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Well, a public letter makes whether they signed it "Sen. so-and-so" irrelevant: It is political. Joel Send a noteboard - 04/02/2012 04:07:20 PM
Dear Ambassador Brinker,
We write to express our disappointment with Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s decision to cut funding for breast cancer prevention, screening, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers. This troubling decision threatens to reduce access to necessary, life-saving services. We urge Komen to reconsider its decision.
Planned Parenthood is a trusted provider of health care for women and men. More than 90 percent of the services provided by Planned Parenthood are primary and preventative including wellness exams and cancers screenings that save lives. Each year, Planned Parenthood health clinics provide 750,000 breast exams, 770,000 pap tests and nearly 4 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases. Twenty percent of all women in the U.S. have visited a Planned Parenthood health center.
For the past five years, grants to local affiliates of Planned Parenthood have been an important part of Planned Parenthood’s work to protect women from breast cancer. Komen funding for Planned Parenthood has provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams and resulted in 6,400 referrals for mammograms. In 2011 alone, grants from Komen provided Planned Parenthood with roughly $650,000 in funding for breast cancer prevention, screening, and education. According to a recent statement by Komen, “In some areas of the U.S., our affiliates have determined a Planned Parenthood clinic to be the best or only local place where women can receive breast health care.”
It would be tragic if any woman —let alone thousands of women — lost access to these potentially life-saving screenings because of a politically motivated attack.
We earnestly hope that you will put women’s health before partisan politics and reconsider this decision for the sake of the women who depend on both your organizations for access to the health care they need.

The letter is signed by Senators Lautenberg, Murray, Mikulski, Boxer, Cantwell, Gillibrand, Menendez, Wyden, Blumenthal, Shaheen, Begich, merkley, Tester, Akaka, Sanders, (Sherrod) Brown, Leahy, Baucus, Cardin, Feinstein, Franken, and Kerry.

Emphasis mine on 'partisan politics' because I find that horribly ironic in a letter signed by members of only one party.

Obviously the content of the deliberately public letter contains no threatening or inappropriate language, and I think we can skip formal analysis of it. I'm quite sure most of the signatories are speaking honestly and passionately here anyway, my issue is with them sending it at all.

Sending it does not bother me, but sending it as senators rather than private citizens, or personal friends of Komen board members, does. A senator writing AS a senator is political, and I agree it is also partisan if they seek out colleagues exclusively from the same party to co-sign. Legal? Almost certainly. Right? I am less sure.

Trying to appease all sides is usually a spectacular failure; one would have thought Obama had proven that (as big a football fan as he supposedly is one would have thought someone told him to dance with the one who brung him; oh, well.) At this point, their best bet is probably to shut up for a while and let things die down a bit before any more statements, since anything and everything they say now will just make it worse. The rule, though it can be demanding of ones discipline, is that when in a hole one should STOP DIGGING.

One can usually rely on someone grabbing a shovel anyway :P

True; often comprehension of the situation only dawns with exhaustion and the sheer magnitude of damage, by which point it is too late.

Maybe I am cutting it too finely, but it makes a difference to me whether they used stamps or franking privileges. Senators should be allowed personal feelings and personal appeals apart from their offices so long as they do not involve the office. It sounds like these did, which would make it political pressure; not sure though.

I'm not accusing them of anything illegal here, even on the off chance someone violated one of the various arcane rules. I'm not questioning their intent either. It is political pressure, and its directed at a private charity. I don't want throw too much mud but imagine if a major Rape charity cut funding to self-defense courses because the local dojo also ran a pistol range. I'd think it pretty screwed up if half the GOP senators wrote a public letter to them, and I'm pretty sure media reaction would be negative.

I doubt media reaction would be much different; each side would line up to attack/defend the decision and the media would broadcast it live like fifth graders screaming, "FIGHT, FIGHT!" on a school playground. The media are a bit like bookies: They do not CARE who wins, only that everyone BETS, so THEY "win" whoever wins the political contest. I would not even mind so much except that, in democratic elections, adjusting the line a la Fox affects the outcome.

Nature of the beast, but Komen set themselves up for it. Again, we should not pretend the decision happened in a vacuum. Also once again, I am forced to wonder why Komen bothered funding cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood in the first place since it seems to have made this day inevitable. Perhaps it was not inevitable from the start, but a certain small but vocal element within a certain political party made it so due to that partys connections with Komens founder. In that event, I am back to my last response to rt: However this ends, whether it was a political matter was decided the moment Komen made their first announcement (and the subsequent one you linked pretty much says that outright, without stating specific causes.)

I won't deny Komen played a role in their own current mess, I'm just expressing generalized bitterness and cynicism about how good causes get hijacked, worsened by the fact that from a realistic perspective its often the best thing for the cause. I've no real fingers to point at anyone, this is just a dumb thing which happened.

