And here, I thought I was done...

I recently came across this post from Salon.com, mentioning the connection between the Susan G. Komen organization and Hadassah Lieberman, wife of the senator from Connecticut:

Compared with Bayh's lucre from Wellpoint and the other corporations whose boards she graces, the earnings of Hadassah Lieberman appear paltry. Yet even though she has retired, for now, from counseling the pharma and insurance industries, the devotion to public health she has long proclaimed is still tinged with hypocrisy. Upon leaving Hill & Knowlton, Hadassah joined Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer charity, as a paid "ambassador." Again, it isn't clear what she does besides posing for photo ops in places from Brazil to Israel, but as a Komen advocate she is supposed to be trying to prevent women from losing their lives.

Not one to believe everything I read on the Internet, I found this claim to be true. Mrs. Lieberman is in Israel right now "for a series of meetings with government officials, grantees, NGOs, partners, advocates and survivors to review Susan G. Komen for the Cure-funded work in Israel and to begin plans for future events highlighting breast cancer, tobacco control and health diplomacy."

That should make everything better.

It's not just Komen

So, I've set up a Google Alert for "Komen Israel" just to see who's saying what. Lots of bloggers - Jewish and otherwise - have picked up on the story of Egypt's blatant racism and Komen's tepid response.

Here's an interesting post from Political Mavens.

Who knew anti-Semitism was so en vogue and some great Americans are, at best, turning a blind eye?

Komen responds. Again.

I received the following additional response from the Komen PR department:

Thank you for contacting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We have new information from our founder, Nancy Goodman Brinker, on this situation.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pleased to Announce Egyptian Events to Welcome All Advocates, Including those from Israel

Statement from Nancy Goodman Brinker, Founder, Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Breast cancer advocates from the United States and across the Middle East are meeting in Egypt from October 21-27 for breast cancer awareness events. There have been reports that some of the invited participants would not be allowed to attend these events. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has now received confirmation that all advocates, regardless of their country of origin, are invited to fully participate in events to bring breast cancer to the forefront of public discussion in the Middle East.

After we received the initial report on the situation, we launched a diplomatic effort to ensure they would be able to participate. I am pleased to report that our efforts led to confirmation that all advocates would be welcome to participate in the events.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure remains steadfast in our mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Again, technically, it's a good response. Assuming you need to carefully balance many political considerations. In my opinion, it is embarrassingly weak.

This was my reply:

Thank you for the note however this is hardly helpful as (1) the conference has already started and (2) getting from Israel to Egypt isn’t the easiest thing to do at the last minute.

The statement is weak and ineffective. Saying “some of the invited participants would not be allowed to attend” is offensive to those who were shut out because of religion and/or nationality. It is weak. The organization should be making a much stronger statement along the lines of “breast cancer is blind to religion, race and nationality and any effort to deny experts and advocates the right to participate on those grounds is deplorable.”

Instead of effectively handling the situation, the Susan G. Komen organization has clearly shown the Jewish community that it supports racism and anti-Semitism. This is not a fringe-group opinion.

What the organization needs to do right away is reach out to the Jewish community and assure them that (1) it deplores the actions of Egyptian officials, (2) it regrets not taking a stronger and more effective stand, and (3) it will ensure this does not happen again and, if it does, the Komen name and participation will be immediately pulled from any such event.

Thank you.

It will be interesting to see if they get around to doing the right thing.

Susan G. Komen Responds

I received this response earlier from Susan G. Komen:

Thanks for reaching out. Sorry it has taken me a bit to respond about the breast cancer awareness events advocates from the United States and across the Middle East are attending Oct. 21-27 in Egypt. There have been reports that some of the invited participants would not be allowed to attend these events. Susan G. Komen for the Cure has now received clarification that all are invited to fully participate in events to bring breast cancer to the forefront of public discussion in the Middle East. I can tell you that Susan G. Komen for the Cure remains steadfast in our mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever everywhere.

This response, while technically well-written, is simply inadequate. What does it mean that "all are fully invited to participate?" The conference is going on now and traveling from Israel to Egypt isn't exactly like getting from NYC to Las Vegas.

What the organization should have said is something along the lines of, "We deplore such actions and will not tolerate our good name to be smeared by such prejudice and hatred. Breast cancer is a global problem that ignores race, religion and nationality, as does Susan G. Komen. As a result, we will no longer directly participate in this event."

Instead, the official line is tepid, at best.

What are they thinking at Susan G. Komen?

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is a great organization. They do important work and in a short period of time have changed the way we talk about breast cancer.

But as of right now, they are in the throes of a serious public relations misstep.

Earlier today, it came to my attention that Komen is collaborating on a regional breast cancer conference with Egypt. Of course, it makes sense that Israeli doctors and breast cancer advocates attend, given Egypt and Israel are neighbors at peace.

They were supposed to and, until yesterday, had all the required paperwork in place. Then, Egyptian officials decided having Israelis attend wasn't such a good idea.

Now, Susan G. Komen has quite the PR and communications infrastructure. They employ several PR firms. One would expect a statement from the organization about how breast cancer affects all, differences should be put aside, let's cooperate for the good of humanity, etc. and so on.

Their response?

Deafening silence. Where Komen should have put its foot down and threatened to walk out of the conference, founder Nancy Brinker is still scheduled to speak. Komen CEO is quoted as saying:

“In the midst of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this collaboration in Alexandria begins a week of listening, learning, sharing…and breaking the silence,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “We must break the silence because it saves women’s lives. Raising awareness about breast cancer teaches women and their families that there is hope and possibility after diagnosis. When breast cancer is discovered early, the chances for survival are very good.”

Apparently, listening, learning and sharing doesn't include Israelis, perhaps the most research-minded population on the planet today. And, if I had to bet, the source of whatever the next great breakthrough is against this
disease.

I Agree with Hamas

That President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize is stunning. According to various reports, Hamas says he is not yet deserving of such an honor because he has yet to accomplish anything in terms of peace.

From a public relations perspective, he should have said, "Thanks, but no thanks." (Or, at least, "Not yet.")

How, pray tell, can anyone take this seriously? You can read plenty online - in all sorts of media outlets whether left, right or center - about how laughable and embarrassing it is to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize before actually doing anything. Even the President's most ardent supporters are slightly confused.

I'd argue that accepting this honor does more to tarnish his incredible reputation than bolster it.