this is definitely a step in the right direction and hope all of you agree and continue to support our organization. In the end, it is the thousands of women and families we serve who will benefit most by our continued support. The official statement is below. Sincerely, http://www.komennyc.org/images/dara-sig-03.gif Dara P. Richardson-Heron, MD Chief Executive Officer, Komen Greater NYC
Mike February 6, 2012 at 10:04 pm
Good for you..I;m glad you are proud to have been part of PP's targeted extortion and intimidation tactics to a relatively small charity that provides excellent cancer servcies to milliosn of woman. BTW, wonder why you and others who felt the need to punsih Komen, have never reached out to PP to question their ethical and criminal begavior when their employees advised potentail clinets to lie about their ages and offered advice on how to cover up sex trafficing involving minor children, One would think if you had the interest of poor woman really at heart you would have been equally incesned at PP as you were at Komen who acted in an ethical and legal manner when they initially decided to use their funds for breast cancer care (something that PP does very little of) in another manner. But, we know where you are all coming from. You played politics along with PP and really dont care about the health of woman. But I'm just a man according to another poster in these comments so my opinion in this area of womans health does not count.
CK February 6, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Thanks for sharing that response from SGK, Ammiel. It's interesting to see how they are addressing the issue and how they are positioning their response. Probably, most of all, thanks for taking time to write them with your thoughts.
I'm still urging everyone I talk to about this NOT to support Komen financially. The more I've read about them, the more I think funds could be better used by smaller, more local groups. Or by giving direct contributions to Planned Parenthood itself.
CK February 6, 2012 at 11:29 pm
Lanning, I still don't know what to make of their candor. Sure, they've admitted they screwed up and on the surface that seems admirable. But Handler has not stepped down (or been asked to), so where's the accountability? This leads me to wonder what SGK's next steps will be once the fervor dies down. I don't trust an non-profit that's this big. And urge everyone to keep an eye on their activities before agreeing to toss on a pink ribbon when Cure races start up again.
Mike February 6, 2012 at 11:32 pm
So you would advise people to give their money to an organziation that acts in an unethical and illegal manner as shown in this tape:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCWf1MB92Pw Yes, they really have the interset of poor woman at heart here. I notcie that not one supporter of PP has been able to refute any facts that have been laid before them. You all just regurgitate the lies you get from MSNBC
Mike February 6, 2012 at 11:39 pm
CK- you do realize that PP dwarfs Komen yet you worry how Komen spends it funds? Did you have thsi worry before or only after PP execs used extrortion and intimidation tactics. If anyone neds to be watched, its PP who has already shown it is willing to comit crimes. Disingenousness, a trait very well suited to those feigning distrust of Komen while praising PP
CK February 6, 2012 at 11:52 pm
Thanks for sharing that link, Mike. I wasn't aware of that one. (But I gotta admit, the James O'Keefe ones are far more entertaining). It's actually inspired me to pull out the check book and send PP another donation! So yeah.
Mike February 7, 2012 at 12:01 am
@CK- Odd reaction, but hey its a free country. Sending your money to an entity engaging in criminal activity. Odd. But, nontheless you ahve a choice, unlike me and millions of other Americans who have their money confiscated from them via taxes that support this criminal enterprise. I do admire your honesty though and your willingness to put your money wher your mouth is and donate. Perhaps you'll consider tithing 10% of your income to them. if more people are like you who knwos, maybe the government will stop confiscating my money.
CK February 7, 2012 at 12:53 am
We're sort of in the same boat, Mike. I object to a lot of government programs my tax contributions are forced to go to - - that aren't of my choosing - - as well. Though I'm happy to be in a country where the quality of life is such that I can afford this "travesty", so I don't complain about it as much as my more conservative brethren do. I'm happy to pay taxes. I think we should all pay more! I just wish more would stay in this country and support infrastructure, new energy choices, and education. So America can stay strong.
CK February 7, 2012 at 12:58 am
Mike: I've seen intimidation and extortion techniques used by this Congress, so I'm not phased by it so much when a organization that actually helps countless underprivileged people - - and is continuously attacked for doing so - - shows it has tough skin. At least PP is serving a purpose... even if you object to the 3% of their service offerings that include the A word.
notbob February 7, 2012 at 01:39 pm
Hey CK here is the link, put your money where your keyboard is: https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454
Watchdog February 7, 2012 at 02:41 pm
CK, now is your chance to PAY MORE. How much will you send to Obama?
Watchdog February 7, 2012 at 02:46 pm
CK, we already have more energy choices than you can possibly imagine. What did you have in mind? Spending for education is at catosttofic levels but most of it goes to Pensions, salaries and health care benefits, not the kids. THE reason for every tax increase I had locally was to pad the pensions and health care costs. Every single increase.
CK February 7, 2012 at 04:51 pm
I sort of look at like trickle down economics. If our teachers and school administrators are healthy. well trained, motivated and feel adequately compensated, benefits will trickle down to our kids. Oh wait? It's not working? Darn, and it was such a good theory! Still, I rather my tax revenues go there than killing thousands of "innocent babies who have no voice" in the middle east.
CK February 7, 2012 at 04:55 pm
Thanks for that link. I had heard about this fund. Bleh, but I don't want to contribute just to pay down a debt that eight years of war-and-spend-but-don't-tax Republican oversight brought us. It's sad chunks of our taxes have to go to it anyway. Don't you wish we could earmark where our tax dollars go? I would gladly pay more to build this country back up.
CK February 7, 2012 at 05:09 pm
This just in... Karen Handel, the staunchly pro-life VP of Public Policy who initiated the drive to cease breast cancer related program funds to Planned Parenthood... has stepped down. Uh,,, I mean was battered and bullied by the well oiled Radical Left Gestapo (and its lockstep toadies, the Disney owned MSM) into giving up her fundamental beliefs and pursuit of happiness. God have mercy on us all, now.
