Libby Post: Proudly Out

Comments on the politics of LGBT life

Komen vs. Planned Parenthood: And they think we’re paranoid


For years, the Radical Right and the GOP have scoffed at the notion that there is an organized, coordinated effort by those who fall under the right’s political rubric to advance an agenda that undermines social progress in our country.

Well, all we have to do is look at the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood debacle and we see how the radical right’s dominoes, strategically placed for years, have fallen into place.

For years, Komen had been providing funds to Planned Parenthoods across the country to provide breast cancer screenings. Given the demographic of Planned Parenthood patients, these screenings went to women who would have probably gone without.

The Komen Foundation, despite it’s founder Susan’s sister, Nancy Brinker, being a GOP operative, has been working cooperatively with Planned Parenthood for years with one specific aim in mind–to cut the incidence of breast and cervical cancer among women who would not otherwise have the means to be tested.

Then, former Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Karen Handel became Komen’s senior VP for public policy. In her 2010 campaign, Handel made her view of Planned Parenthood quite clear. “I do not support the mission of Planned Parenthood.” If elected, she vowed to cut state funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings provided by Planned Parenthood.

Once Handel walked though Komen’s door, the group’s mission became politicized, and in not a good way. Instead of putting the health interests of thousands, if not millions of women, first. Handel worked to put the interests of the radical right agenda to close the doors of Planned Parenthood across the country at the top of the list. Handel forced an absurd policy through the board that forbade Komen from providing funding to any organization that was under any type of Congressional investigation.

Of course, it just so happened that GOP Congressman Cliff Stearns of Florida decided to open an inquiry into Planned Parenthood’s funding. Very convenient timing I would say.

It doesn’t matter that Planned Parenthood is routinely audited by the feds to ensure compliance with the Hyde Amendment which bars federal funding from being used for abortion services.

Never mind that these audits have never turned up any evidence of wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood.

Never mind that Planned Parenthood provides reproductive health care to women who would otherwise go without.

All the radical right can see is one thing–Planned Parenthood provides abortion services. That, in their eyes, is the crime at hand–Planned Parenthood should be punished for upholding the law of the land. Abortion is legal in the U.S. Remember?

Not surprisingly, the Alliance Defense Fund, the same folks that Albany County Attorney-nominee, Tom Marcelle, serves as Senior Counsel for, came out in support of Komen’s decision. They praised Komen “for seeing the contradiction between its lifesaving work and its relationship with an abortionist that has ended millions of lives.”

And so now we turn to our local controversy and once again have to wonder how Tom Marcelle as Albany County’s District Attorney would deal with Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood in its dealing with the County? Whose marching orders would he be following?

County governments across the country have been engaged in a war of words and funding with their local Planned Parenthoods. In New York State, our state Medicaid funds can still help poor and low income women maintain control over their own bodies. Each county controls those Medicaid funds on the local level. How will this play out in Albany if Tom Marcelle is County Attorney?

Yes, I know he’s said, he’d abide by the law of the land, etc., etc. But the County Attorney has a great deal to say about policy in Albany County. Meetings between him and the County Executive are
not subject to the open meetings law. He’s a smart guy. As a good lawyer, he knows how to slowly break down the arguments and bring his point of view to policy that doesn’t, on the face of it, seem to be dangerous to the rights of women.

That’s how the erosion of rights always starts. A little chip here and a little chip there and before you know it, we’re back in 1950, women are in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant and reproductive choice is relegated to the back alley and a hanger.

P.S. There’s still time to speak out against Tom Marcelle’s appointment. Go to

Categories: General
Libby Post

39 Responses

  1. Myra says:

    Head’s Up, there are no more chips, Libby. It is not a gay or straight issue. People are going back underground. We are already back in the 50′s. Self-help is back in vogue.

  2. I do not support kormen, because it’s run like a business, people making 500 grand a year, they suppot kfc fast food, yet breast cancer has gone up on their watch, save your money support charities without big payroll ( cancer society 80 million a year). They don’t need more money

  3. John says:

    Same old tired coat hanger arguments – yawn. No one had a problem with Komen when they were giving grants. Interesting how quickly the hand that feeds is bitten as soon as it stops feeding. If planned parenthood really cared about womens’ health, they wouldn’t be aborting roughly half of their future patients.

  4. Libby Post says:

    Well John, you really hit the nail on the head. Planned Parenthood provides reproductive health care to low income women. To be clear, only 3% of all the services that Planned Parenthood provides are abortion services.

