What can make the politics of Komen for the Cure's Planned Parenthood decision look worse? Have a scandal-plagued, right-wing senator take credit for the decision.
Associated Press
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) ... lauded Komen's action, saying: "This is a welcome, long-overdue decision that will make Komen more effective in the fight against breast cancer, which is why I wrote a letter to Komen's founder and CEO last May urging her to take this step." [...]
Vitter had sent a letter to Komen founder and CEO Nancy Brinker urging her to end Komen's association with Planned Parenthood and give the grant money directly to mammogram providers.
Vitter is perhaps best known for running as a "family values" conservative who was later caught hiring prostitutes.
The senator's boasts notwithstanding, Komen's decision has caused quite an uproar. Planned Parenthood's supporters have responded by contributing $400,000 to the health organization in just one day. (By some estimates, that figure is even higher.) That doesn't make up for the loss of $700,000 in grants, but after one day, it's close.
Even one of Komen's own affiliates is outraged.
The Connecticut affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure said in a statement on Wednesday that it "shares" people's frustration over the decision and that it will continue funding Planned Parenthood of New England.
"The decision regarding the funding of Planned Parenthood was made by Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Headquarters," the group posted on its Facebook wall. "Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut enjoys a great partnership with Planned Parenthood, and is currently funding Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. We understand, and share, in the frustration around this situation."
On Capitol Hill, Vitter is obviously pleased, but champions of women's health are not. "I have been a big booster of the Susan G. Komen organization," Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) said on the House floor, "but not anymore."
The Economist added that yesterday's decision "might cost Susan G. Komen more than it does Planned Parenthood."
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It will cost them and I will never buy another "pink" label product.
I would also like to see some accounting of how much SGK actually was spending on pure research? I'm seeing 10% in some posts. If so, that is shameful. I also understand that they have been suing anyone who dares to use "cure" in their name. Outrageous!
According to a commenter on ezra, who looked it up, the figure is about 25% -- still awful.
Well how much a charity actually spends on treating the cause isn't necessarily a good meter as to the charity's effectiveness. By law at least 10% must be spent on whatever the advertised cause is, but the remainder costs can be spent on whatever the charity would like. Certainly there are those who abuse the system and it's very difficult to think of laws that could crack down on that abuse. W/ that said the majority of charities out there don't have huge salaries for their CEO's (most pay their upper management less than 40k/yr and their regular employees minimum wage) and don't blow their money on tons of advertising or private planes. By and large charities spend more money on operational costs, advertising, and salaries than they do on the actual cause itself. But it's a catch-22 because if you don't advertise then noone knows you exist and then noone can donate. Operational costs include everything from the cost of a hospital room to treat your cancer patient, to the plane ticket to fly his/her family out to be w/ him/her during treatment, to keeping your building open so that you can operate your charity, to paying utilities. Those who abuse the system screw it up for everyone else. I do not know if the Komen foundation abuses it's charitable contributions- there are many who do- but you can't set as a baseline the fact that only 20% or 25% goes to the cause as necessitating whether or not a charity is doing a good job. It's just too complicated, unfortunately.
try 19% on research... http://komenwatch.org/2011/04/15/komen-contradictions-cure-vs-research/
But that 25% presumably doesn't include educational efforts, screenings, etc.
I read yesterday that SGK receives about $300 million anually, so it seems to me that more than 25% of that should be going to fight cancer on many fronts. They also pay the CEO $500K per year as a base pay and I'm sure there are many other 6 figure plus executive-types running around NYC wearing pink. SGK is a big business and they just cave to political pressure.
Hi April,
You are right - pink ribbons are going to disappear. Non-profit status should be stripped because the organization has become involved with partisan politics, which is a prohibited practice.
Hi Mouser,
Certain organizations enforce auditing and reporting for charities. Non-profits are required to disclose expenses over $50,000 with the IRS.
