NBC: 'Growing Demands' Komen Foundation 'Clean House' After 'Mistakes' Over Planned Parenthood
On Thursday's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams touted the handiwork of Planned Parenthood's vicious attacks against the Susan G. Komen foundation: "The nation's largest breast cancer charity remains in turmoil tonight after a controversial attempt to cut off its funding of Planned Parenthood. Donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation are down sharply in many areas."
NBC News, and Williams particularly, were quite complicit in furthering those attacks on Komen. On the February 1 broadcast, Williams declared: "A decision that's making a lot of women furious at the world's largest breast cancer organization. Why did it cut off funds for critical breast cancer screenings?"
On Thursday, correspondent Lisa Myers explained: "The organization known for its iconic pink ribbon is taking a hit where it hurts, at Races for the Cure around the country....Eve Ellis, a former New York board member whose family has raised or donated about $250,000, says she's closed her check book." Ellis lamented: "I've stopped giving to Komen because it no longer represents who I thought Komen was. And that, to me, is extremely sad."
Myers continued: "Komen's hierarchy is in turmoil....Three top executives have resigned. All said it was a personal decision, but had opposed Komen's recent effort to withdraw funding of Planned Parenthood....there are growing demands for Komen to clean house."
During the February 1 coverage, Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards was brought on to denounce "a right-wing political campaign" that was "bullying" Komean to pull funding from the abortion provider. Myers helpfully pointed out: "Not long ago, Komen also hired a new Vice President, Karen Handel, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate endorsed by Sarah Palin, who strongly opposed abortion and vowed to defund planned parenthood during her campaign."
On Thursday, Myers did highlight some of the important charitable work of Komen, describing the case of breast cancer patient Roxanne Martinez, who received medical care through Komen funding. However, even then Myers remarked: "Martinez says she'll run at least three races this year and urges friends to forgive Komen's mistakes."
Not once during the March 22 report was Planned Parenthood described as controversial in any way or as the nation's largest abortion provider.
Here is a full transcript of the segment:
7:00PM ET TEASE:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: The fallout for one of the biggest names in breast cancer charities and the women who may pay the price.
7:08PM ET SEGMENT:
WILLIAMS: Now to the politics of women's health in this country. The nation's largest breast cancer charity remains in turmoil tonight after a controversial attempt to cut off its funding of Planned Parenthood. Donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation are down sharply in many areas. Now some top executives are leaving. Our report on all of it tonight from NBC's Lisa Myers.
LISA MYERS: The organization known for its iconic pink ribbon is taking a hit where it hurts, at Races for the Cure around the country. In southwest Florida, donations down almost 30%. Lafayette, Louisiana, down 27%. Fort Worth, Texas, race registrations down 40%.
JENNIFER WERSAL [KOMEN FOR THE CURE, FORT WORTH]: We do recognize that people are upset with Komen right now. Even on a local level.
MYERS: The biggest affiliate, New York City, just canceled its annual gala. The cause, a spokesman says, "We're not certain about our ability to fundraise in the near future." Eve Ellis, a former New York board member whose family has raised or donated about $250,000, says she's closed her check book.
EVE ELLIS: I've stopped giving to Komen because it no longer represents who I thought Komen was. And that, to me, is extremely sad.
MYERS: Komen's hierarchy is in turmoil. Today, the chairman of the board stepped down and was replaced by a previous chairman, who's close to founder and CEO Nancy Brinker. Three top executives have resigned. All said it was a personal decision, but had opposed Komen's recent effort to withdraw funding of Planned Parenthood. Recently, Nancy Brinker apologized to employees and volunteers.
NANCY BRINKER: We let you down. And for that, I'm profoundly sorry.
MYERS: But there are growing demands for Komen to clean house.
ELLIS: Nancy Brinker needs to resign and the board needs to be replaced.
MYERS: Komen officials acknowledge these are difficult times, but the board says it has complete confidence in Brinker. And officials warn that fewer donations will mean less money to help women who can't afford mammograms or cancer treatments. Today, this Maryland hospital provided mammograms for low income women, thanks to money from Komen.
JUDY LICHTY [WASHINGTON ADVENTIST HOSPITAL]: This year, we'll do an additional 600 mammograms from what we usually do.
MYERS: Because of the Komen money?
LICHTY: Because of the Komen money.
ROXANNE MARTINEZ: Ultimately, they saved my life.
MYERS: Roxanne Martinez of Fort Worth was pregnant when diagnosed with breast cancer, then lost her job. She says money from Komen helped pay for chemotherapy, medicine, and insurance premiums.
MARTINEZ: Knowing what I've been through, I know that the women's lives are on the line here.
