Former Komen VP Blasts 'Bully' Planned Parenthood

Karen Handel says Planned Parenthood broke agreement not to alert media
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 10, 2012 11:02 AM CST
Former Komen VP Blasts 'Bully' Planned Parenthood
Karen Handel speaks during an interview in Atlanta Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012.   (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Former Susan G. Komen VP Karen Handel says the foundation had a "gentle ladies' agreement" with Planned Parenthood that neither would alert the press when Komen cut off funding, and that Planned Parenthood broke it. "What happened is nothing short of a disgrace," she tells the Daily Beast. "Planned Parenthood launched a vicious attack on a nonprofit organization that fights breast cancer." She alleges that Planned Parenthood launched a concerted social media campaign to fuel outrage over the cuts, calling the organization a "gigantic bully" that used "Komen as its own personal punching bag."

Handel says Komen had to cut Planned Parenthood loose because Komen was losing donors: "The issue was ratcheting up. It wasn't dying down." She also notes that Planned Parenthood received less than 1% of Komen's community grant money last year, saying, "They unleashed Armageddon on an organization for $680,000." But Planned Parenthood says the cut was actually first reported by "anti-choice outlets," and that Komen then announced the decision publicly, which sparked media interest. It denies orchestrating the social media outcry. (More Karen Handel stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X