Howard Dean Statement on the Komen Foundation Pulling Funding for Planned Parenthood

[ellisonz]

Released: Feb 1, 2012 1:20 PM

“The Komen Foundation has abandoned hundreds of thousands of women who rely on breast health services like mammograms - over a hundred and seventy thousand through its partnership with Planned Parenthood in recent years.”
– Gov. Howard Dean

Burlington, VT – Statement from Gov. Howard Dean, former member of the Board of Directors for New England Planned Parenthood released today via Facebook:

“The Komen Foundation has abandoned hundreds of thousands of women who rely on breast health services like mammograms - over a hundred and seventy thousand through its partnership with Planned Parenthood in recent years. By caving in to pressure from the far right, the Komen Foundation has demonstrated that they lack courage. Organizations which lack courage eventually fail. I support calls for the corporate donors to re-evaluate their support for Komen so that consumers aren't forced to re-evaluate buying their products. I urge continued support for Planned Parenthood and the work they do to provide women's health services and organizations who will continue the fight against breast cancer without endangering women's lives for political purposes. Learn more about Komen's corporate sponsors at their website: http://ww5.komen.org/corporatepartners.aspx

Support Planned Parenthood: http://bit.ly/y0PtUQ.”

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/press/2752-governor-howard-dean-speaks-out-against-komen-foundation-for-de-funding-mammograms-provided-by-planned-parenthood

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[jaysunb]

1. Exactly the correct response. n/t

[ellisonz]

2. Agreed.

"By caving in to pressure from the far right, the Komen Foundation has demonstrated that they lack courage. Organizations which lack courage eventually fail."

He hit the nail on the head. I was listening to NPR today and I think fortunately this is likely to bolster Planned Parenthood.

[izquierdista]

3. Can they be ACORNed?

The righties have set the example for how to take down a non-profit, isn't it time to return the favor?

[ellisonz]

4. I don't know if the goal is to take them down...

...so much as it is to get them to reverse their decision and give that righty senior VP the boot.

[freshwest]

7. Will they restore the funding? That's what matters.

Last edited Thu Feb 2, 2012, 08:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Not some nebulous goal from most of these 'cure' foundations, as there are some shifty foundations, too, used to hide big money from the IRS, but spend the money now to actually doing what is known to help the women facing breast cancer now.

If the goal had been to save lives, not enrich Komen and her GOP friends, this would have never happened.

I'm always suspicious of slick operations who put their name on the products I've seen their logo on. They don't promote healthy eating, they are enriching the segments of the food industry selling processed goods with long shelf life for maximum profit margins.

That was my tip off there was something wrong with this group and I did not buy into their marketing scheme.

[ellisonz]

9. She resigned? I looked for news but couldn't find anything.

I've never been a big fan of these types of organizations either. I want to see direct action. Planned Parenthood from all I've seen is very efficiently and effectively run. I've been impressed with Cecile Richards leadership (did you realize she's Ann Richards daughter?).

I agree completely on slick marketing. Whenever I see a slick attempt like the whole ribbon deal I get suspicious. I think good charities/NGOs make their case without the marketing. This was the same problem with some of the Haiti fundraising. Personality and politics over people. That's wrong. Yes there needs to be leadership, but it has to be responsive. Always been suspicious when someone puts their name on something or comes up with something so generic its meaningless.

I'd note Democracy for America really isn't all that slick, doesn't do hokey promotion, and doesn't have the Dean name on it. The one possible exception to this rule of thumb is the Carter Center.

[freshwest]

10. Ah, I misspoke, misread a thread earlier in the day. It was the head of the LA office of SGK.

She left the organization to do direct action elsewhere. I'll go back and edit that post there. But you certainly have a bead on these organizations, as well.

I distrust NGOs and/or 'non-profits' who who are unaccountable and do a lot of dirty deals under the table, making things much worse off behind their shiny facades. They work together with their business cronies and abuse the system. I've seen it upclose, they've abetted the theft of tax money, public property, the environment and healthcare.

This is so lucrative like all privatization schemes and why they're so shameless in their behaviors. It's also why some people refuse to donate to charities. Check out the stats posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002259310

But I didn't know about Cecile Richards. Ann Richards was a fine woman and I helped with others in her campaigns in Texas back in the day when progressives ran the government. Just before the great leap backasswards.

I go out of state for a while, and just look what happens! Shrub got in the governor's mansion and the damage is irreparable. I'm sure Texas was a test case for what they intend to do with the rest of the nation, they've followed the same pattern in every state now.

And yes, the DFA is not about flash, it's purely for action. There are some great things going on there. I wish my local Democratic Party would push this in a more public way. I get emails from various fundraising efforts to maintain the edge in the U.S. Senate, one of them is begging for money to get matching funds for elections. The Democratic Party seems to be on the ropes all the time despite the 'they're all the same' bunch that spreads disunity and despair.

[tularetom]

5. It isn't like there is any lack of breast cancer organizations to support

I wasn't aware that PP provided these screenings.

I'll send a few bucks their way.

And I'll tell the Komen people why I didn't send them anything.

[freshwest]

6. Tell it, Howard! Ellisonz, please crosspost on Main page.

[ellisonz]

8. Will do.

There was this thread yesterday to: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1002&pid=255424
But here we go again: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002259163

I don't think having another will do any harm.

[freshwest]

11. No, it's taking a different course than the other.