No argument there, and it looks to be getting worse. Huff Post has a write up on where the focus seems to be shifting
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Susan G. Komen cuts funds to Planned Parenthood. (with updated edit) nossy - 02/02/2012 04:32:27 PM 2209 Views
The most annoying part is in the sixth paragraph- abortions are only a small part of their thing beetnemesis - 02/02/2012 05:08:07 PM 1099 Views
I agree. nossy - 02/02/2012 05:20:17 PM 1003 Views
I can understand it though. Sareitha Sedai - 02/02/2012 05:45:55 PM 1065 Views
I can too, it just isn't for me. nossy - 02/02/2012 05:58:33 PM 985 Views
Actually, there are longer-acting forms of birth control than the pill. Dreaded Anomaly - 03/02/2012 12:37:42 AM 989 Views
I do think that preventing abortions is their primary goal. Sareitha Sedai - 03/02/2012 01:08:05 AM 955 Views
If they don't see that link, it's because they haven't looked. Dreaded Anomaly - 03/02/2012 02:42:42 AM 1039 Views
That is a little unfair. Joel - 03/02/2012 12:48:46 PM 1250 Views
Won't someone please think of the children?! Dreaded Anomaly - 04/02/2012 05:03:27 AM 1034 Views
I think you're leaving out some important points. nossy - 04/02/2012 03:40:48 PM 979 Views
Ah, the good ol' silent majority. Dreaded Anomaly - 04/02/2012 07:32:29 PM 955 Views
So which moron is feeding you this crap? Ray - 04/02/2012 10:27:15 PM 973 Views
A zygote isn't a person, because it doesn't have a brain. Dreaded Anomaly - 05/02/2012 12:33:29 AM 972 Views
It worries me when we think alike.... Joel - 05/02/2012 01:22:35 PM 1012 Views
Brain waves at 8 weeks are a myth. Dreaded Anomaly - 05/02/2012 08:46:06 PM 1115 Views
"brain function... appears to be reliably present in the fetus at about eight weeks' gestation." Joel - 05/02/2012 10:42:35 PM 1028 Views
Oh please. Dreaded Anomaly - 05/02/2012 11:13:50 PM 997 Views
Re: Oh please yourself. Joel - 06/02/2012 09:15:26 PM 869 Views
Quite a telling reply. Dreaded Anomaly - 07/02/2012 04:38:20 AM 936 Views
Re: I quite agree. Joel - 08/02/2012 06:03:23 PM 1141 Views
You're taking an issue of objective facts and treating it like a day of playground gossip. Dreaded Anomaly - 09/02/2012 03:47:06 AM 976 Views
No, your source, in which there is very little that is objective, did that for me. Joel - 11/02/2012 02:59:45 AM 998 Views
I see you have continued to provide no factual arguments. Dreaded Anomaly - 14/02/2012 04:53:28 AM 1240 Views
I presented factual rebuttals. Joel - 19/02/2012 01:56:45 AM 1031 Views
You continue to miss the point. Dreaded Anomaly - 23/02/2012 10:22:24 PM 1120 Views
No, I got the point: You expect me to accept a heavily biased, partisan and combative "source." Joel - 07/03/2012 01:47:37 AM 1039 Views
The claim of brain waves at 8 weeks is still unsupported by evidence, i.e. a myth. Dreaded Anomaly - 15/03/2012 09:16:14 PM 1078 Views
Well, yes. nossy - 04/02/2012 11:14:47 PM 1041 Views
A silent majority may as well not exist, if it has no tangible effects. Dreaded Anomaly - 05/02/2012 12:54:34 AM 982 Views
You ignoring it is not the same thing as it having no tangible effect. nossy - 05/02/2012 02:11:36 AM 1077 Views
Ignoring what? You haven't shown me anything solid. Dreaded Anomaly - 05/02/2012 05:25:23 AM 976 Views
It's ok, we're done. *NM* nossy - 05/02/2012 09:29:05 AM 594 Views
Since few people oppose ADULT contraception access, that might be wise in this case. Joel - 04/02/2012 08:25:49 PM 1071 Views
Re: Since few people oppose ADULT contraception access, that might be wise in this case. Dreaded Anomaly - 05/02/2012 02:11:28 AM 973 Views
If you are arguing most sex ed opponents are naïve/ignorant, I agree. Joel - 05/02/2012 08:42:17 AM 815 Views
Re: If you are arguing most sex ed opponents are naïve/ignorant, I agree. Dreaded Anomaly - 05/02/2012 10:04:59 PM 981 Views
Re: If you are arguing most sex ed opponents are naïve/ignorant, I agree. Joel - 06/02/2012 08:57:38 PM 955 Views
