COURSEY: Komen does an about-face

<p>How about a three-day walk, backwards?</p><p>It's hard to remember a large organization backpedaling any faster than the Susan G. Komen Foundation has over the past 24 hours. </p><p>The announcement earlier this week that Komen would discontinue its grants to Planned Parenthood caused a backlash that flashed across social media and immediately threatened Komen's status as leader in the fund-raising fight against breast cancer. The organization that has made three-day walk-a-thons and the color pink synonymous with finding a cure for breast cancer suddenly was drawing the ire of women across the globe.</p><p>It didn't take long for Komen executives to realize they'd stuck a big, stinky foot in their mouth. This morning, they tried to pull it out.</p><p>"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," read a statement from the Komen Board of Directors and CEO Nancy G. Brinker. "We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue."</p><p>It won't be quite that easy. While a reputation is a simple thing to screw up, it's a difficult thing to build. And all the work that Komen has done over the years to burnish its image as a champion of women's health was damaged this week by a misguided decision to end its relationship with Planned Parenthood.</p><p>Komen denied that the decision was political, but those denials ring hollow. Planned Parenthood, which says only about 3 percent of its services are related to abortion, is a favorite foil of anti-abortion activists, and has been a prominent target during the Republican presidential primaries.</p><p>The Komen grants to Planned Parenthood were for breast cancer screening, not abortions. But according to the New York Times, a growing number of religious organizations had become concerned that donations to Komen would benefit Planned Parenthood and had advised members not to give to Komen. The Times said a Komen board member told its reporter that rather than risk offending some donors, Komen decided to largely cut off Planned Parenthood.</p><p>And how did that work out?</p><p>Besides the online firestorm, 26 senators urged the foundation to reconsider its decision. Politicians and women's groups across the land denounced the move. Donations spiked to Planned Parenthood, including a pledge of $250,000 from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The additional contributions more than made up for the $700,000 in grants withheld by Komen.</p><p>Which makes for a pretty clear picture of who won and who lost this dustup. The winner was gracious on Friday morning:</p><p>“The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity," Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement. "This compassionate outcry in support of those most in need rose above political, ideological, and cultural divides, and will surely be recognized as one of our nation's better moments during a contentious political time.”</p><p>Nice. Maybe Planned Parenthood could loan its PR department to Komen for a few days. They could definitely use some help.</p><p><i>Chris Coursey's blog offers a community commentary and forum, from issues of the day to the ingredients of life in Sonoma County.</i></p>