PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Komen Founder Explains Cut

Says it's pursuing a new grant strategy.

It's been a tough couple of days for Nancy Brinker, the founder and CEO of the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. Since her organization announced that it would no longer be giving grant money to Planned Parenthood for breast-cancer screening, Brinker has been working overtime to justify the move. Women's advocacy groups have been crying foul, saying Komen bowed to conservative pressure, but Brinker countered they are trying to find better ways to distribute their money. She said that there was a "gross mischaracterization" of her organization's move. In an intense interview on MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell asked Brinker whether Komen Vice President for Policy Karen Handel, an anti-abortion politician, pushed the decision. Brinker denied it, but the foundation is still taking flak for what many believe is a politically motivated decision.