Parenthood

Susan G. Komen for the Cure's decision to stop giving money to Planned Parenthood for breast health services was not politically motivated, said the group's founder and chief executive in a new video posted on the organization's site and YouTube. Rather, said Nancy Brinker , it came out of Komen's new granting strategies and criteria that some people, she said, "have regrettably mischaracterized. " In 2010 Brinker initiated a "comprehensive review" of grants and standards, not anything unusual for the nonprofit.

As the backlash grew against the decision by Susan G. Komen for the Curefoundation to cease awarding grants to Planned Parenthood, Komen officials ended two days of silence on Thursday and tried to manage the uproar. In a conference call with the media, Komen founder and Chief Executive Nancy G. Brinker said the decision was due to policy changes intended to improve how grantees are selected. It had nothing to do with Planned Parenthood's position as an abortion provider, she said.

Some members of the House and Senate are getting involved in the flap over the recent decision of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut back funding of Planned Parenthood. They're inviting colleagues to sign letters asking Komen to reconsider its stance and calling the organization out for being politically motivated. A news release from the office of U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) says she and fellow Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) have been joined by 24 of their colleagues in support of the letter, addressed to Komen founder and Chief Executive Nancy Brinker.

Now it's real serious. California state Sen. Alex Padilla says he's severing ties -- and taking off his own tie -- with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The announcement comes a day after the Komen foundation announced it was ending grants to Planned Parenthood for breast-cancer screening and other breast-health services. Padilla, according to a news release, has volunteered as one of the foundation's "Pink Tie Guys," who raise awareness about breast cancer by donning -- you guessed it -- pink ties at public events.

He won't be sporting that pink tie anymore. California state Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) has volunteered for years as one of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure "Pink Tie Guys," who wear the ties at public events to raise awareness about breast cancer. On Wednesday, after learning that the foundation would stop funding Planned Parenthood for breast health services, Padilla announced that his pink tie days were done. "Komen has placed its supporters in the untenable position of aligning themselves with acquiescence to the agenda of the religious right, or aligning themselves with healthcare and breast cancer organizations that will not bow to such pressures," Padilla said in a statement.

Not everyone associated with the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure is happy about the group's decision to sever ties with Planned Parenthood. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Connecticut , an affiliate based in Farmington, Conn., expressed "frustration" with the situation, posting on its Facebook page: "The decision regarding the funding of Planned Parenthood was made by Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Headquarters....

As pro-choice supporters sound off over the decision by Susan G. Komen for the Cure to pull grants to Planned Parenthood for funding breast-cancer screening and other breast health services, some have suggested a link between Tuesday's announcement and Komen's hiring of a self-described "pro-life Christian" last year to a prominent position within the foundation. Karen Handel, a former secretary of state in Georgia and a Republican activist, was hired in April as vice president of public policy at the Dallas-based Komen.

The recent announcement from Susan G. Komen for the Cure to cut funds to Planned Parenthood has prompted lively discussions on public message boards, Twitter and Facebook arguing both for and against the decision. Though anti- Komen sentiments still seem to be the majority, vocal supporters of the decision seemed to be gaining numbers Wednesday. In a story a day earlier, it was reported that Komen, a breast cancer awareness and research group, was cutting funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer exams and other breast-health programs.

In what looks to be a break between two organizations dedicated to women's health, a national breast cancer awareness group said it would stop providing funds to Planned Parenthood centers for breast cancer examinations and other breast health services. Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a leader in fundraising for breast cancer research and famous worldwide for its iconic pink ribbon, said Tuesday that it was halting all partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates because of recently adopted criteria that forbid it from funding any organization under government investigation.

What's the status of the congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood? Susan G. Komen for the Cure's decision to pull funding from Planned Parenthood was based on the fact that Planned Parenthood is under congressional investigation and Komen has a newly adopted policy of not awarding funds to any organization that's being investigated by local, state or federal authorities, Komen spokeswoman Leslie Aun told the Associated Press ....