I have written repeatedly on these pages about the rising partisanship in our society, particularly the politicization of our courts and nominations of judges to courts. Now it seems we are politicizing breast cancer. Fortunately, amidst all of this noise, the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s leaders have done what many public servants and private citizens rarely do: they have honestly acknowledged an error and moved on with their fight for the cause they believe in. We all know that it is difficult to admit to an incident of bad judgment and back down from an untenable position (as lawyers we are sometimes inclined to argue our way around the obvious before we give in). The speed with which this controversy was resolved illustrates another path which is better for everyone concerned.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation allowed a House of Representatives investigation of Planned Parenthood to be grounds for revoking Foundation grants for breast cancer screening. That decision was ill informed and badly handled from a communications vantage point, and thankfully that decision has been reversed. A few social conservatives are now upset and are threatening to further politicize the fight against breast cancer, an issue that should have nothing to do with partisan politics.
While I was in the White House, I worked with Komen Foundation C.E.O. Nancy Brinker on her financial disclosure, ethics agreement and other issues connected with her appointment as Chief of Protocol of the United States (she had previously served as Ambassador to Hungary). Her integrity and dedication were unsurpassed by anyone I met in government. She was not interested in personal advancement; she wanted to serve in government if she could make the world a better place by doing so. Also, at the time it was very clear that she would not accept any political office that compromised her ability to continue her fight against breast cancer. She lost her sister, Susan G. Komen, to the disease and she is determined to fight it and win. The notion that Ambassador Brinker would compromise the mission of the Komen Foundation for any political purpose is absurd.
The tragedy of this past week was the potential breakdown of what had been a very fruitful relationship between two organizations, and the acrimony that has followed. Hopefully, now that this situation is resolved, we can get back to work addressing issues we agree upon. Saving the lives of mothers, wives and daughters threatened by breast cancer should be one of them.