[160805] in Zephyr_Bugs
ALEC Education "Academy" Launches on Island Resort
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (t r u t h o u t)
Fri Feb 3 17:20:13 2012
Message-ID: <850943900.-2054159870@org2.org2DB.mail.democracyinaction.org>
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 2012 17:20:03 -0500 (EST)
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t r u t h o u t | 02.03
ALEC Education "Academy" Launches on Island Resort
http://www.truth-out.org/alec-education-academy-launches-island-resort/1328280896
Dustin Beilke, PR Watch: "Imagine getting a report card from your teacher and finding out that you were graded not on how well you understood the course material or scored on the tests and assignments, but rather on to what extent you agreed with your teacher's strange public policy positions. That is the best way to understand the American Legislative Exchange Council's 17th Report Card on American Education released last week."
Komen's Statement on Planned Parenthood: Reversal or PR Stunt?
http://www.truth-out.org/komens-statement-planned-parenthood-reversal-pr-stunt
William Rivers Pitt, Truthout: "While advocates of Planned Parenthood have hailed the decision, there is concern regarding the specific language of Komen's statement. 'We will continue to fund existing grants,' it reads, 'including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants.' In short, Komen could very well choose to deny future Planned Parenthood grant applications if they so choose."
Smart Meter Scoop: California Utility Launches Opt-Out Program
http://www.truth-out.org/smart-meter-scoop-california-utility-launches-opt-out-program/1328294529
Mike Ludwig, Truthout: "We cannot always choose when we are exposed to wireless signals, but at least some energy consumers in California will not be forced to live with another source of constant electromagnetic radiation. As the smart grid spreads across America and Europe, smart meters - along with Wi-Fi in schools and cell phone towers - will continue to be a source of controversy until medical research catches up with technological innovation and the public's fears."
Details of Investigation Into Discovery of "Contraband" at Guantanamo to Remain Secret
http://www.truth-out.org/details-remain-secret-arrival-contraband-magazine-guantanamo/1328279305
Jason Leopold, Truthout: "The Pentagon won't release any details of an investigation initiated by the commander of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility revolving around the discovery of 'contraband' at the prison, which included a magazine produced by an offshoot of al-Qaeda based in Yemen."
Walmart Whistleblowers Stand Up to Retaliation
http://www.truth-out.org/wal-mart-whistleblowers-stand-retaliation/1328292245
Yana Kunichoff, Truthout: "Unseen but ever present, behind the well-stocked shelves of Walmarts around the country are warehouse workers. This labor force is primarily employed by contracting firms that underpay workers and fire them summarily, according to advocates, but a group of 60 former employees at a Walmart warehouse in the Chicago suburbs are holding these contractors accountable for what they say are numerous labor violations."
Strong Job Growth Leads to Drop in Black/Hispanic Unemployment
http://www.truth-out.org/strong-job-growth-leads-drop-blackhispanic-unemployment/1328283836
Dean Baker, The Center for Economic and Policy Research: "The January report is undoubtedly one of the best reports that we have seen since the recession began. Clearly weather played some role in making the report better than otherwise would be the case, most obviously in the construction data, but good weather probably led to somewhat better numbers for manufacturing and restaurants as well. However, even with some reversal of this effect in future months, it is likely that we are on a somewhat stronger job growth path, perhaps as high as 200,000 a month."
As the Plutonomy Powers Ahead, the "Realonomy" Remains in Recession
http://www.truth-out.org/plutonomy-powers-ahead-realonomy-remains-recession/1328219553
Salvatore Babones, Truthout: "While the Plutonomy continues to grow by leaps and bounds, the Realonomy has been in recession since 1999. Even at the very top of the Realonomy, people have experienced flat or declining incomes over the past 12 years. For example, families at the 95th percentile of America's income distribution have experienced, on average, a 1.2 percent decline in real income (income adjusted for inflation) since 1999."
On the News with Thom Hartmann: ALEC Running Amok, and More
http://www.truth-out.org/news-thom-hartmann-alec-running-amok-more/1328291285
In today's On the News segment: unemployment is down, inside trading legislation going forward, Republicans' tax cuts are revisionist, your right-to-work Super Bowl debate, and more.
