GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Now to that brewing crash over money, politics, and breast cancer between two of America's leading advocacy groups for women's health. It all started when Susan G. Komen for the Cure, that's the group behind the pink ribbon campaign, withdrew funding from Planned Parenthood. Congress is right in the middle of it too and ABC's Claire Shipman joins us now with more on the battle. Good morning, Claire.
ABC GRAPHIC: Women's Groups Face Off: "Pink Ribbon" Standoff
CLAIRE SHIPMAN: Good morning, George. The fallout continues. Taking stock this morning, 26 Senators now urging Komen to reverse its decision. Seven of Komen's affiliates in California publicly saying they oppose the move. One top Komen official had already designed [sp]- resigned. Now, another is threatening to quit. The clash of two titans in women's health care. The Susan G. Komen foundation-
SUSAN G. KOMEN AD: Together, we can erase breast cancer-
SHIPMAN: -and Planned Parenthood.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD: We provide basic health care to five million patients every year.
SHIPMAN: This morning, outrage and disappointment engulfing the internet. [Reading posts.] "All lies." "You have lost my support." "Playing politics with the lives of women." "I'll never by pink again."
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: I think that it's unfortunate that it has to get political.
SHIPMAN: And it got political fast when the Komen foundation decided to pull funding for breast screenings from Planned Parenthood. Insiders say Komen was worried about controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood's abortion services. But this uproar has provided a sudden, enormous cash infusion for the often embattled Planned Parenthood.
CECILE RICHARDS (President, Planned Parenthood): The outpouring of support of women for women is extraordinary.
SHIPMAN: In a few days, they reaped over $1 million, significantly more than the yearly $680,000 they've been getting from Komen. Komen's CEO Nancy Brinker has offered changing explanations for the decision, but insists it's not politics.
NANCY BRINKER (Founder/CEO Susan G. Komen for the Cure): These changes mean that we'll be able to do more to help women and advance the fight against breast cancer.
SHIPMAN: Monique Benoit learned she had a lump this her breast through a Planned Parenthood screening. She worries about services for women in her position.
MONIQUE BENOIT (Received Mammogram through Planned Parenthood): It's a detriment to the community and to the women they can serve and know they can serve that they're not providing those funds any longer.
SHIPMAN: Health care, an issue of high anxiety for women right now. 17 Million women are without coverage. Komen had wanted to avoid controversy. But, it's plunged right into the middle of it. Robin?
ROBERTS: And you talked about the contributions, Claire. I know the New York Mayor, Mayor Bloomberg, has donated thousands of his own money. So, the contributions are coming into Planned Parenthood.