I'm done discussing my use of the term "oppression." The Tim Ryan stuff is interesting, though. Dreaded Anomaly - 07/02/2012 05:37:05 AM 1056 Views
Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Joel - 08/02/2012 06:01:32 PM 1152 Views
Re: Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Dreaded Anomaly - 09/02/2012 05:30:58 AM 1017 Views
Re: Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Joel - 11/02/2012 02:58:00 AM 1045 Views
Re: Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Dreaded Anomaly - 14/02/2012 04:29:08 AM 1109 Views
Re: Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Joel - 19/02/2012 01:54:30 AM 1028 Views
Re: Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Dreaded Anomaly - 23/02/2012 10:59:32 PM 1325 Views
Re: Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Joel - 07/03/2012 01:47:44 AM 987 Views
Re: Yet, regrettably, not done misusing it. Dreaded Anomaly - 15/03/2012 10:27:23 PM 1240 Views
There are problems with the implants LadyLorraine - 03/02/2012 01:42:55 AM 1002 Views
Any form of birth control doesn't work for everyone, though. Dreaded Anomaly - 03/02/2012 02:37:00 AM 1028 Views
Oh yes, I totally agree! My point is just that there are some barriers to handing out implants *NM* LadyLorraine - 03/02/2012 03:38:05 AM 472 Views
You have a talent for understatement. Joel - 03/02/2012 01:08:40 PM 991 Views
What on earth does that have to do with anything? Cannoli - 03/02/2012 01:47:42 AM 936 Views
I was actually kinda with you until you closed with that anathema I condemned in my response to rt. Joel - 03/02/2012 01:39:06 PM 964 Views
I agree that they have made Beast Cancer a cult but splitting with PP is just smart Ray - 02/02/2012 05:39:49 PM 1137 Views
I agree. Sareitha Sedai - 02/02/2012 06:00:17 PM 921 Views
yes she is going to have to piss off one group or the other Ray - 02/02/2012 06:12:31 PM 988 Views
Right nossy - 02/02/2012 06:24:14 PM 1037 Views
it is a judgment call and I hope her decision is based on more than my guesses Ray - 02/02/2012 06:53:50 PM 910 Views
Do you see a way Komen could have avoided pissing off one side? Sareitha Sedai - 02/02/2012 06:55:36 PM 985 Views
No, I don't. I don't believe I said that? nossy - 02/02/2012 07:53:50 PM 895 Views
You didn't; I inferred it from the way you phrased that ("if she HAS to..."). Sorry. Sareitha Sedai - 02/02/2012 08:06:11 PM 975 Views
I know I'm not always clear. nossy - 02/02/2012 08:32:47 PM 979 Views
Just curious... Narg - 02/02/2012 10:07:49 PM 959 Views
Not at all. nossy - 02/02/2012 10:24:19 PM 1027 Views
Not at all? Narg - 02/02/2012 10:32:31 PM 919 Views
No. nossy - 02/02/2012 10:47:04 PM 873 Views
My argument is based on my belief that the pro-choice women are more dedicated to women's causes Ray - 02/02/2012 11:17:24 PM 972 Views
Re: My argument is based on my belief that the pro-choice women are more dedicated to women's causes nossy - 03/02/2012 12:08:01 AM 970 Views
wow that may be the worst advice I had in weeks Ray - 03/02/2012 12:13:18 AM 937 Views
Ooor, the best. nossy - 03/02/2012 12:25:56 AM 912 Views
ok now you are just being mean *NM* Ray - 03/02/2012 12:46:12 AM 592 Views
The thread was going too well - I thought we needed the meanness. *NM* nossy - 03/02/2012 11:30:39 AM 541 Views
rabble rouser *NM* Ray - 04/02/2012 04:24:01 AM 556 Views
I misread this at first Sareitha Sedai - 03/02/2012 12:51:44 AM 974 Views
not to mention codeine seems to make me double post Ray - 02/02/2012 11:17:26 PM 2017 Views
I'm not so sure I agree. Or not completely. nossy - 02/02/2012 06:14:11 PM 907 Views
I don't diagree with the way you see it Ray - 02/02/2012 06:39:41 PM 971 Views
More inevitable than anything, considering who started Komen. Joel - 02/02/2012 10:19:34 PM 924 Views
Never having heard of any of those except PP, my opinion may not be the most relevant... Legolas - 02/02/2012 08:32:48 PM 1041 Views
You don't know stuff. nossy - 02/02/2012 08:43:38 PM 1005 Views