Is Eric Cantor Trying to Kill the Proposed Ban on Congressional Insider Trading?
http://www.truth-out.org/eric-cantor-trying-kill-proposed-ban-congressional-insider-trading/1328278619
Pat Garofalo, ThinkProgress: "Over in the House, meanwhile, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) - who reportedly blocked Bachus from bringing up a ban on congressional insider trading in committee - wants to expand the legislation to include bans on other sorts of transactions, such as land deals. UCLA Law Prof. Stephen Bainbridge notes that this is likely an attempt by Cantor to kill the bill by making it so overly broad that no one will vote for it."
Mitt, Mormons and Money
http://www.truth-out.org/mitt-mormons-and-money/1328126189
Mark T. Harris, Truthout: "The strategic formula Romney brought to Bain Capital he learned from Bruce Henderson, a one-time Bible salesman and founder of the Boston Consulting Group. As a consultant, Henderson preached a kind of modern-day Taylorism, touting 'scientific management' principles based on what the editors of the Harvard Business Review call 'sharp-penciled analytics' geared to reducing costs and increasing efficiency. The Henderson cost-cutting model routinely translated into, among other things, firing 'excess' workers."
Paul Krugman | Clearing Up the Confusion Over "Made in China"
http://www.truth-out.org/clearing-confusion-over-made-china/1328130796
Paul Krugman, Krugman & Co.: "On his blog, 'The Big Picture,' the author and commentator Barry Ritholtz sends us to a Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco paper from last summer that makes a point about which many people seem confused: Despite globalization and all that, the bulk of a consumer dollar spent in America falls on American-produced goods and services."
Voting Rights Battles Revived in States
http://www.truth-out.org/voting-rights-battles-revived-states/1328283640
Chris Kromm, Southern Studies: "In 2011, Republican-led state legislatures across the South and country pushed dozens of new voting restrictions, including measures requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls. Nationally, voting rights groups estimate that up to 11 percent of voting-eligible citizens don't currently have photo ID, which the policy group Demos says in Virginia translates into more than 600,000 voters."
Once a Food Chain, Now a Corporate Supply Chain
http://www.truth-out.org/once-food-chain-now-corporate-supply-chain/1328289085
Kanya D'Almeida, Inter Press Service: "While Indian retailers are losing sleep over the possible entrance of multinationals like Walmart into the dense South Asian consumer market, very little thought has been given to the Indian small farmer, who stands to lose even more at the hands of the world's biggest commercial food retailer."
TRUTHOUT'S BUZZFLASH DAILY HEADLINES
The fallout from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation's planned severing of funding to Planned Parenthood can be measured in the number of women who would be denied breast cancer screening.
Today, February 3, Komen engaged in what is known as crisis management, appearing to "reverse" its decision, although that, as Truthout points out (http://www.truth-out.org/komens-statement-planned-parenthood-reversal-pr-stunt), remains the subject of some debate. The devil as always, will be in the details - and right now, even after its "mea culpa," Komen is not committing to refunding Planned Parenthood.
The devil may also be in the politics of the decision, although Komen founder and CEO, Nancy Brinker, denies that this is the case. The Dallas Morning News presents a former senior employee with another perspective:
"But John Hammarley, a former KDFW-TV (Channel 4) medical reporter who went to work for Komen, disputed her account in an interview Thursday with The Dallas Morning News: (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20120202-komen-ceo-defends-decision-to-cut-planned-parenthood-funding.ece)
"Until last summer, his job at Komen was to explain and defend the charity's relationship with Planned Parenthood. He was laid off in July.
"He said questions about Komen's support of Planned Parenthood began to arise from within the breast-cancer advocacy group after Karen Handel was hired as senior vice president for public policy in April.
"Handel, a former gubernatorial candidate from Georgia, posted on her campaign website: 'Since I am pro-life, I do not support the mission of Planned Parenthood.'
"Hammarley said he did not know if Handel was behind the policy change.
"'All I know is the internal debate and review of this issue ramped up significantly after she was hired,' he said."
