The Komen group has failed to be truthful with the public, and continues to fail.  Nancy Brinker has issued an apology but not for her having led this organization down the wrong path with this attack on Planned Parenthood.  Only by Nancy removing herself--or the board firing her--can Komen truly demonstrate its commitment to restoring Komen's credibility.  If it can ever be restored.

Yes, I agree. Her position as the leader of the organization and her having been seen on television and on the internet misrepresenting why Planned Parenthood had been de-funded have completely undermined her credibility and, by association, the credibility of SGK. The half-hearted apology, which expressed regret for the decision having upset the public, but not for having made the decision in the first place or for the deceitful manner it was presented and re-presented to the public, is not enough. It shows no recognition of the actual problem, nor does it provide an apology for that which the public was upset. The resignation of Karen Handel solves nothing. Since Brinker has said Handel had nothing to do with the PP decision, then the problem still exists and Handel is only a scapegoat. This tells the public that SGK sees the problem as solely a public relations one, when it is, in fact, a problem of leadership and governance. (Furthermore, statements made by SGK people on these boards and elsewhere have indicated their view that this is nothing more than a public relations fight with PP, in which PP won, and that all people expressing their disagreement are PP plants.) The fact that Handel has said she was hired to come up with an excuse to de-fund PP, after the decision was made for no real reason aside from public image, indicates that the underlying grant process is unfair, that the previously non-political organization is now allied to the pro-life movement, and that both the CEO and the board lack ethics in the grant making and public information processes. Thus, both the CEO and the board are poison at this point. Many who believe in the stated mission of SGK now know that the leadership will compromise services to the poor and uninsured to appease the political right. And without honest, ethical and politically neutral leadership, many cannot trust SGK to spend their money in an appropriate manner. This is unfortunate because of Brinker's role as a founder of SGK. But that is the reality of the situation at this point. I would like to see SGK return to their mission and overcome the tarnish to their image, which affects whether or not some, if not many, will continue to donate, buy pink products and generally support SGK. I hope that they will do the right thing to repair the damage that has been done so far and to restore respect and trust in SGK and the work they do, which is, without question, important.

Please let's all take a very deep breath. For me, Nancy Brinker is the organization. She founded it to honor the memory of her sister and in turn has honored and helped all of us who have been touched by this disease. Just think of all of the tremendous good she has done over these many years. I do not think the organization would be helped one bit by Nancy Brinker stepping aside. In fact, I believe, all of the energy would leave with her. 
 
So let's give SGK an opportunity to rise above themselves and continue to do what they do best - breast cancer awareness and research "for the cure". I am not being a Pollyanna here. I merely think we all should exercise some restraint and "forgiveness", if that is the correct word. Time will tell if this approach is the right one. But in the meantime, let us all chill.

Lumpectomy 4/14/05 at age 69
Stage 1, 2cm, Node Negative
Grade 3, Triple Negative
AC/Taxol, Radiation,
BRCA2 positive (It's always something!)
No Family History

I'm trying to look at this from the point of an organization's image and ability to regain trust and then support. It is sadly ironic that the person behind the whole organization, who put so much into it and helped so many people also went on television and misrepresented what had happened. It seriously tarnishes the organization. Unfortunately, because she was directly involved in what happened and the cover-up, her presence as its leader hurts the organization. It really is very sad. I am not saying that she is a bad person or that I personally don't like her. I am saying that this is the reality that exists in terms of many people continuing to donate or walk for the cure. It doesn't help that Livestrong donated $100,000 in matching funds to Planned Parenthood, and their founder, Lance Armstrong issued a statement about their belief that politics should not figure into cancer services. It draws a contrast for the public. I'm also not saying that she needs to get out altogether, but that someone else needs to be in the leadership position. She could take an advisory role or a position that does not involve grant making.

Fortunately, SGK is not branded to Brinker - it's branded to eradicate breast cancer. Brinker is not indispensable and SGk needs to move on without her. Brinker has a long and vital history to be proud of but SGK has a bigger problem than keeping Brinker around as thanks for her past services. SGK is completely lacking any credibility given it's lies and misrepresentations of the past few weeks (if not years). And Brinker is at the center of those lies and misreps. This is "crisis recovery 101": to start on the road to recovery, Brinker must go the way of Handel.

beeg


Fortunately, SGK is not branded to Brinker - it's branded to eradicate breast cancer. Brinker is not indispensable and SGk needs to move on without her. Brinker has a long and vital history to be proud of but SGK has a bigger problem than keeping Brinker around as thanks for her past services. SGK is completely lacking any credibility given it's lies and misrepresentations of the past few weeks (if not years). And Brinker is at the center of those lies and misreps. This is "crisis recovery 101": to start on the road to recovery, Brinker must go the way of Handel.

The brand is now flawed in a huge way.  The pro-choice folks are on the side of Planned Parenthood and the pro-life folks are on the side of neither now.  The organization has one out.  That is for the organization to be hijacked by the left winged pro-choice women who are better known as NOW.   This organization will survive but will no longer be a neutral organization.  My family has many breast cancer victims and survivors who are all devout Catholics and who would have never been a part of the pink movement had they known that Planned Parenthood was receiving their donations.   Good luck in moving along with Planned Parenthood and the left.

Men and women across ALL political and religious spectra are furious at SGK's hidden political agenda and the patronizing lies told to us as though we were too stupid to see the truth. Brinker was the worst offender. Once she's gone, and once SGK can be honest with itself about what it did, only then can SGK start to heal. Those of us who are focused on providing equal access to breast health care and education regardless of someone's religious beliefs, economic status, skin color, or political views, will continue to work together without any concern that people who don't share our beliefs don't want to work with us. The difference is that they'd still be welcome to use our services even though they'd turn me away at the door if the situation was reversed! Brinker is responsible for casting SGK in this light. She needs to leave, now.

All this talk about reviving the charity is one sided for the Pro-abortion people who feel Planned Parenthood is a good organization.  For those of us who despise planned parenthood due its slaughtering of children for decades feel as if we can never give to this organization again as long as they support abortionists.  So are you prepared to lose all those donations?

Neverdonateagain


All this talk about reviving the charity is one sided for the Pro-abortion people who feel Planned Parenthood is a good organization.  For those of us who despise planned parenthood due its slaughtering of children for decades feel as if we can never give to this organization again as long as they support abortionists.  So are you prepared to lose all those donations?

A clump of cells is not a child, 


What is barbaric is denying care and support from those who need it most. I'm glad they see the bigger picture.

sfomfp

Neverdonateagain


All this talk about reviving the charity is one sided for the Pro-abortion people who feel Planned Parenthood is a good organization.  For those of us who despise planned parenthood due its slaughtering of children for decades feel as if we can never give to this organization again as long as they support abortionists.  So are you prepared to lose all those donations?

A clump of cells is not a child, 


What is barbaric is denying care and support from those who need it most. I'm glad they see the bigger picture.

 
A clump of cells?  Are you kidding me?  Does this idea still pertain to partial birth abortion too?  When does it become a child? You seem to know better than God so tell us.