The Susan G. Komen Foundation Mess

By Mona Goldwater, Ethics Editor and Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor

We have many mixed emotions about the Susan G. Komen Foundation's withholding of funds from Planned Parenthood.  We're not posing any solutions, or even opinions here. But we do have a lot of anguish, and questions:

• The SGKF has done a lot of good work and funneled a lot of money into a critical cause that previously wasn't even as well-funded as erectile dysfunction research!

• This plays right into the hands of religious fundamentalists, who would like to see Planned Parenthood shut down tomorrow.  Have you been reading the far right news sites and blogs?  There is a celebration going on.

• We've never fully understand how this intra-charity giving works?  While PP is a very noble cause, why does SGKF grant them money they raised for breast cancer research?

• If this boycott continues for very long, the most effective and organized group for raising cash and raising consciousness of this issue will be stifled and probably run out of business.  Does anyone really think the government will step in to replace that money?  We know the government cannot raise awareness; generally when they pick up the mantle of a cause, it becomes a lost cause (remember W.I.N.--whip inflation now?, or D.A.R.E.?).  

• We understand the outrage, and the instant (and emotional and intense) public response of cutting off funds to SGKF and sending those funds to PP.  The digital age means that reactions and movements like this can makes their voices heard within hours.

• Today SGKF leaders--stunned by the blowback--backtracked and claimed their cutoff of funds had nothing to do with the "investigation."  Komen founder Nancy Brinker said the organization wants to support groups that directly provide breast health services, such as mammograms.  Planned Parenthood only provides mammogram referrals.  If they had said that in the first place, would this have almost gone unnoticed?  But they didn't, and now the genie is out of the bottle. 

• If you believe (and support) SGKF's initial statement about not wanting to fund a group under investigation, should you also quit paying your federal income taxes tomorrow?  Because, after all, out of 535 members of congress (give or take a few depending on deaths, resignations, and indictments), these guys are all currently under investigation (roughly 3% of Congress!):

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey)
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) (deceased, but investigation continues)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-Illinois)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-New York)
Rep. John Doolittle (R-California) - Retiring
Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Florida)
Rep. Bob Filner (D-California)
Rep. Jane Harman (D-California)
Rep. William Jefferson (D-Louisiana) - Indicted
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-California)
Rep. Gary Miller (R-California)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-West Virginia)
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pennsylvania)
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Arizona) - Indicted and Retiring
Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)

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