The Susan G Komen Foundation, under the blind guidance of their right wing extremist VP, Karen Handel, and the Bush Administration official Ari Fleisher, really screwed up by politicizing their message. Their biggest strength has always been their ability to appeal across the political spectrum. By taking a clear swerve to right wing extremism, thy have within a matter of days destroyed their support base and it could be years before they recover.

I got an email this morning from friend and blogger Sidnora, a LONG TIME supporter and activist for the Komen Foundation. From what I can tell, her response is typical of what Komen has created for itself. I am quoting by permission:

Dear friends and supporters,

Breast cancer has no politics.

For more than a decade, I have been known as an active supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. This commitment arose from deeply emotional personal events. I have solicited sponsorship from you for my annual participation in their Race for the Cure, and many of you have responded with great generosity. Over the years, we raised over $10,000 dollars intended for breast cancer research, screening and treatment.

While doing this, I was aware that the founder and CEO of Komen, Nancy Brinker, is a prominent Republican and Bush Administration appointee. I am an outspoken Democrat, but I always felt that this was a cause that transcended ideology, and willingly put my partisanship aside in the interest of pursuing a greater good together. I have no regrets for having made that effort, and I don't think you should, either. We can be reasonably sure that, on the whole, we did good, not harm.

Breast cancer has no politics.

What many of you may not know is that I have a far longer history with Planned Parenthood. As a teenage college student with little money or privacy, I had my first gynecological exam and received my first contraceptive prescription from Planned Parenthood. It was free and confidential, and I was treated with respect. For enabling me to make the transition to womanhood with confidence about my health and my future, I will always be grateful to them. 45 years later, they continue to pursue their mission, providing millions of women, mostly young and poor or uninsured, with a full range of women's health services. I wholeheartedly support that mission.

In light of the Komen Foundation's recent decision to defund Planned Parenthood, its obviously political motivation, and their clumsy and disingenuous attempts at managing the nationwide public outrage that followed, I find that can no longer associate myself with them. I make this decision despite the fact that Komen has reversed themselves and will continue to fund Planned Parenthood, at least for now. Revelations about the hiring of Karen Handel, former gubernatorial candidate from Georgia and avowed enemy of Planned Parenthood, and the involvement in that hiring by Ari Fleischer, George W. Bush's press secretary, have destroyed my trust in them. They also directly conflict with my commitment to the advancement of women's health.

Breast cancer has no politics.

I plan to continue that commitment, and will be researching to find a breast cancer organization that I can support with confidence. It is essential that my efforts, and your contributions, will be put to our intended purpose and no other. I will keep you informed of my progress, and I hope you will continue to support my advocacy. If you would like to discuss this decision with me in greater detail, I would welcome that. Feel free to contact me.

Breast cancer has no politics.

What is key here is the fact that this isn't a fight between right and left. This is a battle to stop the deliberate politicizing of breast cancer by right wing fanatics. This is a battle to prevent right wing fanatics from destroying the effectiveness of the Komen Foundation in the name of a right wing agenda. Keep in mind these are the same right wing fanatics who oppose science and research funding at every opportunity, so Komen is allying itself with the very people who hurt scientific funding year after year. The Komen Foundation HIRED A BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL in preparation for this policy. They were deliberately politicizing their agenda. The reaction was not a leftist reaction, it was a reaction against politicizing breast cancer.  read more »

Mere days after the Susan Komen Foundation (the originators of the Walk for the Cure and the pink ribbons) shot itself in the foot by publicly taking on a right wing agenda against Planned Parenthood's providing breast cancer testing to underserved women and against valuable stem cell research, thus putting Republican extremism in front of actually curing cancer, the following film is being released:

This film exposes the relatively corrupt and ineffective ways the Komen Foundation goes about raising money. This film was coming out anyway...the Komen Foundation just happened to boost the attention it's getting by becoming so right wing even Michael Bloomberg took them to task and raised money for Planned Parenthood in response. The PR nightmare for Komen is all thanks to their relatively new senior vice-president for public policy, Karen Handel, a right wing Republican and former gubernatorial candidate from Georgia.

Now I once participated in one of their walks. I also have done actual cancer research and was for awhile paid off an Army breast cancer research grant. I think the Komen Foundation has funded some good research, but it seems greed and a corporate mentality may have gotten in the way of their original goals. And now that they have sided with right wing Republicans (some of the most anti-science, anti-research people in America), it seems they have abandoned all but the pretense of trying to help find a cure for breast cancer. Pity.

UPDATE: Here is an excellent response from a breast cancer survivor to the Komen Foundation re: their recent politicizing of breast cancer:

For those who want to help find a cure, I recommend donating to Planned Parenthood (who provide cancer screening to thousands of women with no other healthcare options, thus saving lives) or to the American Cancer Society (which provides a great deal of funding for basic research into cancer and cures).

Planned Parenthood of New York City is having a fundraiser at the Museum of Sex in Manhattan. Probably more than I can handle in my advanced age, but sounds like fun. This isn't your mother's Planned Parenthood fundraiser!

PPNYC's Summer Benefit at The Museum of Sex is NEXT WEEK! Check out the fabulous items featured in our silent auction & VIP gift bags below! This is a party you won't want to miss...get your tickets today!

Summer, Sex and Spirits
A benefit for Planned Parenthood of NYC
Thursday July 23rd 8pm - 11pm

Dear David,

PPNYC's Summer Benefit at The Museum of Sex is NEXT WEEK! Check out the fabulous items featured in our silent auction & VIP gift bags below! This is a party you won't want to miss...get your tickets today!

Summer, Sex and Spirits

A benefit for Planned Parenthood of NYC
Thursday July 23rd 8pm - 11pm
Museum of Sex
233 Fifth Avenue at 27th Street

$40 Advance / $50 Day of Event
Price includes after hours admission to the Museum

VIP Tickets $75
Includes Champagne Reception pre-event plus the following gift bag items:  read more »