I sat back and watched the PR train wreck the Susan G. Komen decision to withdraw funding to Planned Parenthood for five minutes, and then quickly apologizing it–“So sorry! What had happened was, we had this policy, but…but…but…”
Here’s a slice of the apology:
“The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen,” the statement said. “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.
It added: “We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics – anyone’s politics.”
Let me be frank. Because of my position as executive director for No Wedding No Womb, I have been privy to some conversations with some very, very, VERY high profile people on the right-to-life side of the aisle, and trust and believe there IS a conspiracy to dismantle Planned Parenthood one dollar at a time, with the ultimate goal to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Don’t ask me how I know; I’ve been literally sworn to secrecy.
Let me be clear–I am not pro-abortion. I am pro-sexual education, pro-contraception, and pro-just-wait-till-it’s-right. However, it is my organization’s position that to de-fund such an essential resource to women living in poverty would have been a symbolic victory for people with master-of-the-universe agendas. As wacky as it sounds, there are some people in power positions who believe that the government shouldn’t provide essential health services. The breast screening issue with the Komen Foundation isn’t the issue. It’s the Republican “investigation” of Planned Parenthood that resulted in the temporary defunding. Trust and believe that the people who spearheaded that inquiry about Planned Parenthood’s alleged misuse of funds knew exactly how the Komen Foundation would respond–and that was the point. Connect the dots people. That’s why it’s important to be a critical thinker. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make informed decisions with participating in the political process.
I am so glad that women rose up to fight against this. For the life of me, I can not understand how anyone would be against women making responsible choices in the sexual lives.