dagblog - Comments for "Black Ribbon Campaign in Honor (?) of the Komen Foundation"

I also think this firestorm

trkingmomoe — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:30:36 +0000

I also think this firestorm is a good thing. It sheds light on how the ladies running there fannies off for a charity was only a commodity to the corporate free market world of the ultra rich. The head of Plan Pereanthood is the daughter of the late Texas Governor Linda Richards. That might be why the foundation gave a small grant to PP in the first place. They were both part of the same Houston society. One a Democrat and one Republican.

The answer is no. Nancy

trkingmomoe — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:11:19 +0000

In reply to O would some power the giftie

The answer is no. Nancy Brinker, the founder and CEO of the foundation, is part of the 1%. She started this foundation in 1982 with the belief that conservative compassion from a private charity could help find a cure for breast cancer. She has social ties with Houston high society. In the 1990's she was a fund raiser for Bush. Helped elect him as Texsas Governor and later to the Whitehouse. He rewarded her an appointment to Hungary's embassy. Most of the money raised comes from corporate sponsors, like big pharma, chemical industry and food companies. The foundation has been able to market itself because of all the active women donors and the foundation's political inside. That is a very large list of potential customers to sell products to with pink ribbons on. The foundation leans right and uses a large chunk of corporation donations to lobby against health care and research bills that don't fit into the GOP narrative. You won't hear the foundation talking about the health risks to women from the environment. That is because of some of the corporate sponsors. The information on this foundation has been out there for along time but only a few has paid attention to it. The foundation rolled out a big marketing program in October. NFL had players in pink and consumer products that women buys in pink or ribboned in pink hit the stores for Xmass. This was during the awakening of the 99%. Those that knew of the background of the foundation had to be reminded of the foundation's CEO political activity and election coming up. The foundation made their announcement the afternoon of Florida's primary that they were dropping funding to PP while MSM was focused on the voting returns. Those who were suspicious of the foundation did notice and started a firestorm. Women who supported both organizations were surprised and shocked. It is yet to see how many women will stop supporting the foundation. Komen is trying to do damage control now and telling the public that plan parenthood only offers screening and sends patients to other care providers. The spin on this is that this is not a good fit or focus for the foundation's grants. They want to focus on full service providers. Will they be able to put out the fire? Not with the 99% who are fed up. I was never involved or invested in the Komen foundation. Just spent a few extra pennies to buy a General Mills products with pink ribbons on it once in a while.

O would some power the giftie

Richard Day — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:43:49 +0000

In reply to Black Ribbon Campaign in Honor (?) of the Komen Foundation

O would some power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us...

Bobby Burns

Mac covered this well and I like your take as well.

Does this organization have any idea how badly this makes it look?

I will make this short

trkingmomoe — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:19:27 +0000

In reply to Black Ribbon Campaign in Honor (?) of the Komen Foundation

I will make this short because my phone is hot. You all need to Google "The Marketing of Breast Cancer" by Mary Ann Swissler. It is an old Alternet article from 2002 that looks behind the pink curtain. It will shed some light on the Koman foundation and it's founder Nancy Brinker. There is also a current post on Alternet about this subject and updates the older article. The foundation has very deep ties in the GOP. The way they use their funds to help defeat health care bills will shock you. Also take a look at guidstar.com It is a non profit rating site for people to check out organization before they donate. The foundation is taking a beating there.

I've learned the hard way

Aunt Sam — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:39:43 +0000

In reply to I thought about that too--but

I've learned the hard way that most do not do the research and obtain the facts about an issue. And I've been guilty myself of assuming I understand what something represents and/or is only to realize my error too late.

I believe if the goal is to damn the SGK foundation, it's important to note the pink ribbon does not represent them, but something much greater and more important. Too often, the broad brush blurs the lines and obliterates the real picture.

Figuring out what the goal is, i.e. damn them and show support for PP/Women's rights to healthcare, then the tricky part is coming up with the best way to accomplish this goal.

Just my opinion.

Sounds good to me. Planned

Elusive Trope — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:26:49 +0000

In reply to Black Ribbon Campaign in Honor (?) of the Komen Foundation

Sounds good to me. Planned Parenthood is a constant target from the right wing, like the NEA and PBS, except more is at stake with the services offered by PP. It is rather sickening that people are willing to politicize women's health, or anyone's health for that matter. This is enough to bicker about that they can leave this alone.

I thought about that too--but

erica20 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:37:29 +0000

In reply to The only issue I have is the

I thought about that too--but then again, I kinda figger that painting with the broad brush gives people and organizations a chance to come out and say that they're apolitical, and stand with women too. Which would be good--I think "I stand with women" is stronger than "I stand with Planned Parenthood" and probably more accurately represents the feelings that most women have about breast cancer, even those who might have mixed feelings about abortion.

The important thing here is that Komen chose to make the fight against breast cancer about Planned Parenthood--it's not like Planned Parenthood picked the fight by saying "We're only doing abortions and what happens to somebody's breasts is their problem." Komen was the group that said "We're for a cure for breast cancer--unless it's for women who get their health care from Planned Parenthood; they can die and go to hell."

Does that resolve your concern? I guess I think that in the long run, the best way to support PP is to support women's health.

The only issue I have is the

Aunt Sam — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:18:03 +0000

In reply to Black Ribbon Campaign in Honor (?) of the Komen Foundation

The only issue I have is the pink ribbon is now the symbol for all breast cancer research and awareness, not limited to this foundation. We must be very careful (IMO) not to damage other entities that continue to honor their role in this area.

How about a black and white ribbon to support Planned Parenthood? While my goal is to ding those of the SGK responsible, but even more to show and tout support PP.

Thanks for all your efforts. Appreciated.