I guess I'm confused Crackhead. My whole point was that you can't say that just because a charity only spent 14%, let's say, on cancer research that this means the charity is abusing the money it takes in. Operational costs, overhead, salaries, etc. all add up and charities have a legal right to spend your donation dollars to cover these costs. Most charities are not multi-million dollar outfits, although obviously there are many who are. Regardless if they are high income or no,t it may not be economically feasible for a charity to reasonably spend more than 10% of their income on the stated cause (or as in my example 14%). This doesn't suddenly mean that the charity is defunct, that it's abusing the donations, or that it's not a good organization. What matters is where does the money go and how many people are helped.
There are different ways to evaluate charities.
Real problems occur when non-profits violate U.S. Code Title 26.
Komen has violated the following.
It would be outstanding if everyone that reads this would mail a complaint to the following location about prohibited partisan political activities. This is the kind of thing that earned Newt Gingrich his $300,000 ethics fine.
The company information can be found here.
0% of donations to churches, museums, and schools can go to outside charities with no real problem. The rules are established in the organization charter on file with the secretary of state. People just stop donating when a charity does something unacceptable.
I am Pat, Calf. Toms wife. I have been interested for many years as to where the money goes after donating to these organizations. The SGK for instance has for many YEARS advertised themselfes as "fight for the CURE" and have taken in millions of dollars. Have you heard anything about a "cure" or the "cause" of breast cancer? Who are the "research companies" that are supposed to receive the money? It is just hard for me to believe that after years and years of "research" very little has been found as to the cause and cure. I keep asking why so many woman today get breast cancer? I keep questioning birth control pills and if over a long period of time of woman taking them, that this is not a side effect.
Who's the next spokesperson for SGK? Newt or Jack the Ripper?
Either of the Koch brothers.
I made a donation this morning. If others want to help Planned Parenthood, here's the link: https://secure.ppaction.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=pp_ppol_Nondirected_OneTimeGift&s_src=ppol_onetimegift_old
And make a statement with your donation. A poster in the other blog had a brilliant idea suggesting that you make your donation to PP in honor of Susan G. Komen.
I just did. I made a donation to PP in Honor of Karen Handel (Senior VP of Public Policy at Susan G. Komen) and request to send the acknowledgement to Susan G. Komen's headquarter in TX.
We should make it a mission to make "in honor of Karen Handel" be the largest donation for PP at least this quarter.
Thanks, CJ. I donated to the national org and to my local group.
Karen Handel ran for Governor of Georgia in 2010 - and ran a hard-right, anti-choice, defund PP campaign. So...look where she ends up?
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/who-is-behind-susan-g-komens-split-from-planned-parenthood/252327/
Komen made a bad decision based on politics and it will likely put them out of business as a charitable organization. This decision will boost Planned Parenthood at least on a temporary basis.
You could be right, but the trouble is that wingers are being encouraged to "thank" Komen through donations (for very sick example). There is an unfortunate Yin/Yuck to all this.
He explains it as part of his missionary activities.
...his missionary activities.
What, is he now planning on giving breast exams himself?
Vitter gives prostitutes a bad name.
This is what I posted as my Facebook status. Hopefully enough friends will see it and spread the word.
"Susan G. Komen for the Cure just cut all its funding to Planned Parenthood for breast health screenings, bowing to anti-choice pressure and making breast health care suddenly inaccessible to many women.
Planned Parenthood health centers are often the main source of health care for women in underserved communities, and they provide 830,000 breast exams every year. 170,000 of these were funded through Komen, along with 6,400 mammogram referrals. Without Komen's funding, many of these women could be unable to get the screenings and early detection of breast cancer that save lives.
It's incredibly disappointing for an organization founded to protect women's health to play politics with real women's lives.
Therefore, let it be know that while I have sponsored people in their annual walk, I will do so no more. I have donated directly to them in the past, but no more. My charitable donations will now go directly to Planned Parenthood, and those foundations that also directly help those dealing with HIV and AIDS. These are medical issues that are too important to be left up to politics and the games the right-wing likes to play."
Based on this decision, the Susan B. Comen foundation and David Vitter deserve each other. Hope the foundation goes broke. My money's on Planned Parenthood.
