While Susan G. Komen has reversed its decision to defund Planned Parenthood in an effort to stem the flood of outrage directed toward it. However, there remain serious questions as to its self-stated “commitment to our mission of saving women's lives” rather than right-wing ideology as long as self-identified anti-Planned Parenthood Karen Handel is its vice president.
How can we view with credibility founder Nancy Brinker’s statement, "We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics", when one of their chief decision makers, Handel, ran her campaign for governor of Georgia on an anti-Planned Parenthood platform?
Brinker "ask(s) for the public's understanding and patience” - says they want “to determine how to move forward in the best interests of the women and people we serve." Help her to understand. Signing the petition to fire vice president Karen Handel will send a clear message as to what her first step needs to be to begin restoring credibility to the name Susan G. Komen.
We the undersigned call for the firing of vice president Karen Handel, who ran for governor of Georgia on an anti-Planned Parenthood platform, if you truly "do not want (y)our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics."
Handel holding the vice-presidency of Susan G. Komen is clearly in conflict with that "mission". I.e., there remain serious questions as to your self-stated “commitment to (y)our mission of saving women's lives” rather than a commitment to right-wing ideology as long as self-identified anti-Planned Parenthood Karen Handel is in a position influencing decision making.
You ask for "the public's understanding and patience as we gather our Komen affiliates from around the country to determine how to move forward in the best interests of the women and people we serve." We consider the next step the firing of Karen Handel - otherwise we doubt your sincerity.
Thank you for taking the time to read our letter.
