DUmmie FUnnies 05-17-05 ("I'm pretty upset right now, and I need an explanation" ---Pitt)

YOWZA! YOWZA! YOWZA!!! It’s RED ALERT time in the AndyScam scandal!!! A regular 5-ALARM fire has broken out in DUmmieland. Pied Piper Pitt has FINALLY awakened from his insomniac state of apathy and has DENOUNCED Andy Stephenson in this THREAD titled, “I'm pretty upset right now, and I need an explanation.” I’m sure you all are HOT to get right into this firestorm so without further adieu let’s get right to it. Pied Piper Pitt’s ANGRY RED HOT posts as well as those of his fellow DUmmies are in Bolshevik Red while the commentary of your humble correspondent, watching Dummieland trying to extinguish the flames of outrage with gasoline, is in the brackets:

[It was ALL explained for you days ago right here in the DUmmie FUnnies, Pitt. I guess you were trying so desperately to get some sleep that you didn’t notice.]

As you all know, I was one of the people who took point on raising money for Andy. I wrote about it for truthout two or three times, and convinced the crew at Progressive Democrats of America as well that we needed to raise a call for help.

"A few weeks ago, Andy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, one of the more dangerous varieties of the disease. His doctors told him he needed a Whipple procedure to get at the tumor, and only a few hospitals in America can perform this complicated procedure with the required competence. To compound the problem, Andy shares the plight of millions of others in our disgusting for-profit health care system and does not have health insurance."

[That taste of Scamdy Kool-Aid does tend to leave a sour taste in the mouth. Eh, Pitt?]

"Several weeks ago, Andy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was recently told that he must undergo what is called a Whipple Procedure. This is a very serious surgery that few hospitals in America are skilled enough to perform well, and requires significant time for recovery. Fortunately, some friends managed to get Andy a slot at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, one of the premier hospitals for this type of procedure. He is slated for the procedure in the second week of May. Unfortunately, the hospital requires a $25,000 down-payment before they assent to doing the Whipple, and requires another $25,000 once the procedure is done. They are expecting the down-payment immediately."

The basis for this started way back in February. On the 29th, I posted this truthout blog entry, which I reposted here on the first and fifteenth of every month to help raise money:

"For the last several weeks, Andy has been suffering through a bout of Hepatitis. The word came down yesterday, however, that his situation is far more serious. 'I apparently have a tumor growing around the bile duct where it passes through my pancreas," he wrote. "The tissue sample was consistent with malignancy; it could be benign but I am planning for the worst.'"

Note that here it says 'tumor.' In subsequent weeks I was told that it was pancreatic cancer requiring a Whipple. Note also that the fundraising for Andy did not start a week or so ago, but started three months ago.

[So you swallowed Scamdy Kool-Aid from the get-go. It sure doesn’t say much for your judgement, Pitt.]

"fyi: it is a tumour on the duct, not the pancreas themselves. it looks to not have spread at all. it is not pancreatic cancer as others have posted, but if it was not caught early enough, it would have certainly spread there."

I am one of those "others" who posted it was pancreatic cancer, requiring a Whipple. I posted it here, on truthout, and on PDA. I did so because that is what I was told was the diagnosis, repeatedly, by both Andy and others.

[I have a question for you, Pitt. Why are you JUST NOW waking up to this AndyScam when the whole scam has been revealed in the DUmmie FUnnies since last week? But continue…]

1. If it was not the very serious pancreatic cancer, why did the surgery need to be done at Johns Hopkins?

[$$$. And the best way to raise it is to screech pancreatic surgery needed at Johns Hopkins.]

2. If a Whipple was not required, why was $25,000 and then $50,000 needed for this surgery? Andy could have gotten this far-less-serious procedure done back in Seattle for a hell of a lot less money.

[Um…maybe because Andy is a CON MAN as has been mentioned for WEEKS here in the DUmmie FUnnies?]

3. Why was I personally told this was pancreatic cancer? Why was I allowed to repeat this now-inaccurate diagnosis many times without anyone correcting me?

Understand: I believe Andy has a tumor of some kind, and this requires medical attention. I do not think this entire situation was fabricated from nothing.

[I happen to have an ingrown toenail, Pitt. Could you please raise money for me and tell everyone it is for cancer of the foot?]

But the 400 people who will come into this thread with "Andy doesn't need this stress" can hold your water. Andy is apparently a hell of a lot less ill than I and others were led to believe, and I need some answers. I put my reputation, the reputation of truthout, the reputation of PDA, and the reputations of all the people who work for those organizations on the line not once, not twice, but every day for weeks on this. I have a huge, huge responsibility here, and I am not going to just let that drop.

[Don’t worry about Andy. He is the FATTEST pancreatic cancer patient in history. You could have figured that out for yourself if you just bother to analyze for a half second those pics he posted recently of himself with chubby cherubic cheeks. As to your reputation, Pitt, I think that already went down the toilet when you posted your HILARIOUS Hockey Puck theory of geopolitics a few weeks ago.]

I have a personal reason for asking these questions over and above everything else. A great and good friend of PDA, activist Damu Smith, was recently diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. There is no ambiguity about this diagnosis. But because I was told Andy had pancreatic cancer requiring a $50,000 Whipple in the best hospital on the Eastern seaboard, I talked PDA into diverting time and resources towards Andy. This wound up diverting time and resources away from Damu.

I would like some answers. No wait and see. I have spent time with Andy, worked with him, thought I knew him well enough to vouch for him in a time of crisis. I am feeling personally betrayed right now, and furthermore I have put far more than my own feelings and standing on the line here.