The new policy was that the Komen Foundation would not fund organizations "under investigation." CREDO, the mobile phone company that also funds progressive causes - including Planned Parenthood - indicated that the Planned Parenthood "investigation" in the GOP House of Representatives is a vendetta to appease anti-abortion groups: (http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/03/politics/planned-parenthood-komen-foundation/index.html)
"'The move is clearly connected to attempts by Republicans in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood,' the organization said in a statement. 'In responding to questions about its decision, the foundation cited as its rationale a sham "investigation" into Planned Parenthood launched by Republican Rep. Cliff Stearns," who the group called "one of the most militant anti-choice members of Congress.'"
Jeffrey Goldberg, writing in The Atlantic, (http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/top-susan-g-komen-official-resigned-over-planned-parenthood-cave-in/252405/) confirms that Komen appears to have been targeting Planned Parenthood for some time:
"But three sources with direct knowledge of the Komen decision-making process told me that the rule was adopted in order to create an excuse to cut off Planned Parenthood. (Komen gives out grants to roughly 2,000 organizations, and the new "no investigations" rule applies to only one so far.)"
Brinker, the CEO, founded Komen in memory of her sister who died of breast cancer in her 30s. But she has also been a Republican "player," having served as ambassador to Hungary and chief of United States protocol under George W. Bush.
Brinker and her late second husband, Norman, have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to GOP candidates and the Republican Party. (Go to Open Secrets (http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php) and do a full year search (1990-2006, includes soft money) for Nancy Brinker, Norman Brinker and Brinker International (parent company of Chili's) with residency in both Texas and Florida.)
Reducing breast cancer is a vital goal. When women and men give money to an organization in order to save lives, they should be assured that the allocation of funds won't be made on a political and partisan basis.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have violated that earnest trust between a donor and a charitable organization - particularly in relationship to a cancer that takes so dreadful a toll.
Mark Karlin
Editor, BuzzFlash at Truthout
==============
Don't Blame the Wealthy for Inequality? You've Got to Be Kidding!
Read the Article at BuzzFlash
http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/13306
Bait and Switch: GOP Leaders Renege on Debt Limit Deal Defense Cuts
Read the Article at Talking Points Memo
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/bait-and-switch-gop-leaders-renege-on-debt-limit-deal-defense-cuts.php?ref=fpblg
Real US Corporate Tax Rate Falls to 12.1 Percent, the Lowest Level Since 1972
Read the Article at The Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204662204577199492233215330.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection
Two Days Later, Romney Gives Up Defending Comments About the Poor: "I Misspoke"
Read the Article at ThinkProgress
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/03/418029/video-two-days-later-romney-gives-up-defending-comments-about-the-poor-i-mispoke/
Ronald Reagan Would Not Recognize His Party Today
Read the Article at McClatchy News
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/02/03/137545/commentary-ronald-reagan-would.html
High-Tech US Corporations Deny Skilled American Workers Jobs Through Abuse of Visa Loophole
Read the Article at BuzzFlash
http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/13305
Occupy the Super Bowl
Read the Article at The Progressive
http://www.progressive.org/occupy_the_super_bowl.html
Click here for more BuzzFlash headlines: http://www.buzzflash.com/
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span><!-- TemplateBeginEditable name=3D"content" --><p>Friday 03 February 2=
012</p>
<p><font><strong>ALEC Education "Academy" Launches on Island Resort</strong=
></font><br />
Dustin Beilke, PR Watch: "Imagine getting a report card from your teacher a=
nd finding out that you were graded not on how well you understood the cour=
se material or scored on the tests and assignments, but rather on to what e=
xtent you agreed with your teacher's strange public policy positions. That =
is the best way to understand the American Legislative Exchange Council's 1=
7th Report Card on American Education released last week." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D2pjD6A=
va3EaX7UdVGSVanx438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Komen's Statement on Planned Parenthood: Reversal or PR Stunt=
?</strong></font><br />
William Rivers Pitt, Truthout: "While advocates of Planned Parenthood have =
hailed the decision, there is concern regarding the specific language of Ko=
men's statement. 'We will continue to fund existing grants,' it reads, 'inc=
