** The northern Nevada chapter of the Komen Foundation says it’s looking for a new site for the 14th Race for the Cure — but they may be doing more running from their decision to sever ties with Planned Parenthood because of ideological differences over abortion. The Los Angeles Times reports:
“Over the last five years, Planned Parenthood has provided about 4 million breast exams and referrals for 70,000 mammograms nationwide. Funding from Komen covers about 170,000 of the breast exams and 6,400 mammogram referrals, Richards said. Although mammograms and biopsies are referred out, Planned Parenthood doctors manage their patients’ cases.”
The Komen Foundation said its decision was based on the fact that Planned Parenthood is subject to a Congressional investigation led by Florida Republican Cliff Stearns. Democrats have charged the Stearns inquiry is specious, and part of a coordinated attack on Planned Parenthood by radical anti-choice advocates. The Sin City Siren describes Komen’s decision as essentially internal, and its association with Pink Washing. It will be interesting to see if the move by the Komen Foundation results in people walking away from its Runs.
** It appears that the abortion issue is “no longer personal” for GOP candidate Romney, who has made yet another gymnastic reversal of position from being an advocate for choice in 1994 to a staunch anti-abortion proponent.
** The Las Vegas Sun has a trip down memory lane concerning the history of Nevada money in national politics, from “Howard Hughes to Sheldon Adelson.” One CBS writer suggests that Newt Gingrich may be looking for a new game plan since the Adelson Money Pot didn’t seem to be the answer in the Florida primary.
** Newt Gingrich isn’t the only candidate to have dipped into Money Pots. Willard Mitt Romney’s campaign enjoys the use of some $18 million from just 200 donors in the last half of 2011. Money came in from Bain Capital, Goldman Sachs, Renaissance Tech (Hedge Fund), Elliott Management, and Tiger Management. Other donors included Harlan Crow and the Koch Brothers. [NYT] Mr. Crow’s past contributions included a $25,000 donation to the infamous Swift Boat Veterans who sponsored a smear campaign against Senator John Kerry in 2004. [MMFA] And, then there’s Crow’s financial connection to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. [ThinkProgress]
** The Romney camp is still silent on a key offshore tax avoidance account. [TPM] Question: If a person isn’t trying to avoid taxation then why put money in offshore accounts in the first place?
** Somehow in the tangled rhetoric of the times there are those who believe that calling out racism is racism. This is captured in video of Gingrich Super Pac spokesman Rick Tyler. One of the more interesting bits of the exchange between Tyler and Rev. Al Sharpton comes when Sharpton asks Tyler for specific policies which should appeal to African American voters. All Tyler provides are the three highly generalized pillars of Financialism: Less government (deregulation), less taxation, and more freedom.
** Gee, we never could have guessed. When Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced his five appointees to the Small Business Regulatory Review Board it was quickly noticed that four of the five were donors to his campaign. Opponents of Walker may have secured over 1 million signatures for his recall, but Walker is prepared to spend major money (mostly from out of state donors) to maintain his office. [CSMonitor]
** It’s February, it’s Black History Month, and David A. Love has an excellent piece debunking the 10 Biggest Myths about Black History.
** Jared Bernstein provides The Chart of the Day:
Want to ask again if the Stimulus Bill (ARRA) failed?
