Sunday, November 25, 2007

Carson Admits She Has Terminal Cancer

After misleading 7th District voters for more than two months about her health condition, U.S. Rep. Julia Carson (D) is now publicly acknowledging she is suffering from terminal lung cancer. Her statement reads:

In the late summer of 2007, Congress granted me a leave of absence because of my leg infection. My wonderful doctor cured the leg, and I went into rehabilitation, planning to be back in Washington shortly. Then the second shoe fell -- heavily. My doctor discovered lung cancer. It had gone into remission years before, but it was back with a terminal vengeance. Therefore, I take this occasion to express my loving and literally eternal gratitude to my friends, including family, constituents and colleagues, who have given me so much love, support and trust. God bless our beloved country.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Rep. Carson and her family. It is just unfortunate that she has been unable to be candid with the public about what everyone had pretty much already figured out on their own. A friend of the family had told me a short time after she requested her first leave of absence she was suffering from lung cancer, but anyone close to Carson who was questioned about it for the record always denied it. I'll never understand why the local news media allowed themselves to be misled about her health. And I'll never understand why former Rep. U.S. Andy Jacobs (D) felt it important to mislead us other than to hide the news to give her grandson, Andre Carson, a leg up on all the other potential rivals seeking to replace her in Congress. It is increasingly becoming apparent that a special election will take place next year, in addition to the regular election. Look for candidates to make their intentions known over the next week.

UPDATE: A WRTV report this afternoon suggests Carson's condition has deteriorated rapidly from her recent interview with Amos Brown the day before the election. The WRTV reports says she is in a hospice and barely able to speak. This is how a family friend describes her:

The Rev. Jonathan Baily Sr., of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, spoke with Carson Sunday morning and said she is on hospice care and can barely speak. According to Baily, those close to Carson knew she had cancer.

"I was there when the doctor told her she was on hospice, whether she wanted to go to the hospital or stay home," Baily said.

At the same doctor's visit, Carson asked how long she had to live, 6News' Cheryl Jackson reported.

"He said, 'It's not our thing to tell you how long, just make you comfortable,'" Baily said.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

A friend of the family had told me a short time after she requested her first leave of absence she was suffering from lung cancer, but anyone close to Carson who was questioned about it for the record always denied it.

Like it's credible to think you would have such information and sit on it. Superblogger Gary "Spare some change?" Welsh would never miss the chance to "break" an obvious story and then whine when the real media picks up on it.

Anonymous said...

Gary, it takes time to determine who the successor to the throne will be and now the heir has been chosen. This has been the reason for all the secrecy and I'm not surprised at all about the timing of her news release today.
The small cadre around her requested Jacobs be the gate keeper until they had formalized their plans on who they wanted to have that seat.
It's obvious that Andre is the chosen heir and woe be to any that wish to challenge him in the Democratic Party. With a special election Andre is and in to stay and the syndicate keeps what it has.

Anonymous said...

I truly feel sorry for Julia. I do wish she had been honest with us all along, but yes, my prayers our with her.

Anonymous said...

Notice that she said nothing about stepping down so that the people in her district could have some actual representation in Congress.

Anonymous said...

Local press misled about her health?? Not candid about her condition? The local press did what it should have - stayed out of Carson's personal medical information. To suggest that Carson's timing in announcing her condition was somehow disingenuos is ludicrous.

Gary R. Welsh said...

anon 11:36, Anyone who has read my blog in the last couple of months knows that I have repeatedly said her condition was worse than what we were being told according to a source. Just go back and read the archives if you have any doubt.

Anonymous said...

Carson and her supporters care more about politics and holding on to power than they do constituents in district #7. Shame on them...all of them...and especially Andy Jacobs!

garyj said...

Like it's credible to think you would have such information and sit on it. Superblogger Gary "Spare some change?" Welsh would never miss the chance to "break" an obvious story and then whine when the real media picks up on it.
Aside from what Gary Welsh stated at 2:21, information like that is best left for the family to verify.

I hope she lives a long, peaceful life while she battles this terrible disease.

Anonymous said...

I'm truly sorry for her condition, but I find it irritating that the mainstream media refuses to take an objective look at the situation she's put herself and her district in. They'll now proceed with the canonization of St. Julia ignoring the mess she's made of D-7.

