Marmel.com

We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives.

The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.

Yes they were.  But, whatever.  Continue.  

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

Our only goal for our granting process is to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer. Amending our criteria will ensure that politics has no place in our grant process.

So far so good.  Now what?

We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.

Ah.  There we go.  Weasel clause #1.  The Affiliates can decide now, which means the heinous policy can be continued but now smaller organizations can be blamed.  ”It wasn’t us, it was the Mississippi branch!”

It is our hope and we believe it is time for everyone involved to pause, slow down and reflect on how grants can most effectively and directly be administered without controversies that hurt the cause of women.

Ah.  Weasel clause #2.  ”Without controversies.”  Well, this is one now.  And now they can say funding Planned Parenthood is ALSO a controversy.   This smells of smoke and horse crap.

We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone’s politics.

Well, you started it.  You can stop it by firing Karen Handel, the Sarah Palin Tea Party puppet that has her finger prints all over this.  You started it by singling out Planned Parenthood out of 2000 organizations you fund.

So no - those of us who believe you have overreached, overstepped and catered to a fringe, anti-science mentality will not “slow down and reflect.”  If anything, we will stay vigilant and watch:  What you do, who you fund, and what your decisions regarding Planned Parenthood are in 2012 and beyond.

Because YOU were the one that put them in the crosshairs.

And surprise.  Despite what a small group of loud, hard-minded zealots might have told you, people know bullish*t when they smell it, and not only did you create your own, you stepped in it.

Starting this afternoon, we will have calls with our network and key supporters to refocus our attention on our mission and get back to doing our work. We 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.

Weasel Clause #3 clarifying weasel clause #1:  Shifting any blame for negative moves on local affiliates.  Have fun, small town people that just wanted to do something good!  You’re about to bear the brunt!

We extend our deepest thanks for the outpouring of support we have received from so many in the past few days and we sincerely hope that these changes will be welcomed by those who have expressed their concern.

And, finally, a thank you to the people who they didn’t delete off their Facebook page.

I don’t trust this.  Not as far as I can throw it.

I will watch with a wary eye, and hope for the best but expect more of the same.

UPDATE:  11:21