Talking Points Memo is reporting that the 'Specter For The Cure' cancer website is no more than a fundraising vehicle for Senator Specter's re-election. That seems wrong to me. The more I learn about Sen. Specter, and I remember his ignominious conduct in trashing Anita Hill, the less I like him as a person.
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."
But the money he's raising isn't funding research grants, or advocacy, or treatment for patients who can't afford it. It's funding the Senate re-election campaign of one Arlen Specter.
Talking Points Memo
Sen. Specter is a two time survivor of Hodgkins disease and wants to increase funding for research on cancer cures by setting a $40 billion annual funding baseline for the National Institutes of Health. All fine and good. But as TPM points out:
According to the website, "Arlen Specter will seek re-election to the United States Senate. Without Arlen Specter back in the Senate to see it through, Specter for the Cure could be lost to the ordinary politics of Washington that kills real change." Some of the money he uses in that re-election bid will surely come from people who think they're giving to a cancer charity.
Talking Points Memo
It just seems wrong.
The Progressive Change Committe is running a netroots poll
The goal is to create a meaningful vehicle for the grassroots to weigh in on the Pennsylvania Senate race, instead of letting the contours of the race be solely decided by political insiders. Specifically, this Straw Poll "calls the question" on whether any consensus exists around the most-mentioned potential primary opponent to Sen. Arlen Specter, Rep. Joe Sestak. The results of this poll will add clarity to various progressive actors' decisions moving forward.
When does the Straw Poll last until?
The Straw Poll runs from Wednesday, May 6 to Monday, May 11, at 10am EST.
Ongoing results can be seen here.
Poll Results
Right now 88% say, Run, Joe, Run!
The more I learn about Arlen Specter, the less I like him.
Update I: Link to Specter for the Cure
Specter for the Cure - Cures Acceleration Network (CAN) Act Turning Research into Cures
For years and years, billions of your tax dollars have paid for medical research. There have been great discoveries – actually, we learn more every day – but where are the cures?
Between scientific discoveries and treatments which help ailing Americans is what many researchers call a "valley of death". People are suffering, even losing their lives, who need not.
Today, that starts to change. Senator Arlen Specter intends to build a bridge over the valley of death.
Senator Specter has launched "Specter for the Cure", a bold new initiative to reform our government’s medical research efforts, cut red tape and unstrangle the hope for accelerated cures.