The good news is that from what I've heard buzzing around Dem circles many in the party aren't going to let the seat go to a Carson heir without a fight. Certainly, not a single Dem I know feels Andre Carson is the right guy for the job regardless of what Julia and Andy Jacobs want.

Of course, all bets are off when they put the force of the Carson voting machine (read: poor, black Center Township Dems) behind their choice.

Anonymous said...

Last month my brother-in-law died of end-of-life lung cancer, so I'm familiar with what happens.

First, great, great pain, hallucinations and delusons.

Miss Julia did out find out she was dying of cancer Friday, and announced it to the public on Sunday.

She has days, no more than a week, to live. At this point, she doesn't have the energy or capacity to write a statement to the public. Clearly it was issued by staff.

Should she have told her constituents last summer or early fall of her medical condtion.

Yes. Maybe she wanted to and her handlers wouldn't let her. We don't know.

This whole situation smacks of elder abuse.

Whether we are Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, independents or just cantakerous switch voters, we can all feel for Congresswoman Carson.

Godspeed, Miss Julia.

Anonymous said...

If the author of this blog had serious health issues, would he voluntarily disclose the details to all of his clients? Some of you are worse than vultures.

Anonymous said...

Is/was she a smoker?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Local press misled about her health?? Not candid about her condition? The local press did what it should have - stayed out of Carson's personal medical information.

Hey, anonymous, she is supposed to be a representative of the people. Her health is our business!!

Bart Lies said...

Would I disclose? Yes. They deserve to know, to plan for succession. If I waited until my work was weeks late, they'd want their money back. Long before that, they'd be hounding me for an explanation of why.

Julia needs to admit she will never be strong enough to return to Congress, swallow a bit of pride, and clear the way for someone who CAN do the job. To do any less is doing a disservice to the District.

indyernie said...

"If the author of this blog had serious health issues, would he voluntarily disclose the details to all of his clients? Some of you are worse than vultures."

The author of this blog isn't an elected office holder who represents all of the people in the 7th district.

I wish Congresswoman Carson a speedy and full recovery, but the comments by sgillie hit home here.

"First, great, great pain, hallucinations and delusions."
This describes Miss Carson's condition during her last run for congress.

“First, great, great pain,”
It took her aids ten minutes to get her out of an automobile at a public appearance last year.
On more than one occasion it was clear that she could hardly walk.

“hallucinations and delusions."
Mrs. Carson was delusional (the "little girl" comments) while being interviewed by Tully on TV last year.
Mrs. Carson was unaware several times at Town hall meetings during the last campaign. At one event she stood and ate from the banquet line for several minutes. At another she was wearing house slippers.

Mrs. Carson's staff are the issue here.
What was their motivation? Hold the office at all cost? Who needs representation? We know what's best for the voters in Indianapolis.
Her staff’s actions should be criminal.

Anonymous said...

Where is Wolson46201? Why is he NOT here to defend this as a total fabrication?
Oh, The Star already put it out!
I'm sure that Wilson knew about it since 2001, just never told anyone.

Godspeed to Julia! I hope that she is at peace with herself and her maker. I'm sure that she felt she was doing the right thing!

You'll be in our prayers.

Mike Bowman said...

Three members of congress have in the past session died of cancer. Two of the three the cancer was know to the public long before they died. The third's cancer illnesses was not revealed until a week before she died.

---

Congressman Charles Whitlow "Charlie" Norwood - In December 2006 he underwent chemotherapy for cancer, which had spread to his liver. The disease was believed to be caused by the immunosuppressants Norwood had to take due to the lung transplant. After the reconvening of Congress in January 2007, Norwood missed most of the sessions due to weakness from the chemotherapy.[2] On February 7, Norwood's office announced that he was forgoing further treatment for his cancer, and would be returning to Augusta in order to receive in-home hospice care.[4] Norwood died nearly one week later, on February 13.

---

Congressman JoAnn S. Davis - Davis was diagnosed in September 2005 with breast cancer and underwent a partial mastectomy on July 5, 2006 at the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The pathology report indicated that there was no further evidence of cancer, and the Congresswoman stated that she would return to work as usual.[7] She attended House sessions until shortly before her death, but had missed many votes.[8] Davis died on October 6, 2007 at her home.

