Audiobook8 hours
Planned Bullyhood: The Truth Behind the Headlines about the Planned Parenthood Funding Battle with Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Written by Karen Handel
Narrated by Pam Ward
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
3/5
()
About this audiobook
For at least a decade, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the
world's leading breast cancer organization, had been dealing with the backlash
from pro-life conservatives because of its grants to Planned Parenthood, the
world's largest abortion provider. According to Karen Handel, Komen's senior
vice president of public policy in 2011, the two organizations had mutually
agreed to part ways amicably. But then Planned Parenthood surprisingly
unleashed a media attack against Komen, waving the banner of women's health as
a shield for its underlying political agenda. Public criticism against Komen
intensified with damaging consequences, eventually concluding in Komen's
surrender and Karen's resignation.
In daring to walk away, Komen had unwittingly ignited a
battle in which it became collateral damage in a larger election-year war
between liberals and conservatives for the souls (and votes!) of women and the
nation's conscience-with abortion and contraception linked as ultimate wedge
issues. What exactly went on inside this firestorm of controversy? Were there
larger forces at play? In this tell-all, highly charged account, Karen Handel
breaks the silence and finally reveals what really happened in the winter of
2011.
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
Related to Planned Bullyhood
Related audiobooks
Fight the Good Fight: How an Alliance of Faith and Reason Can Win the Culture War Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Devil In D.C.: Winning Back The Country From The Beast In Washington Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Facing the Beast: Courage, Faith, and Resistance in a New Dark Age Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Suppression, Deception, Snobbery, and Bias: Why the Press Gets So Much Wrong—And Just Doesn’t Care Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Beltway Beast: Stealing from Future Generations and Destroying the Middle Class Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Outrage, Inc.: How the Liberal Mob Ruined Science, Journalism, and Hollywood Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The People's Justice: Clarence Thomas and the Constitutional Stories that Define Him Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRaise Your Voice: An Urgent Call to Speak Out in a Collapsing Culture Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5First Strike: TWA Flight 800 and the Attack on America Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Did America Have a Christian Founding?: Separating Modern Myth from Historical Truth Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Hunt Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race that Open Healthy Conversations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fiery Angel: Art, Culture, Sex, Politics, and the Struggle for the Soul of the West Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Works: Common Sense Solutions for a Stronger America Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Devil and Communist China: From Mao Down to Xi Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land: How Christianity Has Advanced Freedom and Equality for All Americans Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGossip: The Untrivial Pursuit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I AM not amused: A Christian Response to Media Entertainment Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRace to the Bottom: Uncovering the Secret Forces Destroying American Public Education Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Big Intel: How the CIA Went from Cold War Heroes to Deep State Villains Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Search and Destroy: Inside the Campaign Against Brett Kavanaugh Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCounterpunch Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStalin's Curse: Battling for Communism in War and Cold War Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Armageddon: How Trump Can Beat Hillary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEugenics, Sterilization and Planned Parenthood Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5
Women's Health For You
Not a Diet Book: Take Control. Gain Confidence. Change Your Life. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Ina May's Guide to Childbirth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All in Her Head: The Truth and Lies Early Medicine Taught Us About Women’s Bodies and Why It Matters Today Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Are You Coming?: A Vagina Owner's Guide to Orgasm Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health With Facts and Feminism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5F*ck Like a Goddess: Heal Yourself. Reclaim Your Voice. Stand in Your Power. Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'll Start Again Monday: Break the Cycle of Unhealthy Eating Habits with Lasting Spiritual Satisfaction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I'm So Effing Tired: A Proven Plan to Beat Burnout, Boost Your Energy, and Reclaim Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Younger Next Year, 2nd Edition: Live Strong, Fit, Sexy, and Smart-Until You're 80 and Beyond Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Women's Anatomy of Arousal: Secret Maps to Buried Pleasure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Call of the Wild: How We Heal Trauma, Awaken Our Own Power, and Use It For Good Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Come As You Are: Revised and Updated: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods, 2nd edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hormone Fix: Burn Fat Naturally, Boost Energy, Sleep Better, and Stop Hot Flashes, the Keto-Green Way Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Workbook: Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz: An Interactive Guide to Dr. Mindy Pelz's Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In the FLO: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'm So Effing Hungry: Why We Crave What We Crave – and What to Do About It Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Girl Boner: The Good Girl's Guide to Sexual Empowerment Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina-Separating the Myth from the Medicine Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Planned Bullyhood
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
3/5
3 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I had trouble deciding how many stars to give this often interesting but very uneven book. I almost gave up during the introduction, but I persisted and found the book very interesting, except when Handel went into histrionic partisan mode. Handel has led a very interesting life, and if she has done all she says, she has a lot to be proud of. Karen Handel is the one blamed for leading Komen to drop Planned Parenthood (PP). The thing is, even if it was Handel's idea (she insists it wasn't), she couldn't have done it by herself. She is left in the position of an outside lover whom a reconciling couple has agreed bears all the blame for the infidelity. That saves face and makes it easier to reconcile, but it isn't true. Say what you will, it remains that the infidel agreed to the affair and is the real betrayer. Set up as the scapegoat, Handel is understandably bitter. Komen, according to Handel, couldn't make up its corporate mind. They wanted to dump Planned Parenthood for a number of reasons including dissatisfaction with their work and also because they were under enormous pressure from the prolife/antiabortion forces. This is a point at which I have problems with Handel. If PP was a bully, so was the Roman Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, et al. They were the other pincher putting pressure on Komen and Handel. Handel goes into the most detail about the Catholic church's backlash, beginning on p.83. Komen has worked with numerous Catholic organizations in the past, both in giving them grants and getting their help raising money. Then the Church, and like-minded organizations, cut all ties unless Komen cut ties with PP. Handel doesn't fault them for pressuring and hurting Komen. Handel is very inconsistent in what she says about these issues. The problem seems to have been that Komen didn't want to admit to the latter reason knowing that they would offend some of their friends. They were also ambivalent about PP and their past relationship. At this point, I had a lot of sympathy for Handel, she simply could get direction from, or please, people who can't make up their mind, and she probably would have done well to walk away at this point. So Komen tried to explain its actions via their new grant system and a reluctance to deal with organizations under investigation by someone or another. Apparently they hoped that they could tell the anti-abortion/pro-life forces that they were dropping PP over abortion, but keep this news from PP; a futile hope. Then they couldn't keep their story straight, backtracked and contradicted themselves. If it had truly been a matter of grants, then Komen should just have announced the new standards to all potential grantees and let the chips fall where they may. Even if PP couldn't connect the dots regarding the backlash, the fact that Komen was hiring publicists and making a PP a special case would have told them what was up. Handel is outraged that PP and its allies refused to accept this clumsy spin, when they knew that there was more to this decision. Handel claims that Komen was trying to be neutral in the abortion struggle, but I don't see how withdrawing grants from PP because they also perform abortions is being neutral on the subject of induced abortions. After all, PP wasn't being given grants to perform abortions, and if Komen had any sense they made it clear in the grants that the money was to be used strictly for breast cancer-related projects. They should do that with all their grantees whether they do anything controversial or not. Neutrality would either be to avoid anyone who has a position on the subject or deal with anyone regardless of their opinion. I'm sure that Komen preferred the latter, but the prolife/antiabortion forces were pressuring them to choose sides. Handel argues that this was not a political decision but a financial one, but it was still forcing Komen to take a side in the culture wars. I suspect that if PP had accepted Komen's decision gracefully, they could have expected that every organization that they dealt with would be pressured just as Komen was.So Handel's complaints about PP are a little hollow and a lot inconsistent. She sometimes goes into a partisan histrionic mode. She complains about PP's slick political/economic arrangements, but there are a lot of organizations that I find a lot scarier who do the same, liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican. These things have generated a lot of outrage over the years, but the politician don't care to put a stop to it. She goes a bit off the deep end and almost talks as if PP and the left have sinister occult powers and can summon demons, when the truth is that they have a constituency of American citizens who don't even have horns and tails. Just like the right, about whom my liberal friends make similar claims. Life is complicated; full of hard decisions and compromise, and honorable people can disagree. And everyone who agrees with you isn't always honorable. Throughout the body of the book, I thought that Handel had had enough thrown at her that she would recognize this simple point, but in the end she goes back to blind partisan mode. I can understand why Handel is bitter about PP, but having read about the pressure Komen was under from both sides I take a different view.