    Sometimes those women seek abortion services so that they can try to break the cycle of poverty they live in. Working at a minimum wage job and having to support a child(ren) makes it nearly impossible break that cycle. These women don’t make this decision lightly–they make a decision that is hard and not off handed. But they do so in order to create a more comfortable life through increasing their economic security for the children that just may come, children that they want to bring up to be productive students and citizens. Planned Parenthood cares about the women who come to them, cares about the choices they make and cares about their health. Frankly, your last statement–”If planned parenthood really cared about womens’ (sic) health, they wouldn’t be aborting roughly half of their future patients.”–is the same veiled racism as Newt Gingrich’s contention that President Obama is the “food stamp president.”

  5. CAK says:

    Libby, Did you happen to see the Komen rep on the news trying to explain away their poor decision?!? She could barely contain her joy over the split but kept contradicting herself – “They are under investigation for past practices” then “This isn’t about past practices, its about their ability to provide services in the future”. Definitely a political move despite what noises they are making to the contrary!

    And John, abortion service by Planned Parenthood make up LESS THAN 4% of the services they provide. Please keep the propaganda to a minimum and if you state “facts” make sure they are accurate! Thank you.

  6. Liz Lemery Joy says:

    I am in full support of women receiving breast cancer screenings and gynecological health services. I understand that part of the financial support of the Susan G. Komen foundation helped provide for this. However, I am not in support of abortion.

    Here is an example I have personally come across as a Minister.- A 16 year old teen invited her friend the same age to come spend the weekend at her house. The 16 year old who was visiting told the other teenager’s mom she was pregnant. The mother offered to take her to the Glens Falls Planned Parenthood for an abortion without her parents even knowing about it, and GFPP did the procedure.

    Then, on Monday afternoon- the girl went back home to her house, when her Dad came and picked her up. He and the girl’s mom had NO idea their daughter, who they thought was going on a fun weekend sleepover, actually had been taken by another mother for an abortion. I think that is tragic.

    This young lady will be going through some hormonal adjustments after terminating a pregnancy, as her body’s HCG, estrogen and progesterone levels go back to pre-pregnancy levels. Many times there can be side effects that need to be followed by a physician- often related to post-partum type depression.

    There are also some psychological thoughts and emotions that need to be dealt with after an abortion, often requiring counseling. Sometimes it can be weeks, months or years later that these emotions surface.

    Interestingly, there is no proof that abortions help break the “cycle” of young girls, or women getting pregnant. If anything, many times it ends up complicating it, because there is no follow up for these young ones who make these decisions, and then wrestle with the aftermath of thoughts that can come flooding in.

    I believe Planned Parenthood provides some good services, but abortion isn’t one of them.

    I’m glad the Susan Komen foundation won’t be supporting the kind of scenarios I shared above. Simply, because in my area of work, they are all too common. I think there has to be a better way.

    By the way, since they pulled out of funding- many more donations have come in from other sources, actually surpassing Susan G. Komen’s contributions.

  7. jimmy b says:

    You’re not paranoid, just hypocritical.

  8. elmer says:

    Of course it is a political move. On the other hand it’s their money.

    and now they have backtracked, I expect due to any number of past donors telling them they are acting in a shortsighted manner and one that does harm to their basic mission.

    On the other hand if this is the first time you have noticed that Komen has isssues you haven’t been paying attention.

  9. CAK says:

    Here’s to the voices raised in opposition to the Komen move – they have “temporarily” changed course and will now do their “due dilligence” in determining how to best move forward with funding to other charitable networks. :)

  10. Ann says:

    Providing the opportunity to have an abortion is a very miniscule part of everything that Planned parenthood does. It also provides alternatives to abortion and helps young mothers-to-be understand nutrition and being a mother.

    No more pink ribbons for me. You don’t want to offer free screening for breast cancer to low income women? Fine. Blank you.

  11. Terri says:

    Withdrawing funds because of a government investigation? Piss on my leg…. I find it deplorable that poor women would be put in the cross hairs of their political agenda. Although they reversed their decision, my opinion of the foundation is permanently tainted.

  12. A.M. Bush says:

    I’m betting Handel quickly discovered that her cushy, high paying job (if she actually ends up keeping it after this) was more important to her than her “principles”.

  13. me says:

    Thank you Libby for a thoughtful and well written commentary on this very serious issue

  14. Troy Taxpayer says:

    Liz, #6, your post seems to indicate a problem you perceive with the law, and the behavior of individuals, not with Planned Parenthood.

    By funding screenings through PP, Komen was not supporting the scenario you described. They were providing a critical service to women who otherwise would in all likelihood not be able to afford it.

    Seeing how quickly Komen reversed their decision, I think cooler heads agree as well.

