Susan G. Komen: A curious case of temporary sanity

Susan G. Komen and their "Race for the Cure" events has been the biggest breast cancer charity around. One can applaud their zeal and their efforts to save lives. But for the past seven years, pro-lifers have had difficulty getting involved without holding their noses. Why? Because part of the money raised by Susan G. Komen every year is given to Planned Parenthood - somewhere in the neighborhood of $600,000.00.

It really begs the question: What is an agency dedicated to saving lives doing in a partnership with an agency that has as its primary cash cow the taking of human lives through abortion? This sounds like insanity. If the goal is to save the lives of women, why would they support an organization dedicated to the taking of unborn lives, half of which would be women?

There is also the well know, if little reported, link between abortion and breast cancer. For decades worldwide, researchers have been pointing out through voluminous studies that induced abortion is a contributing factor. That story doesn't fit into the politically correct template, however, so it is usually ignored by the media. But certainly the Komen foundation knows. What rationale would cause them to associate with the nation's biggest abortion provider?

Someone I was conversing with recently tried to justify the connection by pointing out all the good that Planned Parenthood did in other venues. But as I told them, isn't that like commending a mass murderer because he sent his mother a card on her birthday? I know. That's a bit of an exaggeration, sure, but so is the claim that Planned Parenthood is engaged in a lot of good things. Whether they are or not doesn't change the fact that they are the nation's largest provider of abortion.

And Susan G. Komen came to that conclusion as well, if only temporarily. As the January page on our calendar was flipped, the Komen foundation announced their support of Planned Parenthood was ending.

Since 2005, the justification for the Komen Foundation giving money to Planned Parenthood was that they insisted the money would only be used to fund breast cancer screening, education, and health programs. But the truth has a pesky way of creeping to the top. It seems Planned Parenthood never provided mammograms. So under Komen's new proposed policy their foundation will only award grants to organizations that actually do provide mammograms. That makes sense, doesn't it?

The Weekly Standard's John McCormack writes,

"Why does Planned Parenthood feel entitled to a private charity's donations, especially considering the fact that Planned Parenthood's president falsely claimed on national television that the group provides mammograms? Isn't Komen free to give its money to organizations that provide more than mammogram referrals and breast cancer screening?"

One would think so. Don't they have the right to decide who they fund?

Oh, but not everyone thinks that. Within 24 hours a veritable firestorm of fury was unleashed on Komen by Planned Parenthood and those in the media who support their slaughter of the unborn. How dare Komen politicize the issue, the media cried. Even 26 pro-abortion Senators signed a letter condemning the Komen decision. Who has politicized the issue? Talk about pressure.

In its own defense, the Komen foundation pointed out that Planned Parenthood is under investigation for misusing taxpayer funds; and unlike Congress, Susan G. Komen wants to be a good steward of their donor's funds. Any check of the allegations against Planned Parenthood should cause any legitimate business to back away. I was tickled pink by the decision of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and I sent them an e-mail thanking them for their brave stand.

Alas, the sanity was short lived. The Susan G. Komen foundation bowed to the political pressure within a couple of days. In spite of the fact that donations were up 100% and in spite of the fact that supporters of the decision outnumbered those who were opposed by 2:1 in the e-mails received, Komen beat a hasty retreat. This was a curious case of temporary sanity.

The moral? Bullying wins again. Planned Parenthood was able to get their way through intimidation. They always will until people have the courage to stand up against the political pressure. Susan G. Komen did not.

Time to Shut Planned Parenthood's Cash Spigot

This Saturday, I plan to participate in the "Walk for Life" sponsored by First Step Pregnancy Center in Bangor. This is one of the many ways that they raise funds to help in their effort to save innocent, unborn babies from death. They are doing a good work, and they have to raise their own funds to do it. Planned Parenthood doesn't have to do that. They receive $300 million in subsidies from the Federal Government, plus additional funding from many state governments, to carry out their agenda of ending the life of unborn babies through abortion. Something is wrong with this picture. It's time Planned Parenthood's government funding spigot is shut.

Why shouldn't Planned Parenthood have to hold their own fundraising events? Maybe they could have their own walk too. They could call it the "Walk for Death." But why should all of us be forced through our tax dollars to fund an organization that practices what many of us consider a great evil? Actually, since our Federal Government is broke, why should we borrow to fund their efforts so they can continue to end the life of future taxpayers?

There are those who disagree with shutting off the spigot. Our President and the Democrats in the Senate have drawn a line in the sand. They and other Planned Parenthood allies always want to trot out the "good things" that Planned Parenthood does to justify continued funding. But the problem is, those things don't change the fact that Planned Parenthood is the nation's number one provider of abortion.

One of our children's newest favorite movies is "Tangled." There is one scene in the movie where the heroine is lured into a tavern with a benign sounding name but filled with an assortment of thugs, toughs, and criminals. Fearing for her life, she explains her dream to them. Touched by the beauty of it, they all begin telling their own dreams. Deep inside they are really wonderful people with admirable dreams. One wants to be a concert pianist. Another wants to be a mime. Still another collects miniatures. Ah, but alas, they really are all thugs, toughs, and criminals who make their living through crime. None of their dreams change that fact.

Everyone wants to be thought well of. that's human nature. Everyone will always present their best side - even Planned Parenthood. But it is kind of hard to hide reality. That's the situation with Planned Parenthood. For all of its "good intentions," they remain the nation's number one provider of abortion. As such, they do not deserve one cent of public support. Please do not use our tax dollars to fund them. Shut off the cash spigot.