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I had trouble deciding how many stars to give this often interesting but very uneven book. I almost gave up during the introduction, but I persisted and found the book very interesting, except when Handel went into histrionic partisan mode. Handel has led a very interesting life, and if she has done all she says, she has a lot to be proud of. Karen Handel is the one blamed for leading Komen to drop Planned Parenthood (PP). The thing is, even if it was Handel's idea (she insists it wasn't), she couldn't have done it by herself. She is left in the position of an outside lover whom a reconciling couple has agreed bears all the blame for the infidelity. That saves face and makes it easier to reconcile, but it isn't true. Say what you will, it remains that the infidel agreed to the affair and is the real betrayer. Set up as the scapegoat, Handel is understandably bitter. Komen, according to Handel, couldn't make up its corporate mind. They wanted to dump Planned Parenthood for a number of reasons including dissatisfaction with their work and also because they were under enormous pressure from the prolife/antiabortion forces. This is a point at which I have problems with Handel. If PP was a bully, so was the Roman Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, et al. They were the other pincher putting pressure on Komen and Handel. Handel goes into the most detail about the Catholic church's backlash, beginning on p.83. Komen has worked with numerous Catholic organizations in the past, both in giving them grants and getting their help raising money. Then the Church, and like-minded organizations, cut all ties unless Komen cut ties with PP. Handel doesn't fault them for pressuring and hurting Komen. Handel is very inconsistent in what she says about these issues. The problem seems to have been that Komen didn't want to admit to the latter reason knowing that they would offend some of their friends. They were also ambivalent about PP and their past relationship. At this point, I had a lot of sympathy for Handel, she simply could get direction from, or please, people who can't make up their mind, and she probably would have done well to walk away at this point. So Komen tried to explain its actions via their new grant system and a reluctance to deal with organizations under investigation by someone or another. Apparently they hoped that they could tell the anti-abortion/pro-life forces that they were dropping PP over abortion, but keep this news from PP; a futile hope. Then they couldn't keep their story straight, backtracked and contradicted themselves. If it had truly been a matter of grants, then Komen should just have announced the new standards to all potential grantees and let the chips fall where they may. Even if PP couldn't connect the dots regarding the backlash, the fact that Komen was hiring publicists and making a PP a special case would have told them what was up. Handel is outraged that PP and its allies refused to accept this clumsy spin, when they knew that there was more to this decision. Handel claims that Komen was trying to be neutral in the abortion struggle, but I don't see how withdrawing grants from PP because they also perform abortions is being neutral on the subject of induced abortions. After all, PP wasn't being given grants to perform abortions, and if Komen had any sense they made it clear in the grants that the money was to be used strictly for breast cancer-related projects. They should do that with all their grantees whether they do anything controversial or not. Neutrality would either be to avoid anyone who has a position on the subject or deal with anyone regardless of their opinion. I'm sure that Komen preferred the latter, but the prolife/antiabortion forces were pressuring them to choose sides. Handel argues that this was not a political decision but a financial one, but it was still forcing Komen to take a side in the culture wars. I suspect that if PP had accepted Komen's decision gracefully, they could have expected that every organization that they dealt with would be pressured just as Komen was.So Handel's complaints about PP are a little hollow and a lot inconsistent. She sometimes goes into a partisan histrionic mode. She complains about PP's slick political/economic arrangements, but there are a lot of organizations that I find a lot scarier who do the same, liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican. These things have generated a lot of outrage over the years, but the politician don't care to put a stop to it. She goes a bit off the deep end and almost talks as if PP and the left have sinister occult powers and can summon demons, when the truth is that they have a constituency of American citizens who don't even have horns and tails. Just like the right, about whom my liberal friends make similar claims. Life is complicated; full of hard decisions and compromise, and honorable people can disagree. And everyone who agrees with you isn't always honorable. Throughout the body of the book, I thought that Handel had had enough thrown at her that she would recognize this simple point, but in the end she goes back to blind partisan mode. I can understand why Handel is bitter about PP, but having read about the pressure Komen was under from both sides I take a different view.