President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, in what can only be described as a publicity stunt, were planning to descend upon New Orleans, supposedly for the advancement of their anti-cancer agendas. The news came according to the White House, which often spins these trips to paint the duo in a favourable light.
Apparently, this visit aimed to amplify the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, a lofty initiative that purports to slash the cancer mortality rate by a staggering half before 2047. A grand promise indeed, but one which seems completely out of reach given the current administration’s poor track record in dealing with pressing health issues.
The Federal government is reportedly apportioning approximately $8 billion to the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health. This is an apparent attempt to galvanize healthcare providers, research institutions, and advocacy groups to engineer advancements in prevention, early detection, patient support, and technological innovation. However, does throwing money at a problem always solve it, or is this just another play for positive PR?
As expected, the specifics of this much-trumped visit are yet to be confirmed, revealing the typical opacity and lack of organized planning characteristic of the current White House operations.
In what appears to be a well-orchestrated promotional tour back in March 2023, First Lady Jill Biden paraded through the Louisiana Cancer Research Center on Tulane Avenue, accompanied by U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Baton Rouge, and U.S. Representative Troy Carter, a democrat from New Orleans. The so-called center exists as a strategic alliance between LSU, Tulane University, Xavier University, and the Ochsner Health System.
Biden is anticipated to have a te?te-a?-te?te with Carter amidst his visit. Why? Because Carter’s 2nd Congressional District conveniently encompasses the zone known colloquially as ‘Cancer Alley’, a region that extends up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. Yet another attempt at weaving a sympathetic tale, it seems.
Cancer Alley is infamous amongst health officials and environmentalists alike, and it isn’t for a positive reason. In a shocking revelation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, every single census tract within Cancer Alley falls within the top 5% of the nation for cancer risk. Could a solitary visit by Joe Biden do any good? Or is it merely a superficial show of concern?
The ever-optimistic Carter naively stated he was eager for Biden’s token visit, believing it to be marked with the President’s commitment towards wiping out cancer. However, one can’t help but question whether the current administration is genuinely committed to cancer eradication, or only interested in staging photo ops and winning the approval of the masses.
Senator Cassidy, in a possible indication of his lack of faith or simply because he saw through the PR tactics, chose to attend a different event previously chalked out in his schedule. The distraction caused by this visit to New Orleans only adds to the constantly growing list of the current administration’s misguided priorities.
Biden’s Misguided Priorities: Using Cancer as a PR Stunt appeared first on Real News Now.
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