Karl Rove told The Daily Caller on Tuesday that he’s disputing a new book claiming he advised the leader of breast cancer group Susan G. Komen for the Cure to reverse course and pledge to start funding Planned Parenthood again.
Reached by phone, the prominent Republican strategist said the charge made by former Komen senior vice president Karen Handel in “Planned Bullyhood” is “not accurate.” He declined to elaborate.
Handel writes that Rove was among those advising Susan G. Komen for the Cure to reverse course earlier this year after announcing it would stop giving money to Planned Parenthood, which has clinics that perform abortions.
Komen eventually announced it would restore funding to Planned Parenthood after finding itself embroiled in a public relations fiasco as pro-choice and other liberal activists protested.
The author recalls Susan G. Komen for the Cure CEO Nancy Brinker telling her that “I’ve talked to a lot of people. And even Karl says we have to backtrack.”
Handel, who said she didn’t know who “Karl” was at first, recalls Brinker clarifying that she was talking about Rove.
Conservatives reacted to the report with disappointment on Tuesday. “Ever had concerns about Karl Rove? Add this to the list,” RedState editor Erick Erickson wrote on Twitter.
If the allegation is true, it would mean that Rove was advising Komen to restore Planned Parenthood funding as Mitt Romney and the other Republican candidates for president were railing against it.
Reached by TheDC, Komen wouldn’t directly address the claim.
“The book, like many books, contains the author’s personal recollections and views about the organization and its leadership,” spokeswoman Andrea Rader said. “We won’t comment on her personal views or her memory of events. We are moving forward and we are completely focused on our mission to end breast cancer and help women worldwide.”
