Planned Parenthood-Komen Controversy – More Problems for Democrats?

COMMENTARY | While the Planned Parenthood-Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation kerfuffle may have stirred the pro-life vs. pro-choice debate, controversy surrounding House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi may cause some unplanned problems for Democrats in the 2012 election cycle.

Having come under pressure from social conservatives and anti-abortion activists, "Komen had said earlier this week it would cease to fund grants for breast cancer screening to Planned Parenthood under new rules to tighten eligibility," Reuters reported Friday. "The guidelines excluded groups under investigation by U.S. authorities and Planned Parenthood is the subject of a probe by U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Republican from Florida who opposes abortion."

However, after facing the backlash from social liberals, Planned Parenthood and its pro-choice allies, Komen announced in a statement on Friday -- signed by its board of directors and its founder Nancy Brinker -- that it will now amend its new funding criteria to "ensure that politics has no place in our grant process."

The new guidelines clarify that a group under investigation will be disqualified only if the probe is "criminal and conclusive in nature and not political."

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

"Logistically," wrote Tim Stanley of the U.K. Telegraph on Friday, Komen funds would be "no great loss to Planned Parenthood. They donated $700,000 last year, a grand total of 0.058 percent of Planned Parenthood's annual revenue. "

Indeed, the U.S. government contributes far more -- $360 million every year to be specific. That's 33 percent of Planned Parenthood's total annual budget.

The Girl Scouts are also big supporters of Planned Parenthood, something that Democratic Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi described to CNS News on Wednesday as a "very valuable" relationship.

In fact, thanks to Planned Parenthood, Girl Scouts received the "very valuable" brochure called, Happy, Healthy and Hot which was distributed when the World Association of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides hosted a "no-adults-welcome panel at the United Nations" in 2010 as reported by Life Site News.

One of the "very valuable" passages in the booklet encourages the Girl Scouts to "play with yourself" because "masturbation is a great way to find out more about your body and what you find sexually stimulating." The brochure also suggests that they "mix things up by using different kinds of touch from very soft to hard. Talk about or act out your fantasies. Talk dirty to them."

Clearly fearful that this whole Komen-Planned Parenthood-Pelosi debacle may cause more problems for Democrats in November's election cycle - it is understandable why liberal pundits would feel the need to launch a pre-emptive strike to attach blame for the whole calamity to the administration of George W. Bush.

Through the input of "a source with first-hand knowledge," Judd Legum of Think Progress claimed Friday that it was "Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for George W. Bush and prominent right-wing pundit" who "drilled prospective candidates during their interviews on how they would handle the controversy about Komen's relationship with Planned Parenthood."

However, according to inside sources for Erick Erickson of Red State, "it was not Fleischer who was involved in the strategy and PR related to the Planned Parenthood decision, but rather Nancy Pelosi's former press secretary -- Brendan Daly."

Curiously, Daly was hired as the Executive Vice President and National Director for Public Affairs to lead the Washington office of Ogilvy Public Relation in December 2010 "where," according to their website, "he will work with clients to help them manage their reputations inside the Beltway and beyond, legislative agendas, social media advocacy needs, as well as manage those issues that arise unexpectedly throughout the business cycle and legislative process."

"Think Progress seemingly wanted to jump the gun and blame a Republican for a disastrous PR strategy when it was not just any Democrat," Erickson determined, "but one tied to Nancy Pelosi."

"Think Progress and the left wanted to get this out there quickly, damn the facts," Erickson is convinced "to distract from Brendan Daly."

While Fox 34 of Lubbock, Tex. reported Florida Congressman Cliff Stearns seeing the sudden Komen reversal as evidence that they caved to political pressure from the left, Pelosi saw the reversal as a victory.

"It just goes to show you when women speak out," Fox 34 quoted Pelosi saying, "women win."

Considering the pamphlets Planned Parenthood give to Girls Scouts, while they wait to become adults, little girls and teenagers may also be able to win a new masturbation merit badge to add to their sashes.

Sources:

David Morgan, "Komen reverses move to cut Planned Parenthood funding", Reuters

Tim Stanley, "Komen's decision to defund abortion provider Planned Parenthood was a morally necessary termination", U.K. Telegraph

Elizabeth Harrington, "Pelosi: Girl Scouts' Relationship With Planned Parenthood 'Very Valuable'", CNS News

Terrence McKeegan, J.D., "Planned Parenthood Distributes Graphic Sex Guide at Girl Scouts UN Meeting", Life Site News

Judd Legum, "EXCLUSIVE: Ari Fleischer Secretly Involved In Komen Strategy On Planned Parenthood", Think Progress

Erick Erickson, "Did a Former Nancy Pelosi Aide Screw Up the Komen Decision? Ogilvy Public Relations Should Explain.", Red State

Press Release, "Communications Director for Speaker Pelosi Will Join the Firm as the Executive Vice President and National Director for Public Affairs", Ogilvy Public Relations

Chase Thomason, "Komen Foundation reinstates funding for Planned Parenthood", My Fox Lubbock