(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY ALYSSA CARTEE
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

It was a move that divided two women’s health giants and their supporters. News broke Tuesday that cancer research and awareness organization Susan G. Komen pulled its grant funding from Planned Parenthood.

Late Wednesday night the organization’s Founder Nancy Brinker posted a video on YouTube defending the decision.

“Recently, we implemented new granting strategies and criteria that some have regrettably mischaracterized.”

Brinker explains, Komen’s policy includes not providing money to organizations under investigation.
Planned Parenthood has been under investigation since September by a Florida Republican Representative about the organization’s use of taxpayer dollars.

But many are criticizing Komen’s move as purely political. CBS reports a recent hire at Komen has some of those critics asking more questions.

“Komen’s new Vice President for policy is a politician from Georgia who has run in the past on an anti-abortion platform and that leads some to wonder whether her hiring explains the timing of this move.”

MSNBC spoke with a Democratic Congresswoman who says the policy Komen created will hurt the cancer awareness organization in the long run.

REP. JACKIE SPIERER: “Where Susan G. Komen is going is a very slippery slope. Because for instance NIH is called to Congress often to explain certain things when investigations are done. Komen gives a million dollars to the NIH. Are they going to cut back that funding?”

But a Fox News analyst says the decision is Komen’s to make whether people like it or not.

“I think that organizations in America, charitable foundations, health organizations, they have the right to make a determination about how and where they’re giving money.”

A blogger for the Washington Post points out Komen’ position seems to have helped Planned Parenthood.

“Planned Parenthood … has reportedly already raised $250,000 on news of Komen’s decision. And it will likely end up recouping its losses quickly.”

Planned Parenthood says it received $680,000 in Komen grants last year.