Richardson on cancer

Posted: Monday, August 27, 2007 3:44 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
Right off the bat, Richardson called for a renewed effort in Richard Nixon's war on cancer. "This president wants a surge in the war in Iraq," Richardson said in his opening statement. "I want a surge in the war on cancer." Instead of simply allocating more money for research funds, Richardson said presidential leadership is needed to win this war. He promised to use both the bully pulpit of the president to promote healthy lifestyles and to have the same motivation John F. Kennedy had when he said America would go to the moon within 10 years.

Richardson said cancer is not a front-page issue because it is "not sexy." But he has a five-fold plan: (1) focus on prevention with healthy eating and exercise habits and a smoking ban; (2) make screening available to every American; (3) dramatically increase cancer research; (4) create a cancer czar (Richardson said Armstrong would be the choice whether he wanted to be or not); and (5) increase biomedical research.

Richardson defended his decision to pass a medical marijuana law as a treatment for pain. "The Bush administration is trying to prosecute Department of Health employees in New Mexico that are implementing this law," Richardson said. "You know what, we're going to fight them on this because they should be going after drug dealers instead of going after people that just want to have their pain eased from a deadly disease. That is wrong. That shows a misplaced priorities, not just in this administration, but also the priorities in this country."

But Richardson may have stumbled when Armstrong asked him how he has been personally affected by cancer. "You know, I've been fortunate," Richardson replied. "I've been lucky. You know, I've had good lifestyle choices."

He then, though, added that he was lucky to have good health-care coverage as a congressman and governor.

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Comments

Oops... that didn't sound arrogant!

Jennie denver,CO (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 4:12 PM)

I was at the Forum today. Both Richardson and Kucinich fell flat when they emphasized the "good lifestyle choices" and "nutrition" angles. The arena was filled with people who have been effected by cancer. The implication that the way to address cancer is to focus on eating right and "good lifestyle choices" is insulting to many, including me whose son had cancer as a child. Please tell me, what lifestyle choices did he make to cause his cancer? Or the friend whose baby was diagnosed recently?

Missy, Cedar Falls, IA (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 4:28 PM)

Does everything need a czar? They didn't fare too well in Russia...maybe we ought to rethink that..

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 4:46 PM)

I've seen a lot of politicians pander over a lot of things, but reading about Richardson pandering over cancer is just . . . creepy. A cancer czar? A smoking ban? A war on cancer? I'm not saying that cancer isn't a big deal (it clearly is), but the President of the United States has bigger things to focus on that what I eat or smoke.

Dale, Denver (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 6:31 PM)

Ugh, I'm with you, Carrie. I guess we need a lot of "czars" to manage all these rhetorically ridiculous "wars."

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 8:13 PM)

In was also at the forum, and Richardson's comment regarding his good life style choices was met with groans behind me. It reminded the women behind me of his homosexuality is a choice. The young college student next to me commented on his weight, which belies the claim. As far as the war Czar, in fairness to Richardson Lance Armstrong suggested on Meet the Press that the country have one. With respect to the "war on Cancer" that was first "waged" by Nixon in the early 70's.

Kucinich was actually a huge hit. Not that he won any supporters, because no one except Dennis thinks he has a chance, but he was funny, and he did add some things that no one else has brought to the table. i.e. genetically engineered food, which was approved by the FDA without any testing. His vegan comment had people laughing, but as much at him as with him. And at least you have to hand it to him for not pandering. How many politicians would come into one of the largest (if not the largest) pork producing states in the country (and pretty high beef producing state) and suggest a vegan life style. Also, he didn't say that if you eat healthy you won't get cancer, but that there are many components to fighting cancer, and prevention by exercise, healthy diet, etc is one thing that people can do, and that the government can't do it for them.

Molly, Iowa City (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 9:03 PM)

These idiot politicians should be talking about how they would get Congress to fund stem cell research for all diseases!

M. Armstrong (no relation) Fowlerville, Michigan (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 9:31 PM)

It is time we had WAR on the WAR to blame every sick person for being sick.
The marketing by the insurance companies is way over the line. There is a constant barrage that everyone is sick because they do not eat right, do not sleep right, smoke, do not exercise, do not stand right, do not sit right, play dangerous sports, exercise to much, drink to much, do not drink enough, and breath bad AIR!
Then the drug companies go at it that every pill they advertise and sell must be taken for all the sickness you caused yourself!
I for one am SICK of it, and do not believe half of it.
Every where you go in this country we are bombarded with ads to eat, to drink, to smoke, to fly , to ride, to enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and go shopping!
TO consume and take a pill for all your ills!

H P Boston (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 10:28 PM)

Yes, I know that smoking is not a good habit - however, I have smoked a pack a day for 53 years and have never had any signs of cancer. Blood pressure 135/80 - 70 years old - split and haul wood for heat in the winter - take care of foster animals (dogs, cats, horses, llamas, pot bellied pigs, etc.) at my foster care facility - garden - 2 acres of land to tend. Lucky? Yes. I can think of many things that are worse than smoking, though, so I will continue my "bad" habit.

Utahreb, Veyo, UT (Sent Tuesday, August 28, 2007 9:38 AM)

Who needs czars? Just bring back Stalin!

Mark Ward, Wilmington NC (Sent Tuesday, August 28, 2007 9:49 AM)

Lol, HP, that one had some humor. I do think its important to remember that we're all biological critters, and those of us lucky enough not to get hit by a bus (or suffer some other life ending trauma) are going to get sick of something at some point.

I don't mean to be morbid, but none of us are lasting forever, at least not in a this-world sense of it.

Nor do I mean to imply we shouldn't try to cure sick people and figure out better ways of doing that. I'm sure at least a few here on this blog are here because of advances made over the years. Who knows what childhood diseases may have gotten any of us, if not for vaccinations, etc.

But while such medical advances are a good thing, I think its also important to keep some perspective. The government isn't failing because our life expectancy isn't 200. Its failing in a lot of other ways, but not that.

I've read somewhere that our life expectancy has actually dropped some. I don't blame the government for this, either. A lot of it is lifestyle choices, and being true to the libertarian streak I have, its our right to eat crappy food and thus reduce our probability of seeing our 90th birthday.

Gotta go now. Meeting someone for lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Mmmm, now there's some good eatin' but probably not the healthiest.

Paul Milller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, August 28, 2007 11:51 AM)

All of you that have responded who do not accept that life style choices have a significant bearing on our health, including the occurance of cancers are very uninformed. To the gentleman from Utah that is bragging about his tobacco use-one out of three die from it. Your lucky. Go on-support big tobacco. It's your choice. Just please keep it away from my children.

Okla Reynolds, Elk City, OK (Sent Tuesday, August 28, 2007 3:17 PM)

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