"Specter For The Cure": Senator Raising Money From Cancer Website

Talking Points Memo:

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA)--two time survivor of Hodgkins disease--is no stranger to cancer, cancer awareness, and cancer research funding. But he's using his hard earned credibility as a national spokesperson on the issue to fight the disease in a roundabout way.

He's touting--and raising money from--a website called specterforthecure.com, which he describes as "a bold new initiative to reform our government's medical research efforts, cut red tape and unstrangle the hope for accelerated cures."

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

Comments

[OB-GYN]

Specterforthecure.com has now clarified that all monies donated are for the 2010 re-election of Senator Specter. The very first paragraph states this very clearly. This was an unfortunate gaffe following a difficult political week for Senator Specter.

While I very much support Senator Specter idea of direct congressional funding and creation of a well-run Manhattan Project CAN (cancer accelerator network), personally he needs to be above all transparent and sensitive to peoples views that fundraising for self and fundraising for renewal of the cancer war are, in reality, two different goals. True, he may be the best senatorial man for the job to see such funding and program come to reality.

It IS time to put our taxpayer monies to the War on Cancer. One half million deaths plus per year in the US from cancer now, only to accelerate due to baby boomer aging. And this too: "According to the National Institutes of Health, cancer cost the US an estimated $219 billion in 2007, including $130 billion for lost productivity and $89 billion in direct medical costs" (from the CDC).

Cancer victims and their families and friends are indeed asking; "Where's the Cure?"

[PepperzMom]

"Paging the IRS, paging the IRS." This "the cure" website had better be registered as a 501(c)(3) organization. Unless every single penny/nickel/dime/quarter/dollar is turned directly over to a cancer research program, it's fraud.

Linking his name to a pitch for "the cure" is wrong.

[CAHertzfe]

Isn't there a congressional ethics committee or something that can put a stop to what Arlen is doing? This is just WAY WRONG!

[CAHertzfe]

I found the people in charge of the Senate Ethic Committee:


Democrats
Barbara Boxer, California, Chairman
Mark L. Pryor, Arkansas
Sherrod Brown, Ohio

Republicans
Johnny Isakson, Georgia, Vice Chairman
Pat Roberts, Kansas
James E. Risch, Idaho

http://ethics.senate.gov/

[Bill Lorch]

I am a cancer survivor !! Y will not contribute to them anymore. In fact soon as the Admiral says he is running Ill contribute it to his war chest Bill L USN (RET)

[regellner]

This goes beyond awful. He is preying upon those who wish to help the fight against cancer. If he wants to make cancer research funding a focus of his office, that would be great, but do not have a campaign fundraising site which sounds like a cancer donation site, that is just plain low.

[Heidi Hoerman]

The "Cures Acceleration Nework" he promotes looks to be a way to re-direct money for development of cures to the for profit sector. The first among the list of eligible recipients of the grant is industry and the first listed among the folks that will serve on the grant evaluation panel are venture capitalists! Yup, let's not give the money to NIH to fund development, let's give it to industry and venture capitalists. Thanx, Arlen.

[Daniboy]

Sounds like something a Dem would do!

[kmich718]

ha! Daniboy - you're hy-ster-ical...no no.. you're just HY!

[wm1066]

Man, Specter's having a bad couple of weeks!.........hahahahaha
What kind of human fights cancer then uses that cancer connection to raise money for his own political campaign? And not for any cancer research program? Or at least raise money to help cancer patients? In the guise of helping others, all the money goes to him.

[Jacqueline3]

He is using this money for his re-election bid? THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO SHAME!

[Pema]

we have to get sestack in there.

[american-dolt]

What do you expect, it's the Republican in him.

[Daniboy]

But you got him now-just normal Dem politics.

[kmich718]

He was a rethug for 29 years though.... he's been a dem for a couple of weeks.. I wonder where he learned all his shinanigans.....


29 years opposed to 2 weeks.....tough math, right???

[NCIndependant]

You're really going to have to try harder.

[RobDoub]

He should be ashamed.

And if this misleading fundraiser is not flat out illegal, it should be.

[kmich718]

He obviously has no shame...

[OB-GYN]

We have not won the "war on cancer".

Allen Specter is urging directed legislative cancer funding. Can you name one other Senator who has initiated a national "find a cure NOW" response?

"On my watch on the Appropriations Committee, funding for the National Institutes of Health has gone from $12billion in 1996 to $30billion and I recently helped persuade Congress and President Obama to include another $10billion in the Economic Stimulus bill.

"The CAN Act (Cancer Acceleration Network) has two principal components.

First, we reauthorize the National Institutes of Health at a new baseline funding level of $40billion per year – incorporating the stimulus funds into the permanent budget of the NIH.

The other key component of my CAN Act specifically addresses the “valley of death”.

The bill will create a new, independent, federal agency – The Cures Acceleration Network – authorized to spend $2billion in its first year and designed to do what the name says."

"I need you to donate here, so I can make this message heard loud and clear. I hope to have your help, you'll always have mine."

Kudos to Senator Specter for bringing the "cure" intent back to the cancer war-room. He must clarify what percentage of donations will go to re-electing him on specterforthecure.com.

As a cancer survivor I know how desperately we all want a cure NOW. A Manhattan style project is just what this doctor would order.

[RobDoub]

Read his website.

100% of your donation goes to Specter's reelection.

[sasidechick]

exactly. that's the problem with this. people think they are supporting cancer research and all they are doing is giving ARLEN (not ALLEN) the money. Give your money to the American Cancer Society instead of this political fundraising ruse.

[maxfax]

Only one real elected official has ever truly cared about health care in this country and it is Ted Kennedy, and as much as I want to respect Specter, I have to say this lastest action of his does not bode well for his renewed committment as a Democrat.

[Progressive Pete]

Ted Kennedy has not always cared about healthcare. He once let a girl d.ie instead of calling for an ambulance.

[Jacqueline3]

I agree!

[sasidechick]

I am from Pennsylvania and cannot recall EVER being this mad at a politician. What a piece of work he is!! I called his office [phone] and let him know my opinion.

For him to try to use CANCER to raise money for his political hide is beyond contempt. It is his JOB to do right by the American people, not to exploit them for his own political purposes. My mother died from non-hodgkins lymphoma and my family has participated in various events for the American Cancer Soceity and other groups that support cancer patients. For him to try to use "spector for the cure" as a website for cancer research that actually is a POLITICAL FUNDRAISING ARM disgusts me beyond belief.

I previously had called the Senator to thank him for his vote on the stimulus and called to welcome him to the Dems when he switched parties. I should have known--republicans care about one thing and one thing only---themselves. I would not vote for Specter now if he was the only candidate running.

Sheesh, I am so mad about this. Whatever Dem runs against him just gained a volunteer.

[Pema]

this is not his number i tried twice. some poor slob is getting hammered with calls. his number is...202 224-4254..
you must have been so upset you gave out the wrong area code.
thanks for calling him, he needs to hear what we think.

[rwext]

Maybe Durbin can give him another chair in health and human services