Komen Out

An idiosyncratic guide to Mitt Romney’s recent primary woes: July 20, 2010. Karen Handel finishes first in the Republican primary for governor of Georgia, defeating Congressman Nathan Deal by more than 10 percentage points. In her campaign she calls for abolishing government funding to Planned Parenthood.

Aug. 10, 2010. Despite endorsements from Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, Handel is narrowly beaten by Deal in a run-off, during which Deal had accused Handel of being a card-carrying member of the Log Cabin Republicans, the ever-shrinking GOP organization that supports gay rights. Handel responded to this McCarthy-like tactic by . . . denying membership in the organization. Unfortunately, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found evidence not only of her membership, but of her support for domestic partnership benefits.

April 2011. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation hires Ms. Handel as senior vice president for policy.

Nov. 29, 2011. The Komen board adopts a policy that would effectively defund Planned Parenthood.

Jan. 24, 2012. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives unanimously passes H.R. 535, a non-binding resolution declaring 2012 the "Year of the Bible."

Jan. 31, 2012. Komen ends its annual $700,000 contribution to Planned Parenthood.

Feb. 3, 2012. Komen reverses itself.

Feb. 7, 2012. Handel resigns.

Feb. 7, 2012. The US Court of Appeals strikes down California’s Proposition 8 and affirms gay marriage . . . at least for now.

Feb. 7, 2012. Rick Santorum wins the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses and the non-binding primary in Missouri.