luding those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply=
for future grants.' In short, Komen could very well choose to deny future =
Planned Parenthood grant applications if they so choose." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DOzUk7U=
M1OTRKB1udmKd1Hh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Smart Meter Scoop: California Utility Launches Opt-Out Progra=
m</strong></font><br />
Mike Ludwig, Truthout: "We cannot always choose when we are exposed to wire=
less signals, but at least some energy consumers in California will not be =
forced to live with another source of constant electromagnetic radiation. A=
s the smart grid spreads across America and Europe, smart meters - along wi=
th Wi-Fi in schools and cell phone towers - will continue to be a source of=
controversy until medical research catches up with technological innovatio=
n and the public's fears." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DuaMkjp=
wVsioqkqwgTc24GBCnd8g0oXwt"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Details of Investigation Into Discovery of “Contraband&=
rdquo; at Guantanamo to Remain Secret</strong></font><br />
Jason Leopold, Truthout: "The Pentagon won't release any details of an inve=
stigation initiated by the commander of the Guantanamo Bay detention facili=
ty revolving around the discovery of 'contraband' at the prison, which incl=
uded a magazine produced by an offshoot of al-Qaeda based in Yemen." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D%2BOkl=
Q4pqGhTVp2yK1LbFdx438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</fon=
t></a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Walmart Whistleblowers Stand Up to Retaliation</strong></font=
><br />
Yana Kunichoff, Truthout: "Unseen but ever present, behind the well-stocked=
shelves of Walmarts around the country are warehouse workers. This labor f=
orce is primarily employed by contracting firms that underpay workers and f=
ire them summarily, according to advocates, but a group of 60 former employ=
ees at a Walmart warehouse in the Chicago suburbs are holding these contrac=
tors accountable for what they say are numerous labor violations." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D8kPRlt=
NfP%2BJQl7ATQoDugh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</fon=
t></a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Strong Job Growth Leads to Drop in Black/Hispanic Unemploymen=
t</strong></font><br />
Dean Baker, The Center for Economic and Policy Research: "The January repor=
t is undoubtedly one of the best reports that we have seen since the recess=
ion began. Clearly weather played some role in making the report better tha=
n otherwise would be the case, most obviously in the construction data, but=
good weather probably led to somewhat better numbers for manufacturing and=
restaurants as well. However, even with some reversal of this effect in fu=
ture months, it is likely that we are on a somewhat stronger job growth pat=
h, perhaps as high as 200,000 a month." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DxMywBl=
1gVMmwc1WlaNC%2Fsx438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</fon=
t></a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>As the Plutonomy Powers Ahead, the "Realonomy" Remains in Rec=
ession</strong></font><br />
Salvatore Babones, Truthout: "While the Plutonomy continues to grow by leap=
s and bounds, the Realonomy has been in recession since 1999. Even at the v=
ery top of the Realonomy, people have experienced flat or declining incomes=
over the past 12 years. For example, families at the 95th percentile of Am=
erica's income distribution have experienced, on average, a 1.2 percent dec=
line in real income (income adjusted for inflation) since 1999." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DiLmU4g=
dbO%2FyYL9S7ZQv9ix438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</fon=
t></a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>On the News with Thom Hartmann: ALEC Running Amok, and More <=
/strong></font><br />
In today's On the News segment: unemployment is down, inside trading legisl=
ation going forward, Republicans' tax cuts are revisionist, your right-to-w=
ork Super Bowl debate, and more. <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D2Tzjk7=
jH1OzM0OQNzSx0Hh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Watch the Video and Rea=
d the Transcript</font></a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Is Eric Cantor Trying to Kill the Proposed Ban on Congression=
al Insider Trading?</strong></font><br />
Pat Garofalo, ThinkProgress: "Over in the House, meanwhile, House Majority =
Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) - who reportedly blocked Bachus from bringing up =
a ban on congressional insider trading in committee - wants to expand the l=
egislation to include bans on other sorts of transactions, such as land dea=
ls. UCLA Law Prof. Stephen Bainbridge notes that this is likely an attempt =
by Cantor to kill the bill by making it so overly broad that no one will vo=
te for it." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DoEkdyi=
