. >> nancy brinker struggled to contain the damage. first on msnbc. >> it's not true. >> there is an explosion of anger among your long time supporters. >> there is a tremendous amount, lisa, of emotion, whenever you're dealing with issues of vulnerable populations. whenever the idea of a change. >> a lot of folks see this as a political decision. >> we're not a political organization, this is not based on political decision. >> she says komen stopped new grants to planned parenthood because the group is under investigation in congress and some states. and because much of that money was passed on to other providers, didn't meet new grant criteria designed to measure and improve effectiveness. however, sources knowledgeable about the decision claim these are excuses, komen was trying to find a way to stop funding planned parenthood because of pressure from anti-abortion groups. they say komen's top health official, molly williams, recently resigned in protest over the decision. brinker would not comment. >> your own organization said pl

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>> nancy brinker needs to resign. the board needs to be replaced. can become active in deciding who should be on the board. so that we feel there is good representation. and really so that there is a respect for a 501-c-3. this should not be about partisan politics. really, the step that would get me back on the team are those two. the third piece i want is for carol handle to be terminated. she resigned. that's okay. it doesn't matter to me.

brinker would not comment. your own organization has said that planned parenthood using your money has done life-saving work to help low-income women. >> we think they've done great work over a period of time, and we are not commenting on the past. we are commenting on the nature of the grants that have to be done in the future. >> reporter: brinker says other grant recipients will lose funding under the new policies. abigail found a lump in her breast two years ago and got help from komen's funding to planned parenthood. today she's healthy. >> i would not have been able to get that care without the funding from the komen fund. they covered all the costs, not only the biopsy, but the care going up to the biopsy. >> reporter: komen says the money not going to planned parenthood still will go to help low-income women get breast exams and treatment. as for planned parenthood, officials say they already raised $650,000. that's almost enough to replace the money komen is taking away. brian. >> lisa myers in our d.c

komen ceo nancy brinker struggled to contain the damage. first on msnbc. >> it's not true. >> thousands. >> that is not true. >> an explosion of anger among your long time supporters. >> there is a tremendous amount, lisa, of emotion, whenever you're dealing with issues of vulnerable populations, whenever the idea of a change. >> a lot of folks see this as a craven, political decision. >> we're not a political organization, this is not based on a political decision. >> brinker says komen stopped new grants to planned parenthood because they are under investigation in congress and some states and because the money was passed on to other providers. didn't meet new grant criteria designed to measure and improve effectiveness. however sources nlable about the decision claim these are excuses, komen was trying to find a way to stop funding planned parenthood because of pressure from anti-abortion groups. they also say komen's top health official, molly williams, recently resigned in protest over the decision. brinker would not comment. >> your o

and then when ambassador nancy brinker came and talked to me yesterday on the program, she came wither explanation which was that they wanted direct referrals. so they had a credibility problem with their constituency. and i think it's wise that they apologized and reversed themselves so quickly. >> nancy brinker told you yesterday she was upset by the questions of whether this was a political decision by them. let's listen to her. >> i am troubled that it's been labeled as political. this is not a political decision. we operate from one set of standards every day. and it is to our mission. and if we don't advance and revise and make grants that meet the mission and bring real care to vulnerable populations, we won't be doing our job. >> senator boxer, it's great to have you on as always. what were the pressures coming from the pro-choice people that really seemed to reverse this decision lickety-split overnight. >> can i just say, pro-choice, not pro-choice, this is about screenings for breast cancer. there is no room for politics in this at all. and we all know we face attacks on a

brinker would not comment. your own organization has said that planned parenthood using your money has done life saving work to help low income women. >> we think they have done some great work over a period of time and we are not commenting on the past. we are commenting on the nature of the grants that have to be done in the future. >> reporter: brinker says other grant recipients also will lose funding under the new policies. lisa meyers, nbc news, washington. >>> here is a look at some of the other stories making news early today in america. >>> new york police have released video of an armed robber terrorizing people at gun point at local gas stations. >>> newly released video shows the moment of impact when a bus carrying rush hour commuters was hit by a pickup truck that had is cross the median. the december crash killed the driver but everybody aboard the bus survived. something they credit to her quick reaction. >>> a sign of times in south carolina. literally, one man has had enough of growing crime.