---

Congressman Juanita Millender-McDonald - Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) "died Sunday morning at her home in California, her office confirmed. She was 68... After feeling ill earlier this month, the Los Angeles-area Representative visited at least one doctor in Washington, D.C., and returned home to California prior to the April recess for several more sessions with physicians before informing House Democratic leaders that she was suffering from cancer." (Roll Call). "Millender-McDonald had announced last week that she was taking a leave of absence from the House because of her illness, her first public disclosure that she was battling cancer. Within a week of her requesting a leave of absence to deal with her illness, on April 22, 2007, Millender-McDonald died in hospice care.

Anonymous said...

If Rev. Bailey is quoted, it's straight form the horse's mouth. He is as close to Julia as anyone.

In answer to multiple questions:

*-*-* Yes, Miss Julia was a heavy smoker at one time. She cut back, but still smoked.

*-*-* Her health is not our business? Maybe not the grizzly details, but her staff made it an issue when they misled the public. Saying nothing would've protected her privacy more, but they blatantly misled. Yeah, that leg infection sure spread fast. We aren't being "vultures" if we now hold those accountable, who misled us in the first place. It's ridiculous to mutter the bird adjective.

*-*-* Why mislead? Simple. Timing. Democratic slating is in about 65 days. Three large holidays are between now and then--the Jewish holidays, Christmas and New Year's. That means the effective time for communicating with committeepersons is slim. The slimmer it is, the more controlled the outcome. They want Andre to get this seat. Purely and simply. And they'll manipulate the process however they can to produce that outcome.

She can't outrun this one. Godspeed to her, indeed.

I'm not as concerned about our district not having a vote for awhile. It's normal for employed persons to get ill, and take longer leaves of absence. Julia is employed by us, and this employer is willing to give her a slight benefit of the doubt.

But if she'd been honest from day one--which she wasn't--it'd be easier on all of us now. I feel like I bought a car whose repair status wasn't fully disclosed.

If any Congressional votes are won or lost by one vote, we can argue, but none has been that close yet.

As for Wilson--as sure as Rev. Bailey is close to Julia, you cna bet your bottom dollar Wilson has been told by those mighty close to her, to shut up.

And the silence is deafening. Pleasant. Truth regins a little clearer without the noise, doesn't it?

Have no fear...his ridiculous ballyhoo will return, this time for Andre, within days of her painful demise.

Andre--no freaking way. Never. Frankly, his desire for the office, or her desire for him to have it, mocks the hard-fought manner in which she earned and won it. He is not worthy. She was.

Surprised by the Indy media's handling of this? Don't be. The front-page article this morning quoted Ann Delaney in the jump. Without even noting that Delaney, who despises Carson, or at least did, was her primary oppoonent during that initial Congressional run.

And without noting that the same paper, and all other media, blindly followed the leg infection ruse for months. Even though easily-obtained data and info could have proven that such infections, 12 years post-vein-harvest, are non-recorded.

Sloppy, lazy reporting. Tully waxing poetic, as if jockeying for a front-row seat at the funeral. After he ignored her mental wanderings during a televised appearance last year.

If there were a journalistic god, who kept score of pluses and minuses, (s)he would smite all of them. Every damned one. Their failure to report and sloppy stories today are legion, and shameful.

Anonymous said...

How come none of the people who are so concerned about Carson's health go around thumping their chests about how Reagan shouldn't have run for a second term, or about how the American public deserves full disclosure about President Bush's "pretzel" choking incident?

No one has said a peep about Steve Buyer being amongst the top absentee Members of Congress because of a skiing injury.

Anonymous said...

I applaud Gary for not prying into Julia's private health issues....I know that many of the republican venom spewing hate mongers who hang out in these blogs are probably planning their parties now for her funeral. They are the truly sick people to rejoice at the death of another human's impending death.

Anonymous said...

Hey 725, calm down. Julia's illness is very sad, but I agree with sgillie, we the people deserved better.

Anonymous said...

7:17--Buyer's injury, while vacationing, was fully disclosed from day one. His office made public, copies of a latter sent to the Speaker reqesting medical leave. Accidents do happen. The difference? He and his staff were completely up-front from day one. If I were his 2008 opponent, I'd be free to make an issue of a Congressman missing so much work because of a ski vacation incident. This is the same Congressman, remember, who thrust himself into combat military service before his National Guard unit was even activated. Just to get the good pub. So he's a tad looney on the personal absence issue. But completely out in the open, God bless his goofy heart.