xbxSECjpiC8VZgyh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Mitt, Mormons and Money</strong></font><br />
Mark T. Harris, Truthout: "The strategic formula Romney brought to Bain Cap=
ital he learned from Bruce Henderson, a one-time Bible salesman and founder=
of the Boston Consulting Group. As a consultant, Henderson preached a kind=
of modern-day Taylorism, touting 'scientific management' principles based =
on what the editors of the Harvard Business Review call 'sharp-penciled ana=
lytics' geared to reducing costs and increasing efficiency. The Henderson c=
ost-cutting model routinely translated into, among other things, firing 'ex=
cess' workers." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D8OOGcJ=
N8FCGly2g5LTiqjB438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Paul Krugman | Clearing Up the Confusion Over "Made in China"=
</strong></font><br />
Paul Krugman, Krugman & Co.: "On his blog, 'The Big Picture,' the autho=
r and commentator Barry Ritholtz sends us to a Federal Reserve Bank of San =
Francisco paper from last summer that makes a point about which many people=
seem confused: Despite globalization and all that, the bulk of a consumer =
dollar spent in America falls on American-produced goods and services." <br=
/>
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DBmmxjB=
3jP9qL7SAtbE8vTx438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Voting Rights Battles Revived in States</strong></font><br />
Chris Kromm, Southern Studies: "In 2011, Republican-led state legislatures =
across the South and country pushed dozens of new voting restrictions, incl=
uding measures requiring voters to show photo ID at the polls. Nationally, =
voting rights groups estimate that up to 11 percent of voting-eligible citi=
zens don't currently have photo ID, which the policy group Demos says in Vi=
rginia translates into more than 600,000 voters." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D5X40lT=
xN7fkW655NAL6M8h438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> <br />
<br />
<font><strong>Once a Food Chain, Now a Corporate Supply Chain</strong></fon=
t><br />
Kanya D'Almeida, Inter Press Service: "While Indian retailers are losing sl=
eep over the possible entrance of multinationals like Walmart into the dens=
e South Asian consumer market, very little thought has been given to the In=
dian small farmer, who stands to lose even more at the hands of the world's=
biggest commercial food retailer." <br />
<a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DIzYZt7=
T624LJq8oF80IeRhCnd8g0oXwt"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article</font>=
</a> </p>
<p></p>
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.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D4zdKOhK3iq1Q2QMPPC5tLx438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000"><e=
m>Click here for more Truthout articles</em></font></a></p>
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<p><i>
<p>The fallout from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation's planned se=
vering of funding to Planned Parenthood can be measured in the number of wo=
men who would be denied breast cancer screening.</p>
<p>Today, February 3, Komen engaged in what is known as crisis management, =
appearing to "reverse" its decision, although that, as Truthout <a target=
=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=
=3DwyI22nYxBfOSXkwPCHd2Yh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">points out</fo=
nt></a>, remains the subject of some debate. The devil as always, will be i=
n the details - and right now, even after its "mea culpa," Komen is not com=
mitting to refunding Planned Parenthood.</p>
<p>The devil may also be in the politics of the decision, although Komen fo=
under and CEO, Nancy Brinker, denies that this is the case. The Dallas Morn=
ing News presents a former senior employee with another perspective:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But John Hammarley, a former KDFW-TV (Channel 4) medical reporter who we=
nt to work for Komen, disputed her account in an interview Thursday with <a=
target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?=
v=3D2&c=3DR0DbxhH8Oe0oMsQVHTdQph438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">The Dal=
las Morning News</font></a>:</p>
<p>Until last summer, his job at Komen was to explain and defend the charit=
y's relationship with Planned Parenthood. He was laid off in July.</p>
<p>He said questions about Komen's support of Planned Parenthood began to a=
rise from within the breast-cancer advocacy group after Karen Handel was hi=
red as senior vice president for public policy in April.</p>
<p>Handel, a former gubernatorial candidate from Georgia, posted on her cam=
paign website: "Since I am pro-life, I do not support the mission of Planne=
d Parenthood."</p>
<p>Hammarley said he did not know if Handel was behind the policy change.</=
p>
<p>"All I know is the internal debate and review of this issue ramped up si=
gnificantly after she was hired," he said.</p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>The new policy was that the Komen Foundation would not fund organization=