and nancy brinker is still here. know we're out of time, but is there any chance that you would respond to the senators and change the policy? >> well, i'm troubled that it's been labeled as political. this is not a political decision. we operate from one set of standards every day, and it is to our mission. and if we don't advance and revise and make grants that meet the mission and bring real care to vulnerable populations, we won't be doing our job. again, these grants -- >> i think there's a lot of communication -- >> there's a lot of communication that needs to go back and forth, you bet. >> we will follow up with you, the senators, 22 senators have now signed that letter, and we will continue to report this story and there'll be more throughout the day on nbc and msnbc as well. and we'll be right back. [ male announcer ] what's the beat that moves your heart? how about the beat of a healthy heart? campbell's healthy request soup is delicious, and earned this heart, for being heart healthy. ♪ feel the beat? it's

in a statement, nancy brinker said, "we want to apologize to the american public for recent decisionsoubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives. our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. we will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. we'll continue to fund existing grants, including those of planned parenthood and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants while maintaining the abillities of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of our communities. so what exactly was the motivation behind those words to drop the funding to begin with, with the politics at play. andrea mitch ceell is right on s story. she has been. she's the host of "andrea mitchell reports" on msnbc. also joining sussenat ining sus boxer. it seems to me that they were under some pressure, i don't know where it came from, to make this decision to no longer fund planned parent

at first, brinker attributed it to planned parenthood's minimal direct work in komen's field. >> they do not own the mammographyy equipment. they send them out for screening. and treatment and diagnosis. >> if that is still a concern for komen, brinker did not mention it today. she had also expressed concern about an investigation of planned parenthood, specifically whether the group uses federal funds to subsidize abortions by pro-life republicans. brinker said a probe must be, quote, criminal and concludetive, not political to justify a halt in grants. whether komen will ever again fund planned parenthood remains unknown, at least until the next grant cycle. but what prompted komen's cryptic apology was hardly mysterious to pro-life activists who lamented the fire storm and fundraising frenzy generated by the initial funding cutoff. >> they are being pressured in every way. we are witnessing an absolute shake down of an organization that simply wants to save the lives of women through cancer research. >> i think komen wants to get out of the culture wars. they're tired of the negati

a short time ago -- komen held a conference call -- ceo naacy brinker said these grant criteria changes...he's caught on camera.../ in... a... road rage incident.... "give me the phonee give me the phhne now! (don't touch me) give me the phhne or you're going to jail... give me the phone. the off-duty deputy became eeraged when a passenger pulled out her cell phone during a traffic stop.... and the driver.. n immigrant who didnt speak english... says backktt cuba.then put his o goo- elbbw on the passenger's throat.... and snatched the phone from her hand...///. áátheáá deputy faces several charges including suspended withouttpay.... 3 3 another beautiful day in charm . city. but is our llck about to change. change. vytas we're all fine ith just skiiping winterrthis year. 3 fed up and ready to fight back. how one store owner tricked this robber into getting shoo for a few ollars more. &p instead offmarrying hi girlfriend, one illionaire adopts her. why he decided sleeping with hhs daughter was better thannthe alternative. 3 3 3 get.../ drunk...// áákilláá... somebody...// ááandáá... get.

