Nonprofit bubble
by digby
The Komen Foundation Vice President in charge of ruining their brand, Karen Handel, is really an awful person in every way. Aravosis found this interview with Handel when she was running for GA governor less than two years ago:
KH: I’ve been very clear. And you know, as a Christian, marriage is between a man and a woman. I do not think that gay relationships are — they are not what God intended. And that’s just my viewpoint on it. Others might disagree with that. But I would also hope that if you look at what is happening in our state, we’ve got issues we need to be focused on in Georgia . We have a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. And it’s something that I supported wholeheartedly. We have that, and let’s get dealing with the other issues that we also need to deal with in Georgia. And the press can help with that. (Laughs).
Q: Frequently, folks in the Legislature kind of threaten to — there are always rumblings in the Legislature that they may outlaw gay adoptions. You’re against gay adoption.
KH: I am against gay adoption. But remember — I mean, if there is legislation on that, certainly I will follow that and look at it. But in the end, ultimately courts are going to be the ones to have to make the decision on that and it’s always in the best interests of the child. Do I think that gay parents is in the best interest of the child? No. But we do have our court system that deals with many and most of those issues.
Q: Would you favor outlawing gay adoptions?
KH: Yeah, I would consider that, absolutely.
Q: Do you know any gay couples with children?
KH: Not that I’m aware of.
Q: So you think gay couples are less qualified to function as parents than straight couples?
KH: I think that for a child to be in a household — in a family in a household with a situation where the parents are not married, as in one man and one woman, is not the best household for a child.
Q: Is it better or worse than a single parent household?
KH: Doug, I’m really trying to be straightforward with you but I’m not going to debate all the nuances. I’ve made it abundantly clear that I think that marriage is between a man and a woman. And that’s what I believe, and I don’t know what more you would like me to add to that.
Q: I guess I want to know why you think gay parents aren’t as legitimate as heterosexual parents.
KH: Because I don’t.
She's an extreme social conservative, which is the norm in Republican politics. But why in the world would a non-partisan organization hire someone like this? The answer is, they wouldn't. Komen isn't a non-partisan organization and they hired her for a reason.
It's too early to tell if Komen will end up defunding Planned Parenthood entirely. They say they are still eligible to apply for grants, which means nothing. Anyone can apply for anything. It doesn't mean they will be accepted. But it's clear that Komen is reeling over this, regardless. And that the blowback came as a huge surprise. Apparently, they thought that the only people who care about these things are the forced pregnancy zealots -- which means they have been living in that right wing bubble. If nothing else this whole flap has probably awakened a few people to the fact that there are plenty of Americans who think this right wing social agenda is cracked.
Update: Right on time, here comes the hissy fit. Evidently the preachers and anti-choice crusaders attacking Planned Parenthood for years, including instigating trumped up congressional investigations, is a-ok, but an outcry against Komen capitulating to them is "gangsterism." God, what a bunch of whining wimps.