  15. Liz Lemery Joy says:

    Troy Taxpayer-

    Yes, Komen did reverse their decision, and for the screenings, and wellness check-ups I am glad that can continue. However, it will not stop scenarios that I described, and sadly it does leave many women, and young teens emotionally scarred due to lack of follow-up counseling and medical services for post abortion hormonal adjustments to their bodies. Teen age years can be hard enough- as we all know, I believe that the residual effects of abortions only complicate them….

    Obviously I am against abortion, but if a young woman, teen etc… gets one, I believe helping them heal emotionally and physically with a lot of love and support afterwards is a must. This, however isn’t happening.

    Too many young people are out there trying to cope with these big decisions and the aftermath of them alone. Then, due to their ages they don’t have the maturity or wisdom to draw on to effectively cope and it results in poor decisions and acting out behavior. Many times leading to drug and alcohol addictions, dropping out of school and further sexual activity with relationships that never work out…

  16. Albert J says:

    A suggestion floating that would seem a reasonable compromise, is simply for Komen to SPECIFY exactly what services Planned Parenthood, or any other source they fund, the funds provided are limited to supporting, and for Planned Parenhood, or any other source they fund, to agree to those limitations and periodic accounting to verify how funding was actually spent.

    Donors to Komen’s fund should not be required to accept the notion that abortion services and all other women’s health issues are inherently intertwined. It is simple to both accept and distribute donations made for specific purposes to insure that those purposes are the only specific recipients of the monies donated for those designated purposes.

  17. Libby Post says:

    When a not for profit applies for a grant, it is for a specific service–such as the breast cancer exams that Planned Parenthood provided for low-income women. Planned Parenthood, as the subject of federal grant oversight to make sure federal funding doesn’t pay for abortion services, is well aware of how to make sure the funds are used for what they are supposed to be used for. This is just another attempt to paint Planned Parenthood with the broad brush of abortion and to ignore that Planned Parenthoods provide needed reproductive health and primary care to low income women who would otherwise go without. The Komen donors who never raised an eyebrow about Komen funding Planned Parenthood understood the necessity of the grants, the professionalism of Planned Parenthood’s financial management and the need to keep politics out of womens health care. The Komen donors who got their knickers in a twist about the grants are Radical Christian Right ideologues whose only concern is rolling back a women’s right to choose. Komen’s reversal made this agenda transparent.

  18. The Other Tom T. says:

    First, let’s be clear, PP does not provide mammograms. They only offer mammogram referrals to someone else who actually does the mammogram. Second, the 3% of their services for abortions number comes from their own report which they provide. Pardon me while I take that with a grain of salt. But sure, let’s take that at face value. Even though abortion services are 3% of their total services, it accounts for 51.5% of their non-government health services revenue (329,445 abortions x ~$500 per abortion = $164,722,500/$320,100,000 = 51.5). 51.5%!!! Not to mention, 91.2% of the services conducted for pregnant women are for abortion (abortion, prenatal, and adoption referrals). Make no mistake, abortion is big money for PP even though they throw the 3% number at you.

    Also, the implication that the “Radical Right” is trying to go back to 1950 with women in the kitchen barefoot and pregnant is such hyperbolic propaganda that it’s laughable. And sad that you think that way at the same time. It is such an outright, misleading, ridiculous lie and sadly, your minions will eat it right up.

    Not to mention your assertion that there’s “veiled racism” in John’s comment and Newt Gingrich’s is so stupid. More white women have abortions and more white people are on food stamps. So they’re making racist statements against blacks regarding abortion and food stamps even though more white people have abortions and are on food stamps? Do I have that correct? The only person injecting race in this is you Libby with your stereotypes. Al Sparpton would be so proud with your race-baiting where there is no discussion whatsoever of race.

    And talk about racism, 95% of blacks voted for Obama in 2008. Imagine if 95% of whites voted for McCain in 2008. Your head would explode from screaming racism constantly. And what would happen if Newt Gingrich started a campaign initiative called “White Americans for Newt”? Well, obviously you would hail it as racism in an unprecedented fashion. Yet you don’t bat an eye when Obama starts “African Americans for Obama”.

    Civil debate on social issues is fine. Unfortunately that’s not what you’re interested in. Just being a mouthpiece of propaganda. And believe me, I have as much distaste for liberal propaganda as I do for conservative propaganda.

  19. laurieb says:

    The damage is still done and I for one will not be supporting the Komen foundation anymore and will instead increase my donations directly to Planned Parenthood.

  20. Albert J says:

    Obviously, I don’t know as much about knickers, and how or why they get twisted, but if anybody has an objection to Planned Parenthood’s abortion services and, for whatever reason, is concerned that any money donated to Komen, for their work towards eradicating breast cancer and other women’s health services, wouldn’t it just make common sense to assure them exactly how their donation would be spent?