That a national charity with the level of support and name recognition as the Komen organization could be so tone deaf and so beholden to fanatical anti-choice activists is mind boggling. Charities should not be allowed to interpret the Constitution as they see fit. To punish an organization that does as much good even beyond abortion services as Planned Parenthood just because of outrageous lies from fringe radicals is a wrong and morally deficient decision. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Komen's new VP is a failed Georgia politician who is vehemently against abortion. Yes, I know breast cancer and all cancer detection also has nothing to do with abortion. But the conservative zealots are convinced that planned parenthood only does abortions. And she's brought this absurd belief to Komen. Pink Stinks!
Wow, Vitter declared, "Checkmate," a bit prematurely. Better take another look at the chess board, Senator.
This is just mind boggling, no more pink for me ....
Not. Another. Penny. Ever.
It's times like this that I am glad I am from New Orleans and not La. Vitter should have resigned long ago and shame on any women's organizations that deal with him.
This organization is pretty evil. Do you remember this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/komen-foundation-charities-cure_n_793176.html
They are such jerks. Wow.
They own the freaking color, too? No more money from me and no more pink.
They made the "pink" stink.
De-Funding contributions for breast screening is a way to improve the lives of women? Wow, who knew?
That's the trouble. All the junk science and willful ignorance on the right. Here's their basic "thinking": PP is all about abortions, abortions cause breast cancer, therefore defunding PP will reduce abortions and thus the incidence of breast cancer. It's all bollocks, of course, but they take it seriously. Or at least seriously enough for their political convenience.
Give the money to the mammogram providers... How much stock does he have in them? How much money will he make? How many women does he want to kill?!
Well, he is a cosponsor of Hatch's S.877, the Die On The Floor bill, so apparently he doesn't see killing women as a problem.
Looked it up on Charity Navigator, Susan G Komen uses 80.5% of collected money for their programs (research etc.) and get a 4 star rating. I have been a big supporter but will not donate again until they re-fund Planned Parenthood. They cannot let the un-religious wrong (AKA Religious Right) and the pandering politicians make policy for them. They should look at how this investigation began - by entrapment. Vitter and Gingrich are prime examples of the far right Republican. Loose zippers flapping in the breeze.
That is incorrect. Komen uses 36% for research, screening and treatment, 37% for education and 27% for fundraising and administrative purposes. Why their rating is so high has always been puzzling to me as they are run like a corporation with a political agenda. Refusing to acknowledge the BPA link but kowtowing to the pro-fetus zealots ..... shame.
My daughter lost her life to cancer at 21. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. Discrimination, religious ideology and politics are petty ..... compared to Life and Death. When a woman who has fought cancer takes her last breath.... I don't think she really gives a darn what conservatives think.
Mammograms! Really???
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/07/12/for-every-woman-who-benefits-from-mammograms-ten-womens-lives-will-be-shortened.aspx
I don't know who Nancy Brinker is but she's definitelyin need of some investigation herself.The''cure'' seems to have raised a lot of money & who has the last word on where it ends up needs to be looked into.If its just one woman then that's an issue in & of its self.I'm not keen on charities who raise funds for other charities or organisations who actually do the work.Give directly......cut out the middleman.It lessens the chance for this sort of thing to take place.I think a lot of the ''cure'' affiliates will be dropping out after this.
Nancy Brinker is Susan G. Komen's surviving sister, and the CEO of "...For the Cure"
Don't complain that SGK stopped forwarding money to Planned Parenthood. Send your funds directly to the organization you want. Support charities as local as possible, places you can walk into, places where you can even volunteer time.
i made my first-ever contribution to Planned Parenthood today. I hope that every like-minded person who can afford a few dollars will do the same.
The Denver Komen affiliate has chosen to distance itself from the national organization and is continuing to fund Planned Parenthood in the state of Colorado. They announced this on their Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/KomenDenver
WQay to commit suicide SGK. I predict that if your asinine decision is not reversed you will cease to exist in less than 5 yrs. Shame on you for this and SUPER DUPER Shame on you for suing other groups because you Claim to "OWN" the word cure.
There may come a day I will dance on your grave
If unable to dance I will crawl across it.
Unable to dance I'll crawl
J. Barlow & R. Weir
The Republicans might all be fighting over each other to get credit for this move but they will also have to share blame when my family and others convert our yearly donations from Komen to Planned Parenthood. And I won't be coming back!