s "under investigation." CREDO, the mobile phone company that also funds pr=
ogressive causes - including Planned Parenthood - indicated that the Planne=
d Parenthood "investigation" in the GOP House of Representatives is a vende=
tta to <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/t=
rack.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DKpn2OJYl%2FbPRQzaglqwffR438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc00=
00">appease anti-abortion groups</font></a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The move is clearly connected to attempts by Republicans in Congress to=
defund Planned Parenthood," the organization said in a statement. "In resp=
onding to questions about its decision, the foundation cited as its rationa=
le a sham 'investigation' into Planned Parenthood launched by Republican Re=
p. Cliff Stearns," who the group called "one of the most militant anti-choi=
ce members of Congress."</p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>Jeffrey Goldberg, writing in <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.de=
mocracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DGbuuMRDhkF%2BZnWlrtcGEHh438nfeq=
Ui5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">The Atlantic</font></a>, confirms that Komen a=
ppears to have been targeting Planned Parenthood for some time:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But three sources with direct knowledge of the Komen decision-making pro=
cess told me that the rule was adopted in order to create an excuse to cut =
off Planned Parenthood. (Komen gives out grants to roughly 2,000 organizati=
ons, and the new "no investigations" rule applies to only one so far.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p></p>
<p>Brinker, the CEO, founded Komen in memory of her sister who died of brea=
st cancer in her 30s. But she has also been a Republican "player," having s=
erved as ambassador to Hungary and chief of United States protocol under Ge=
orge W. Bush.</p>
<p>Brinker and her late second husband, Norman, have given hundreds of thou=
sands of dollars to GOP candidates and the Republican Party. (Go to <a tar=
get=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D=
2&c=3DWdJ%2BVYlrzWSbTr78XiO%2BXR438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Open Se=
crets</font></a> and do a full year search (1990-2006, includes soft money)=
for Nancy Brinker, Norman Brinker and Brinker International (parent compan=
y of Chili's) with residency in both Texas and Florida.)</p>
<p>Reducing breast cancer is a vital goal. When women and men give money to=
an organization in order to save lives, they should be assured that the al=
location of funds won't be made on a political and partisan basis.</p>
<p>The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have violated that=
earnest trust between a donor and a charitable organization - particularly=
in relationship to a cancer that takes so dreadful a toll.</p>
<p>Mark Karlin<br />
Editor, BuzzFlash at Truthout</p>
</i></p>
<p><strong>Don't Blame the Wealthy for Inequality? You've Got to Be Kidding=
!<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D72AGQysonrY2N6EjiRYIth438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc00=
00">Read the Article at BuzzFlash</font></a></p>
<p><strong>Bait and Switch: GOP Leaders Renege on Debt Limit Deal Defense C=
uts<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DzxILeWIUS2RXwpkKiKwroh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc00=
00">Read the Article at Talking Points Memo</font></a></p>
<p><strong>Real US Corporate Tax Rate Falls to 12.1 Percent, the Lowest Lev=
el Since 1972<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D4pY6pFUYUOI9IqtkUh8WPB438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc00=
00">Read the Article at The Wall Street Journal</font></a></p>
<p><strong>Two Days Later, Romney Gives Up Defending Comments About the Poo=
r: "I Misspoke"<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DrB6Jz91T5A1XjbMbnjB7Xh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc00=
00">Read the Article at ThinkProgress</font></a></p>
<p><strong>Ronald Reagan Would Not Recognize His Party Today<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DvrqFxPILpzivsta2RYVXSR438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc00=
00">Read the Article at McClatchy News</font></a></p>
<p><strong>High-Tech US Corporations Deny Skilled American Workers Jobs Thr=
ough Abuse of Visa Loophole<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DJU1HS9TCDPVNyIIPkINi1h438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#cc00=
00">Read the Article at BuzzFlash</font></a></p>
<p><strong>Occupy the Super Bowl<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D6AD1AdS%2FJN11Skd%2BC4vPmh438nfeqUi5"><font color=3D"#=
cc0000">Read the Article at The Progressive</font></a></p>
<p><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D27k=
7il8piuuawdsWPhhEMR438nfeqUi5"><b><font color=3D"#cc0000"><em>Click here fo=
r more BuzzFlash headlines</em></font></b></a></p>
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