at first, brinker pttributed the funding cut-off to plannee parenthood's field. 3 3 3 she had also expressedl funds to subsidize abortionn by pro- liff rrpublican congressman today brinker said a probe must be, quote, "criminal and whether komen will eeer again fund planned pprenthood reeains unknown, at leass until the next grant ycle. cryptic apology was hardly mysterious to pro--ife funddaising frenzy generated 3 by the initial funding cut-off. rios says,,"they are being pressured in every way. we are witnessing an absolutt shakedown of an orraniiation that simply wants to save the lives of women through cancerr pesearch. monahan says, "i phink komen wants to get outt of theeculttre wars. thhy're, you know, tired of the negative publicity that's come with beiig a formal partner to the nation's &plargest abortion rovider." just since the ccntroveesyy erupted, planned parenthood has profited handsomell, receiving a least 900--housand from diiferent donors. and komen, whose website was hacked, took in an estimated tk. in washington, james rrsen, fox news. here's... ur question of the

here is nancy brinker responding to the controversy in a video produced by the komen foundation. >> wel never bow to political pressure. we will never turn our backs on women who need us the most. >> sort of interesting, because brinker it should be noted has strong ties to the gop. she raised at least a hundred thousand dollars to president bush's campaign. and republican connection doesn't end there, because the senior vice president for public policy karen handel ran for office and vowed to defund planned parenthood. we're joined by tricia rose she is a professor of african studies at providence university. welcome. >> it's so good to be here and congratulations on your new show. >> thank you. today we also saw a story that a right-wing organization was trying to pressure pennies from having ellen degeneres as their spokesperson. the concern about susan g. komen is that a lot of those services go to the women who need it most. >> what is the most disturbing about this is that there has been no clear explanation for what the impriorities are. they basing it on the something of someth

brinker and her late husband gave over $600,000 to republicans.or public policy. she joined komen just last april after running for governor of georgia in 2010 on an anti-abortion platform. she describes herself as a pro-life christian and said, quote, i do not support the mission of planned parenthood. after the explosion of outrage, handel retweeted this quote. just like a pro-abortion group to turn a cancer organization's decision into a political bomb to throw. cry me a freaking river, end of quote. she has since deleted that tweet. but take a look at her twitter bio. it says life long conservative republican. brinker says they're not bowing to political pressure but the atlantic reports three sources with direct knowledge of the komen decision-making process told me that the rules were adopted in order to create an excuse to cut off planned parenthood. the case building against them is strong and is disturbing. joining me now is congresswoman gwen moore of wisconsin. congresswoman, thanks for your time tonight. >> oh, so good to be with you h

brinker would not comment. >> your own organization has said that planned parenthood, using your ownoney, has done live-saving work. >> we think they've done some great work over a period of time. we're not commenting on the past. we're commenting on the nature of the grants that have to be done in the future. >> reporter: brinker says other grant recipients will also lose funding. lisa meyers, nbc news, washington. >>> now here's a look at other stories making news. new york city police have released video of an armed robber terrorizing people at gunpoint at local gas stations. he's been attacking customers, and he shot and wound a store clerk. >>> new video shows the moment of impact when a bus carrying rush hour commuters was hit by a pickup trush. the december crash killed the pickup driver is, but everyone aboard the bus driver, something the bus driver supervisor's credit to her quick reaction. >>> a sign of the times in south carolina, literally. one man has had enough of growing crime. he's put up a message outside his home reading "crack dealers, users, and prostitutes not w

if you look at what miss brinker has said, it is clear she has dug her heels in and she's going to keeping. 26 senators led by frank lautenberg and patty murray have signed a letter protesting this decision by the common foundation with 22 members of the house had signed a letter as of this afternoon. so there is a building backlash. i mean, one of the things you have to wonder is why would corporations like yoplait and dell computers and new balance shoes, all these corporations that are listed on komen's annual report as in the million dollar club, they're going to have to move away from komen. they're not interested in funding a -- an organization that strictly has a political anti-women's health agenda like komen does now. so, you know, you have to think that what -- what miss brinker has actually done has been really to lead this organization right off a cliff. >> all right. now last summer, republicans held the government pretty much hostage over planned parenthood funding. the outrage over this, you know, it seems to be bigger. what is the difference? >> you know, honestly, i thi

