Karen Handel book: Karl Rove urged retreat on Planned Parenthood

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

A tell-all book by a former official at Susan G. Komen for the Cure alleges that Karl Rove told the charity to reverse its decision to end its cancer screening funding of Planned Parenthood — raising eyebrows among conservatives who wanted Komen to stand firm amid the uproar.

The book by Karen Handel, the former Komen vice president who resigned after the charity restored funding to Planned Parenthood, says Komen CEO Nancy Brinker told her that Rove said the organization should back down.

The book, “Planned Bullyhood,” went on sale Tuesday and is already getting attention for its depiction of Rove’s role. Handel describes herself as “stunned” when Brinker told her about Rove’s advice:

...snip...

Nancy’s reply stunned me. “Karen, I’ve talked to a lot of people. And even Karl says we have to backtrack. There’s just no other way.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81036.html?hp=f2

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While I was at DNC, I heard a talk by Craig Unger, author of Boss Rove. His view is that Roveprimarily wants to retain power and influence, and will throw an ideological partner over the side if he has to.

[Angry Dragon]

1. That is because they will eat their own

It is all about themselves, to hell with everyone else

[JHB]

2. What was Rove to Komen?

Why was he in a position to say anything? The article doesn't say.

[oldsarge54]

5. Easy

Rove is the Joseph Goebbels of the Republican party, as well as a political hatchet man for Bush. An Ollie North with money.

[tanyev]

6. Good question, considering they said that their decisions had nothing to do with politics.

Liars.

[patrice]

3. Rove is responsible for Republican decline into fascism. Fascists will do/say ANYthing for power. nt

[Mopar151]

4. Don't kick that hornet's nest!

Absent the ethical and moral issues (transparent to Turdblossom), it was stunningly bad tactical politics.

[frylock]

7. has anyone checked the description for this steaming pile of shit?!

In 2011, Susan G. Komen for the Cure was growing weary of the “pink” being tarnished by its health grants to Planned Parenthood (PPH), whose many controversies were fueling backlash against Komen. They wanted to remove themselves from the pro-life/abortion debate and made what they thought was a rational, reasonable decision: seek neutral ground in the culture war by severing ties with Planned Parenthood—and in turn, eliminate a major headache while opening a new, robust fund-raising channel.

Karen Handel, the organization’s Senior Vice President of Public Policy, was tasked with identifying options to disengage. In November, the Komen management and board decided to move forward. Komen and PPH made a “gentle ladies” pact, agreeing to part ways amicably and acknowledging that a media firestorm was in no one’s best interest. Yet, six weeks later, PPH unleashed an attack so vicious and so seamlessly executed that it had to have been premeditated and precisely timed. PPH attacked Komen against the backdrop of the Obama administration’s clash with the Catholic Church over contraception. After just three days, following hysterical cries that “Komen was abandoning women,” Komen capitulated and reversed course. Handel—a lifelong pro-life Republican who was raised Catholic—was immediately made the target. She resigned within days of Komen’s reversal. Liberals called her a right-wing Trojan horse. The pro-life community hailed her as a hero. She insists she is neither.


Why did Planned Parenthood break its word? Was Komen simply a pawn in something bigger? In this book, Karen Handel finally speaks.

http://www.amazon.com/Planned-Bullyhood-Headlines-Parenthood-Funding/dp/1451697945/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347414201&sr=1-1&keywords=planned+bullyhood

[Quantess]

8. We are citing Politico in LBN now?

Aren't they RW-leaning? Just wondering.

The article looks like a puff piece for Karen Handel more than anything.