Harris County GOP: We're not pro-cancer!

I don't think this is going to go down in the annals of press releases.

It may have world cycling champ Lance Armstrong, Republican Gov. Rick Perry and former Democratic Comptroller John Sharp as cheerleaders, but a $3-billion bond proposal for cancer research hasn't won the hearts and minds of Harris County Republicans.

The executive committee of the Harris County Republican Party recently voted unanimously in opposition to Proposition 15, despite the cancer initiative's bipartisan support in Austin.

"By this stance, we in no way are implying or should it be construed that we are against solving cancer,'' said Ron Brunner, precinct chairman for the Greenway Plaza area, who raised the motion.

What's that old expression? "If you're bragging, you're winning; if you're explaining, you're losing." I think if you have to start off by saying that you're not actually opposed to curing cancer, you're not exactly bragging. I'm just saying.

Here's a statement from State Rep. Ellen Cohen about this:

Today's announcement by the Harris County Republican Party in opposition to Proposition 15 is shocking and upsetting, especially coming during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The bipartisan team that worked on this legislation included prominent Republicans such as Ways and Means Chairman Jim Keffer, Health and Human Services Chair Jane Nelson, and Governor Rick Perry, who I stood with today while visiting M.D. Anderson and urging support of this measure. As a cancer survivor, and the widow of a man who battled valiantly against this disease, and the representative of District 134, I will continue to campaign strongly for this measure. I will proudly stand with Lance Armstrong tomorrow in support of Prop. 15 and will campaign for passage on November 6th. I plan on celebrating with Democrats, Republicans, and independents who realize what this investment means to cancer prevention, treatment, and the hope for a cure. I urge people of all political persuasions to support Prop. 15.

The Statesman and the DMN have been following Armstrong around on his statewide shoulda-been-a-bike-tour. I'm greatly enjoying Karen Brooks' bloggage on this - see here and here for more good stuff. Or just read Armstrong's own blog.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on October 16, 2007 to Election 2007