I know the stuff that matters. Legolas - 02/02/2012 09:55:08 PM 912 Views
That's true. nossy - 02/02/2012 10:34:32 PM 1002 Views
they may also be a afraid that PP will go the way of ACORN Ray - 02/02/2012 11:04:16 PM 1053 Views
"Accused" of = unfounded slander. Aeryn - 03/02/2012 12:13:30 AM 1067 Views
did you notice I called tactic disgusting? That doesn't mean it isn't effective Ray - 03/02/2012 12:45:10 AM 996 Views
The investigation by Congress is well-known to be specious. It's the House GOP abusing their power. *NM* Dreaded Anomaly - 03/02/2012 12:41:58 AM 649 Views
This is so foreign a debate for me Lews_TherinThelamon - 02/02/2012 10:16:15 PM 1024 Views
Must be nice. *NM* nossy - 03/02/2012 12:26:49 AM 644 Views
Re: stuff rebelaessedai - 03/02/2012 09:18:53 AM 922 Views
I'm sorry, but what're we talking about when we're talking about "cancer" LadyLorraine - 03/02/2012 12:49:34 PM 955 Views
Obviously not adenocarcinoma, no. rebelaessedai - 04/02/2012 07:36:06 AM 969 Views
I"m not that fussed. I'm just generally leary of research that has results like that LadyLorraine - 04/02/2012 08:35:04 PM 915 Views
Fair enough. rebelaessedai - 04/02/2012 10:17:31 PM 982 Views
Once I looked up Nancy Brinker at Wikipedia it all made sense. Joel - 02/02/2012 10:54:34 PM 1003 Views
Re: Once I looked up Nancy Brinker at Wikipedia it all made sense. nossy - 02/02/2012 11:03:32 PM 932 Views
After a little more digging I have to say you are probably right. Joel - 03/02/2012 02:23:14 AM 867 Views
They restored funding incidentally Isaac - 03/02/2012 05:43:47 PM 908 Views
Unless I've missed it nossy - 03/02/2012 05:56:15 PM 991 Views
You must have missed it then Isaac - 03/02/2012 07:07:13 PM 907 Views
If you're referring to Cannoli nossy - 03/02/2012 07:19:25 PM 1061 Views
Multiple was not an accidental choice of words Isaac - 03/02/2012 11:46:30 PM 938 Views
Then I agree that maybe this is not the thread for you. nossy - 04/02/2012 12:41:42 AM 974 Views
Re: Then I agree that maybe this is not the thread for you. Isaac - 04/02/2012 01:53:25 AM 1162 Views
Well, I'll try again for both of us. nossy - 04/02/2012 02:56:42 PM 995 Views
Re: Well, I'll try again for both of us. Isaac - 04/02/2012 07:40:25 PM 963 Views
well at least there will not be any doubt about this being a political decision random thoughts - 03/02/2012 06:24:14 PM 1101 Views
Re: well at least there will not be any doubt about this being a political decision Isaac - 03/02/2012 06:29:34 PM 883 Views
I think that ship sailed long ago. Joel - 03/02/2012 08:45:13 PM 910 Views
Truth Dannymac - 04/02/2012 02:07:20 AM 1018 Views
I do wonder a bit which lawmakers Fox thinks "pressured" Komen. Joel - 03/02/2012 08:29:50 PM 906 Views
Beyond the 26 senators, I'd imagine rumor of the more reliable sort Isaac - 03/02/2012 08:46:31 PM 971 Views
Well, if they wrote AS senators rather than friends of Nancy Brinker, that probably qualifies. Joel - 03/02/2012 10:24:11 PM 1025 Views
Judge for yourself Isaac - 04/02/2012 12:01:06 AM 1036 Views
Well, a public letter makes whether they signed it "Sen. so-and-so" irrelevant: It is political. Joel - 04/02/2012 04:07:20 PM 957 Views
are you trying to disprove the study you posted? random thoughts - 03/02/2012 09:20:12 PM 1034 Views
To me, it depends on the nature of the contact, which I have not dug enough to discover. Joel - 03/02/2012 10:43:45 PM 935 Views
you admit you have no incite into what happened Ray - 04/02/2012 04:27:17 AM 957 Views
Actually, it looks like Komens new VP (and former GOP GA gubernatorial candidate) had the incite. Joel - 04/02/2012 04:24:14 PM 1007 Views
educated guess don't work when you are tinfoil hat wearing kool-aid drinker Ray - 04/02/2012 09:33:49 PM 907 Views
Dude. nossy - 04/02/2012 11:20:49 PM 845 Views
Yo mama? Joel - 05/02/2012 05:32:11 AM 998 Views
whhhhhhyyyyyy nossy - 04/02/2012 11:23:58 PM 978 Views
Why would I not think that? Joel - 05/02/2012 05:46:15 AM 873 Views
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