Watchdog February 7, 2012 at 07:53 pm
An unbelievable cop out! FAKE, PHONY, FRAUD.
Frank J February 7, 2012 at 09:21 pm
Ck,
Read the article. Glad to hear she's gone. Can't believe people like her are so arrogant that they think their emails can't be discovered. Let us hope they can heal and return to what they were before her.
Mike February 7, 2012 at 10:16 pm
@BR- first it's not an isolated incident as there were several clinics who did the same thing. Even if it were isolated, this is a serious criminal violation. Why should tax dollars be used to support criminal enterprises. Interesting that you want to give PP a pass, but you all jump over Komen. As I have said before, it just illustrates the disingenuousness of liberals.
CK February 7, 2012 at 11:02 pm
@ Herbert: I'm sure we haven't seen the last of her and she'll probably be putting those emails (and all her notes) to use on a book about this episode. She is not taking the severance deal offered by Komen, which would have come with a hush clause. So she'll be free to tell her story... and inevitably become a contributor on women's issues for Fox News and run as a candidate in the election cycle after this one.
Here's a link to her resignation letter - which is an interesting read. She makes a good case for being a victim, which says something about the management at Komen. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/07/karen-handel-s-resignation-letter-from-susan-g-komen.html
Bjorn Olsson February 8, 2012 at 06:24 am
Although the debate seems to revolve mostly about Planned Parenthood, it seems obvious that this will change how the Komen foundation is viewed in the future. In years past, they were a cause everyone could easily support, a uniting, apolitical force. By picking this battle, they dove into one of the most politically divisive issues of all, hard to imagine that this will not alter their image for the foreseeable future. The mechanics of this process, where they will lose support from the left and gain from the right, will only serve to accelerate this shift. It's a real shame, as there are so few causes people of all political persuasions can get behind and support, and maybe even recognize that there are good and moral people on both sides of the political trenches.
Nancy White February 9, 2012 at 04:24 pm
Just an FYI about lack of mammogram machines and breast cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood clients. As someone whose "comprehensive" health insurance did not cover mammograms, I had to go to a clinic to get one. The clinic does not offer the mammograms as that requires a radiologist. But, you need to be examined by a doctor to get a prescription for the mammogram. That happens at the clinic. They then refer you to a low cost mammogram provider.
Lanning Taliaferro (Editor) February 9, 2012 at 05:05 pm
Thank you for that point of information, Nancy -- some of our commenters may not have realized how it works. My ob/gyn also does not have a mammogram machine; I get an exam and a prescription every year. Here is an interesting article about mammography costs and services: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/14309149/detail.html
Bjorn Olsson February 9, 2012 at 05:18 pm
Disingenuity on an internet message board? Get outta here! Unfortunately most of these discussions, especially when anonymity is allowed, are always a downward spiraling race where the first person who calls an opponent a Nazi wins.
Mike February 9, 2012 at 05:39 pm
No, we know how it works and that is the main point of conetention. PP made a huge uproar over an issue that really did not impact them- the provision of breast cancer services. They turned it into the political mafioso style hit job. Of course, patients for any diagnostic services get an Rx from a doctor and then get their test at a facility that provides those services. The point is PP doesnt provide those services and I would live to hear from one of the PP supporters how they "arrange for low cost services". "Arranging" for healthcare services from one provider to another under a referral arangement could run afoul of many laws including the Stark anti-kickback laws. Would be interesting for Patch or other news outlet to investigate the exact nature of these "arrangements"
Mike February 9, 2012 at 05:41 pm
@BR- yes, when all else fails and you can no longer make cogent arguments to support your positon, retort to personal attacks. Peace out.
Bjorn Olsson February 9, 2012 at 05:54 pm
I would imagine they do provide breast exams, and can funnel low income women who would otherwise not even get the initial exam into getting a mammogram.
Either way, Komen did not revoke funding because they were unhappy with PP's breast exams, this was all about the "investigation", which in turn was all about abortions.
dleighg February 9, 2012 at 06:05 pm
Besides which, mammograms are not even *necessary* on a regular basis for lots of women, specifically those under age 40 (or even 50 under some recommendation charts). PP *can* and does offer manual breast exams for that huge group of women age 20-40, for whom going elsewhere may simply not be an option. Breast health is NOT only mammograms.
Mike February 9, 2012 at 06:48 pm
American Cancer Society recommends mammograms every year beginning at 40. Further from 20-40 they recommend CBE every 3 years. What is this huge group of woman tha have no where else to go? First off there are about 7-8 thousand FQHCs in US compared to 800 PP clinics (not all even do CBE's). If a person is low income then they are either entitled to Medicaid or can get care at the FQHC. This is a smoke screen that PP is at the forefront of providing preventitive cancer care. They are an abortion provider- have the guts and courage to at least admit that is what they do.
http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/FindCancerEarly/CancerScreeningGuidelines/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
mafa11 June 17, 2013 at 12:36 am
Wow just when u thought u heard it all. I had to close the doors to my store in 2009 no one bailedRead More me out , corporate greed is a disgrace its all going to catch up to us. A complete economic collapse the poor hardworking people get hit with everything it is time for us to take a stand!!!
smellypants June 6, 2013 at 08:36 pm
Ah who the heck cares anything about Hen Island?
HEALtheHARBOR.com June 6, 2013 at 08:42 pm
Nobody but you will if one of their West Nile mosquito's bite you under your smellypants!!Read More http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FojgSQne9q8
RyeBob June 4, 2013 at 05:45 pm
While a great event, it is now past. Why would the announcement for this activity still be showingRead More up on the Patch home page? Too few announcements of note?