In a move that has instantly infuriated feminists, it was announced today that “Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation’s leading breast-cancer charity, will cut off its funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates, where the foundation has traditionally paid for preventive screening services.”

Planned Parenthood has been at the center of a lot of heated political battles lately. Most center on whether the group, as an abortion provider, should receive government funds for other services it provides, such as offering contraceptives and preventive screenings.

The move by the Komen fund was immediately decried as a cowardly attempt by the Komen fund to bow to conservative pressure.

Twitter has been aflutter with the news for a couple of hours now… Tweet of the Day on the topic:

@kelly_carlin Hey Susan G. Komen, we’ve shown you our tits, now show us your balls. #FightRWNJAgendas

It’s a sad day for womens rights and the cure for breast cancer. Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America said today, “We are alarmed and saddened that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure. Our greatest desire is for Komen to reconsider this policy and recommit to the partnership on which so many women count.” 

Read more here, about how Planned Parenthood is fighting back and their new fund to keep breast exams covered at their facilities.

The Susan G Komen fund has been recently running TV advertisements to brings in participants and donors for upcoming 2012 3-day walks. It will be interesting to see how that pans out for Komen in the wake of today’s news.