. >> the strange thing is i don't know anybody aside from nancy brinker who runs the foundation who has done more for women's health. kimberly, this is now probably going to blow over over the weekend, but how do you think this will set in with the american people thinking, wait a second? if you're a private organization, can't you decide if -- can't you make your own decision about who to give your money to? >> absolute will he. susan g. komen foundation is an excellent charitable foundation which is a model essentially for many that are throughout the country. many people feel that they have bowed down to politics. nancy pelosi, democratic pressure, people that are siding with planned parenthood. it's one thing to stick to your gun, but then they reversed it right after they had someone speaking on their behalf, even on this air. it's confusing. >> i wonder, bob, if they had listened to your counsel about if you're in a hole, hand me the shovel and stop digging. >> i think that when you start getting yourself in the controversy like this, just stop digging. i mean -- what i don't unde

koman board and brinker as well. quote, we want to apologize.e have been distressed at the presumptions that the changes to the funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specially penalize planned parenthood. they are not. we will continue to fund existing grants and hey listen, in a lot of ways mission accomplished. we'll does and debate whether that apology and retracted should move on but one guy who was not happy about it. rush limbaugh. >> yesterday everybody was holding firm and today nancy brinker who runs the susan koman, it was her sister, just big time cave. big time, i mean abortion is the is asacrament. >> we're back to femi nazis and saying how abortion drives this. it has nothing to do with abortion. it has to do with breast cancer. koman does over 700,000 breast examines but what is interesting be the susan g. komen foundation was pulling $680,000 in grants and planned parenthood got $3 million in donation and now they got the susan g. komen back as well. they were instrumental in pushing forward on this matter. so be

. >> let me play you a bit of the interview, i was trying to press nancy brinker to the reason for this and some of it was of because of the so-called investigation cliff stearns. >> investigation is not the only issue, in 2010, we set about setting excellence in our groups, community and science grants putting metrics and outcomes and measures to them so we can translate all the science that we funded over 30 years. many of the grants we were doing with planned parenthood do not meet new standards of criteria for how we can measure our results and effectiveness in communities. >> senator boxer that whole issue was notably missing. that was noticeably missing from her explanation, the statement today. >> andrea, as i told your viewers yesterday, i was not born yesterday. and that was a trumped up excuse. and, you know, you don't need a degree in medicine to know that you need to have a breast screening and by a qualified physician and then if there's something found in that clinical exam, you are referred for mammograms and other kinds of procedures to find out if it's a suspicious brea

nancy brinker, and karen handel who posted on her campaign website in 2010 let me be clear since i amife i do not support the mission of planned parenthood. last tuesday the komen foundation announced it would cut the grants to 19 planned parenthood affiliates. the reason investigation by government authorities on any level. including use of medical funds the brain child of one congress cliff sterns. komen's founder and ceo, said the organization had not caved to political pressure and that changing the criteria that lead to cutting a planned parenthood's funds started with her. >> i initiated a come interest hencive review of our grants and procedures. >> however, an anonymous insiding was telling the huffing ton post . . . "huffington post" saying it has internal emails to support that. karen handel saying otherwise. >> was involved in the process, but to suggest i had the soul authority is just absurd. the process was vetted. the policies were vetted at all of the appropriate levels in the organization. >> that putting miss brinker under the bus. >> the last time i checked, private

in a statement, nancy brinker said "we want to apologize to the american public for recent decisionsn our commit mement to our missiof saving women's lives. our original desire was to fulfill fiduciary obligations. we will mend the criteria to make clear it must be criminal and conclusive in nature. we will continue to fund existing grants including those to planned parenthood while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make decision that meet the needs of our communities." what was the words behind that news? andrea mitchell has been on the story. she's our chief foreign affairs correspondent. we e also have joining us senator barbara boxer, who is a democrat from california and very much involved in this dispute. let me start with andrea. it seems to me they were under some pressure, i don't know where it came from, to make the decision to no longer fund women. it's a comparable place to go. it's like a clinic. it's a real public service. for them to drop their support for that because some congressman is messing around with them with some kind of hearings is a thin reading.