Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

by Matt Stoller, Tue Aug 15, 2006 at 08:30:42 AM EDT

Let's say a credible biochemist friend told you that it was likely that we could cure many forms of cancer by 2015.  Would you believe him?  Let's say, on the other hand, that a politician running in a hotly contested primary, told you that if you elected him he would cure cancer by 2015.  Would you believe him?

Welcome to Ben Cardin's strategy. Color me skeptical of Cardin's political approach.

Tags: Ben Cardin (all tags)

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30 Comments

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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

I have three words for this person:

Take
Your.
Medication.

by heyAnita 2006-08-15 08:39AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Didn't the "West Wing" do an episode on this?  Um, they didn't think it was a good promise either.

by Jim Treglio 2006-08-15 08:40AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Poor Cardin, he has so many people to run against, I think he is starting to lose it.  Watch out though, if Cardin loses to Mfume, there is a good chance we could see a Republican Senator in MD.  

Not because Mfume is a bad candidate, in fact, he is a fighting progressive, but he has NO MONEY to compete with Mr. Steele.

Maryland is starting to make me nervous.

by andy k 2006-08-15 08:45AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Supporting a candidate because he has more money is the worst reason of all. And I wonder from whom Cardin got all his money?

A sane candidate with less money is better than a nut with more.

And even if Cardin isn't insane, promising cancer paitients a cure by 2015 is beyond the pale of pandering and would in itself probably give the seat to the GOP in the general election if Cardin wins against Mfume.

Since Cardin is probably toast either way after this nonsense, it's best from the practical point to give money and support to Mfume.

by Sitkah 2006-08-15 09:16AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

I have donated to Mfume twice, and plan to vote for him in september, but I am just starting to get nervous cause he reallllllly needs money to beat Steele, especially after the character attacks start in full, Rovian force.

by andy k 2006-08-15 11:04AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Or you could help solve Mfume's problem.

http://www.mfumeforsenate.com/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id= 61&Itemid=144

by js noble 2006-08-15 11:20AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

There is no reason MD should go Red. I hope people pledge to support whoever wins the primary because there is no reason to loose this seat. 'Specially not to a nutjob.

by Our Gal in Brooklyn 2006-08-15 08:50AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Yes, Cardin's claims were probably over the top but you have to appreciate his enthusiasm. Health care falls under his strongest issues so let's not be so pessimistic.  

by BlueCheese 2006-08-15 09:07AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Condemning a politician for promising a cancer cure to dying people isn't being pessimistic. Praising him for it is cynical at best.

by Sitkah 2006-08-15 09:18AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

I think he was a little overly ambitious, but the Sun also went a little over-the-top with the headline.

He sounds like he was trying, poorly, to invoke JFK on the space race.

Hopefully, this won't become an "invented the internet" style punchline.

by howie14 2006-08-15 09:15AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

It's lucky for Cardin that Letterman and Leno don't do cancer jokes.

But a GOP opponent would have no scruples about using it against him.

by Sitkah 2006-08-15 09:32AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

This is almost as ridiculous as the time Kennedy vowed to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Good for Cardin, I say.  Let's get government back to solving real problems and tackling the big issues.  You'll never know what's possible if you don't try.

by Steve M 2006-08-15 10:24AM | 0 recs
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Exactly

Set extraordinary goals, and try to reach them.  Can't hurt, especially in a state which hosts the National Institutes of Health and its many employees.

by Adam B 2006-08-15 11:00AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Cardin isn't in a position to promise a cure for cancer by 2015 any more than he is to put a another man on the moon by then.

by Sitkah 2006-08-15 11:17AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

It is a little over the top but Cardin has an extremely strong record on health prevention and funding issues over the years.  The Sun article mentioned a few.  Plus, he has the NIH and Johns Hopkins in his state so there is a large health research community he is trying to appeal to.

I am torn in this race since I like both of them for different reasons.  Cardin is a little dull but he is real policy detail guy which are few and far between these days.  If we are ever in a position to govern again, we will need some of these.  Mfume has an amazing personal story and a ton of passion and has spoken out on a lot of the important issues of the day.  Maryland would do well with either in the Senate.

by John Mills 2006-08-15 01:09PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

This is almost as ridiculous as the time Kennedy vowed to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Cardin has no more busines promising a cure for cancer by 2015 than he does prominsing to put another man on the moon by then. It's pure political desperation.

by Sitkah 2006-08-15 03:28PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Do you think it bolsters your credibility to post twice and agree with yourself?

by Steve M 2006-08-17 06:55AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

I assumed people would realize it was a mistake and not use it as a cheap personal attack in defense of an indefensible and desperate politician.

by Sitkah 2006-08-17 12:57PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

I'll take your word for it.  I assumed it was intentional because I often see you posting numerous times to a thread to make the exact same point.

I really can't believe you think this kind of hysterical and overblown rhetoric persuades anyone, but that's your call.

by Steve M 2006-08-17 06:03PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Unlike a lot of wannabe propagandists who blog, I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything -- just stating my opinions and debating them if necessary (that's why you think I repeat myself.)

As for overblown rhetoric, that, of course, is just your not so humble opinion.

by Sitkah 2006-08-17 07:23PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Maryland is a safer seat if Mfume wins the primary.

by Matt in VA 2006-08-15 10:28AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Based on what?  Polls say otherwise.

by Adam B 2006-08-15 11:03AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Yeah but Maryland will have a better senator if Mfume wins.

by js noble 2006-08-15 11:21AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Those polls are vitually identical. Certainly not different enough to justify putting one Democrat over another.

by Sitkah 2006-08-15 11:22AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Polls say otherwise.

That GOP poll shows a close race either way.

by Sitkah 2006-08-15 03:30PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

I personally like the idea.

But I like even more the fact that the person they went to comment about this was a political scientist.

From a political operative standpoint though I think it is a little like being against the Iraq war before we invaded.

by sterra 2006-08-15 10:31AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Maybe Mfume should be on the netroots page?

by js noble 2006-08-15 11:22AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Why all the anti-Cardin comments?  No, he's not an especially awe-inspiring candidate, but he is smart and his progressive credentials are unimpeachable.  Check out some of his interest group ratings:

NARAL: 100%
NEA: 100%  
LCV: 94%
Family Research Council: 0%
Citizens for Global Solutions: A+
APHA: 100%
SEIU: 100%
ADA: 95%

Cardin wouldn't be the kind of senator who's going to appear on Meet the Press every week or be sent to stump for races outside his state.  He would, however, be the kind of senator who makes sure a tort reform bill doesn't screw over Americans.

by TommyBoy 2006-08-15 12:01PM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

If I had my choice of Senator, I'd take Mfume, but Cardin is just fine.  I sure wish we could have a choice like this in every state.

by Steve M 2006-08-17 06:56AM | 0 recs
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Re: Ben Cardin's Promise to Cure Cancer

Cardin is basically a decent man but this was pink-and-purple hookermobile-level pimping.   That's what pandering literally means: pimping, when done by a white collar politician.  It is not a war crime, just a method of campaigning that's not worthy of particular respect.

Had Cardin made a Kennedy-esque speech on the floor of the House on the topic in February or March, I might have viewed it differently.

by Bruce Godfrey 2006-08-18 10:31AM | 0 recs

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