MYERS: Martinez says she'll run at least three races this year and urges friends to forgive Komen's mistakes. Lisa Myers, NBC News, Washington.
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Comments
They started with me
Submitted by KornKing on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:32am.
I no longer will donate to Komen
➚ Mired in controversy
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:33am.
Komen Foundation can do whatever it wishes. Conservatives are still disgusted the foundation kept their alliance with abortion mills quietly in the background before this dustup. A clean break would have engendered forgiveness, but the dog has turned back to its vomit.
Bump
Submitted by Chulio on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:35am.
There are plenty of worthy charities out there, why would I want to send money to subsidiary of PP?
Leftist abortion enthusiasts
Submitted by TE on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:49am.
Leftist abortion enthusiasts like Brian Williams, Lisa Myers and everyone else at NBC (and its parent company A-Mess-NBC) are too stupid to comprehend that many people now refuse to contribute to Komen because Komen is taking money from donors' pockets to give to the country's largest, most active and most lethal abortion mill "Planned Parenthood".
A grocery store in Texas (and elsewhere?) once or twice a year asks customers at check-out counters if the customers want to give money for "breast cancer research" or some such. The employees never tell the customers, who the grocery store employees are rudely attempting to shake-down, that the donations go to Komen. My answer in the future will be "hell, no".
TE
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:58am.
I'm sure they understand the reduction in donations. But just as they have to spin the reality to make it appear Obama is doing a great job, they have to make this "attack" on Komen a right wing plot.
Our daughter is doing a walk for Komen this summer because she'd already given her word to participate. It will be her last event.
Now that we know that Komen supports PP and abortion...
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:49am.
I am sure that there are many who used to donate to the Komen Fountation that will reconsider and instead give their money to another worthy charity.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
It's part of PP's agenda*
Submitted by cajun2 on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:57am.
Komen Foundation has the right to give or refuse to give donations to PP. But we too can refuse to donate to any cause. What is interesting however, is this is a made up crisis by Planned Parenthood.
Susan G Komen Foundation donates an average of $600,000 per year to PP. PP acted as though this was a terrible blow to "women's health". But at the same time, PP is building a $35M new headquarters in NYC.
How many women could benefit with so called "reproductive services " funded by $35M but PP is b******g about the loss of $600K?
Cajun
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 5:11pm.
It's the same with PETA. When I was still in the Navy I ran my boat past their main HQ building in Norfolk, Virginia. It's a multi million dollar building on the banks of the Elizabeth River. That mortgage payment must be why they kill so many animals each year.
Exactly
Submitted by Fredy on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:34pm.
Many people simply saw the pink ribbons and thought of cancer research when presented with a chance to donate.
Now, most everyone knows of their connection to abortion.
Leftist War Against Life
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:40pm.
They don't even know who they are killing. They couldn't care less.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
No More
Submitted by desert3030 on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:57pm.
Once a year my wife and I give $500.00 to the Susan G. Komen foundation or 37% more than the VPOUS gave all charities. We ran/walked in three differnet races and bought and bought product with the ribbons.
I must say, shame on us, if we had known how much was going to Planned Parnethood ....not a dime of our hard earned money would be going there. We will stop all of our support, which may not be a big deal, but I hope a few thousand join with us. Maybe the V.P & the doctor can pick up the difference, fat chance.
Yeah the race down here was more of a spectacle than it was a
Submitted by gmaniac1 on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:52pm.
charity event. It didn't seem to have the same positive feel this time around.
How interesting...
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 1:51pm.
How interesting, the Foundation is watching donations fall AFTER restoring funding to Planned Parenthood, which is just the opposite of what one would expect if the liberal argument of "cutting PP funds is bad" was actually true.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
It's simple: Komen must be punished.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 1:54pm.
And too bad if women may actually, really, truly, die.
The most important thing is that babies die.
Clean House?
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 2:22pm.
MYERS: But there are growing demands for Komen to clean house.
Is this some kind of code speak perpetuating the War on Women?
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Another simple question
Submitted by LinTaylor on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 4:17pm.
So what would happen if one went up to a liberal and said "If Planned Parenthood is so vital to womens' health, surely you don't have a problem with their dropping the controversial abortion procedure but continuing the rest of their services, do you? I mean, you yourself said that it's not about abortion, right?"
Don't worry for PP
Submitted by ant on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 4:45pm.
If they are getting less from Komen, I understand now they are making a nice profit selling baby body-parts to researchers overseas. Though, it is illegal to actually 'sell' them, you can charge packaging and shipping charges at will.
My wife is 6 years cancer free.
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 11:56pm.
We were always proud to donate to Komen....
No more.
Lyin' brian and his ilk can make up the difference.
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?