7:27--there are no parties being planned. I am a Democrat, and I'm hopping mad at the deceptive practices used by Julia's staff in describing her illness.

Yes, I wish her full recovery and good health. But the deplorable manner in which her health was relayed to constituents is just short of criminal. I didn't need to know the gory details of lung cancer--I've witnessed it in my family several times. It's gruesome.

But there was nothing from her or her staff for 8 weeks. And then we get this lame story about a leg infection? Stil believe that taxpayer-funded excuse?

She should've stepped down already. Trying to will the office to her grandson is just, well, sad.

And it won't work.

Anonymous said...

I know of no one who Andre has spoken to or about running for Congress. He has not spoken to me about it. I have heard from several people I consider close to him that he will not run. It is a lot of the same people who have spewed hate toward Julia for years who continue to speculate and fabricate this conspiracy theory of the secret movement to time Julia's death to Andre's political advantage.......shame on all of them. All why are these same people not complaining of Steve Buyer's absences..he has more than Julia.

Anonymous said...

9:23--you're channeling Wilson, albeit perhaps unwittingly.

One more time, real s-l-o-w-l-y so you get it:

Buyer's a goof, true enough. But from day one, his absence was fully and truthfully explained. I know many knee surgery patients who recover faster, but, he has explained and provided doctor's evidence. Never a single breath of taxpayer-funded staff diversion.
If you don't see the difference, you're dillusional.

Frankly, even though his votes would likely have cancelled Julia's, his constituents, and Julia's, deserve representation.

Nice try on the Andre diversion. He wasn't qualified for the council seat and he was thrust upon us. Andy describes Julia as his "sister" for three decades, and he publicly endorses Andre "when the time comes."

Do you really think we're stupid?

This Democrat is having none of it. Fool me once...

Anonymous said...

...and another thing, 90:23:

I'm not complaining about Buyer because he and his staff were truthful from the get-go, AND because he's not my Congressperson.

Julia is.

If Buyer's yours, go bitch to his staff.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:49 who are you to say that he is not qualified to be on the council?? He met every legal qualification. The decision to put him there was made by the precinct committeeperson in the district as prescribed by law...when you look at some of the recently elected ones, he is far ahead of the game....i.e. Dane Mahern or Ginny Cain...what are their qualifications.....you need to back of your anti Carson tirades.

Anonymous said...

I applaud Gary for not prying into Julia's private health issues....I know that many of the republican venom spewing hate mongers who hang out in these blogs are probably planning their parties now for her funeral. They are the truly sick people to rejoice at the death of another human's impending death.

Sorry, but if a person is of the logic that they have the right to control me, to disarm me and leave me for the thugs and criminals of this world, I just don't care if they die. If the same people want _more_ of my money, to pass around to those too lazy and/or stupid to get a job, I just don't care if they die. I would never throw a party, but I will be damned if I feel the least bit sorry. And no, I wouldn't feel happy either. The correct term would be relieved. I will give the lady one thing, she was right to vote against going into Iraq.

Anonymous said...

11:56, it's not anti-Caron tirades. It's pro-good-government.

Andre Carson had zero qualifications, but the calendar favored him, and his grandmother's machine, broken-down though it is, was able to muster enough votes in a closed timeframe. I am aware of at least one other candidate who was far more qualified who eschewed the special caucus, because the timeframe was too short to battle that crap.

I'll give you this: against both of your examples, Andre is qualified.

But that is praise by comparison...which is fleeting and situational. Next to a stump, George W. Bush looks like a good president. Kinda insulting to stumps, but...

And the original thought holds: Andre is absolutely not qualified to become a member of Congress, given the talent from which we can choose. I can name eight persons who are thinking about it, who would be better asleep than Andre would be awake. I didn't put his name out there...Julia's 'brother' Andy did. He rarely speaks on such subjects without her approval.

Anonymous said...

4:55 Any elected official has a duty to inform the electorate if they are unable to fulfill the duties of the office to which she was elected.

Anonymous said...

ANON 4:55 Why hasn't George Bush informed us then during the past 7 years?