  21. Mark says:

    In an associated TU article on this topic, Judy Tabar, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, is quoted as stating that abortion services make up only about 10 percent of what Planned Parenthood provides ( So which is it, 3% or 10%? I’m so tired of advocates on one side of a debate or another spinning the numbers for their own purposes. By the way, if you do this knowingly, it’s called lying.

  22. Libby Post says:

    Albert–Planned Parenthood over and over has said that none of those funds went to pay for abortion services. It’s the Radical Christian Right that keeps the lie alive.

  23. Libby Post says:

    Mark–across the country its 3%. The story was unclear if Judy Taber, the ED of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England was talking about her service area or the entire country. I have a feeling she was talking about her service area.

  24. Mark says:

    Libby – I don’t think your explanation can be correct. Even if Judy Taber were only talking about her region, that would mean other regions would need to have abortion service rates of 1-2% in order for the national average to be 3%. I find this highly unlikely. If there are several regions like sourthern NE, then it becomes a mathematical impossibility. I think you need to get your facts straight.

  25. TishTash says:

    The Other Tom T: Please, don’t let your thinly veiled protestations of disingenuous bipartisanship obfuscate your obvious conservative leanings. Let’s call a spade a spade: If you don’t know the difference between a racial or religious minority attempting to enfranchise their inferior position by forming either a special interest group or voting for the first President of a certain color in the some two centuries of this nation’s existence, and the laughable analogy that those of (a lack of) a certain skin pigment who hold he overwhelming mantle of power still in this nation should be allowed to do the same, then you need to get a royal clue up your sphincter.

  26. Libby Post says:

    Here are stats about Planned Parenthood. Yes, I got them from Planned Parenthood and you can question their validity–as many on the right do. But I don’t. They know fudging the facts is not in their best interest. I’ll leave the distortions to the Radical Christian Right which continually distorts all kinds of facts to fit their interests.

    Who We Are

    Planned Parenthood has 79 independent local affiliates that operate nearly 800 health centers throughout the United States, providing high-quality services to women, men, and teens.


    Our Clients
    Planned Parenthood provides sexual and reproductive health care, education, and information to nearly five million women, men, and adolescents worldwide each year.




    Our Work




    Three percent of all Planned Parenthood health services are abortion services.

    Planned Parenthood affiliates provide educational programs to more than 1.1 million young people and adults each year.

    Planned Parenthood has more than six million activists, supporters, and donors working for women’s health and safety and our fundamental reproductive rights.


  27. There is a lot of misinformation being spread about Planned Parenthood by people who are adamantly opposed to the removal of precious life (but then could care less about the child once it’s born into poverty) so let’s get some details correct.

    Planned Parenthood doesn’t provide mammograms? Well, actually, SOME do. Most are not equipped with the technology, but a select few were awarded grants for the expensive mammography machines in order to provide the service (particularly in areas where no other health centers are available).

    Planned Parenthood makes beaucoup bucks off of killing babies?! One of the misguided men above spread some ‘numbers’ in the range of $500/abortion. Let’s be honest: abortion is a medical procedure, performed by a qualified surgeon. It’s not cheap. Planned Parenthood does not “make money” off of this. The people who believe this are sadly delusional and, I fear, making a mockery of an institution that first and foremost is an advocate for women’s health, and a leader in providing accessible care to the poor and under-served.

    Do you really want to shut down Planned Parenthood, which would effectively deny health coverage to hundreds of thousands of women and children, in order to promote your religiously-misguided beliefs?


  28. Albert J says:

    Tish tash, are you possibly gullible and blinded so completely that you actually think, “thinly veiled protestations of disingenuous bipartisanship obfuscate ONLY obvious conservative leanings”. By all means, “Let’s call a spade a spade” and begin that process with your focusing on the nearest mirror.

    Sadly your obvious and patheric racial bias seems to have clouded your perception of reality and you should consider Pogo’s sage advice, “We have found the problem, and it is us”.

  29. Mark says:

    Libby – OK, here are more facts. PP sees 3 million clients a year (see post 26 above). 300,000 of these clients receive abortions (either through referral or directly by PP). This means 10% of the people who walk through the doors of PP receive abortions. I’m guessing this is where the 10% number that Judy Tabor quotes comes from. So technically, both the number from the PP website and Judy Tabor can be right. However, it helps to see the whole picture. By the way, I don’t know how PP counts “services”. Also, neither of these statistics address revenue stream for PP, which apparently is quite significant for abortion services.

  30. Troy Taxpayer says:


    Hyde does this. Including very regular auditing.