[You could have had your answers long ago, Pitt, if you actually paid attention to the DUmmie FUnnies. We were the FIRST to break the Bev Harris scandal. And we are the FIRST to break the AndyScam scandal. (Please take note, Mary Matalin).]

If you think I'm a bastard for asking, I will live with that. But if this is not explained to a degree I find satisfactory, there is going to be hell to pay.

[What are you going to do? Give Scamdy a Bowel Flush? And now on to the commentary of the DUmmie bystanders in this burning HOT melodrama…]

There is nothing wrong or offensive in anything you said. You want answers and you deserve them. I am certain others feel just the same way that you do. I among them.

[You could have had ALL the answers about the AndyScam long ago merely by checking out the DUmmie FUnnies.]

Question though and I'm not trying to discount your concern in any way . . .What is the difference between saying "I apparently have a tumor growing around the bile duct where it passes through my pancreas" and "it is a tumour on the duct, not the pancreas themselves?" They sound like they're describing the same thing to me.

That was February. In the time since, I was told it was pancreatic cancer requiring a WEhipple. I was told this by Andy. I put that third quote in there to underscore the fact that fundraising for Andy didn'st start here a couple of weeks ago, but has been ongoing for three months.

Well, I have no clue what's going on. I trust both of you and to see that you aren't totally together on this, I don't know what to think. I'll wait to see what the answers are and what you make of them. *lost*

Just curious. If you spent time with Andy, worked with him, and knew him on a personal level - to whatever degree - how is it that you and he never discussed his diagnosis in detail?

[Because Pied Piper Pitt will unquestioningly swallow any Kool-Aid served to him by a Leftist.]

Perhaps you need to talk to Andy. After all, he would be the only one who could truly provide you with the answers you need. Besides, this is DU, after all, and shit can get flung around with great abandon, with matters being taken out of context, and people making mountains out of molehills. I'm assuming that you have a way of contacting Andy, I would suggest that you do. perhaps he can provide you with a copy of his doctor's diagnosis.

[Andy Stephenson is just $10 away from calling Pied Piper Pitt with a full explanation.]

Much as I pray for Andy's good health, I get the feeling I have missed something cuz I don't understand the nuances.

[Here’s a little “nuance” for you: Andy Stephenson SCAMMED buku bucks for the second time in less than 6 months out of you incredibly GULLIBLE DUmmies despite all the warnings posted about him.]

If people stop trying to make this world a better place because of being mis-led ( AND THAT'S NOT AN ASSUMPTION- SIMPLY A POSSIBILITY)- we should all drink the kool-aid asap.

I just found out in this thread that our friend Damu is sick. Damu is an absolute stand-up guy!!!!!!! My husband has done work with him and Black Voices for Peace over the past few years and he is an inspiration to all. The news that he is sick is shocking and disheartening. I would hate for our side to lose someone so dedicated and valuable. My prayers go out for Damu and his family.

[Yeah, well too bad you fools already sent your money to Scamdy who is NOT sick with cancer.] I think you need to talk to Andy directly, Will. He's the only one who can provide the answers.

Exactly. Why air a concern publicly before giving a "friend" an opportunity to respond? IMO, this is a perfect example of "shit flinging"... contact Andy! Go straight to the source.

It was the source that got me going on pancreatic cancer, Whipples and fifty grand. I would like a public disclosure for reasons I think are clearly understandable.

[That “source” will will make full disclosure to you, Pitt, after he is done flushing his bowels.]

especially since the "proof" was the copy of the certified check, not the cancelled check

[Actually copies of cashiers checks but its nice to know you read the DUmmie FUnnies.]

So how are your sleeping patterns? Do you find lack of sleep makes you jumpy? Andy is your friend, or so you say, so call and ask him. And go to the doctor so that you can sleep. Take care of your own health.

... Will, thank you for broaching a subject many of us have been afraid to post about and Andy, all I would like is a consistent history of what was known and when. What is the real diagnosis and do you really need a Whipple procedure? Sorry if I sound harsh, but I'm feeling particularly disillusioned this afternoon.

[LOUSY FREEPER TROLL!!! Give to Scamdy until it hurts. And then give EVEN MORE!]

For the life of me, I can't understand why someone in a position such as yourself would not get the patient to sign a HIPPA form and then send the form on to the hospital. There really is no need for all this public thrashing around. There is no need to wonder what is going on. The facts are readily available. The hospital can then send you ALL his medical records. Then any doubts could be absolutely and completely resolved.

It appears that horse has left the barn. Had I been a professional about this - instead of a trusting friend - I would have required that a hell of a long time ago before posting any calls for help.

I was going to post a similiar thread. But was waiting for the PM and e-mail that I sent to Skinner to be answered before I did. I don't really care who flames me or whether I receive a tombstone for saying this, but I've been very uncomfortable with the silence on this board when it comes to this issue and any verification of the cause I donated not just once, but twice to. Would I have donated had I known it wasn't a life threatening condition? Probably not, because we all know there are MANY DU'ers on this board with medical problems and no insurance to pay for them. If I donated to Andy, I have to donate to them all. I dunno. I hope Andy comes along and clears this all up and that I get rid of this bad feeling I have that I've just had my pocket picked.

It does "feel" odd, and has now for a couple of weeks. I would have thought by now we would have had the definitive answer, but there are just more questions.

I think all of us at DU need an explanation, because we all invested our time, money and our emotions to this calling. We deserve to be told the circumstances exactly as they are. No more embellishment, just the facts. If this matter wasn't handled on the straight and narrow, then someone needs to be accountable.

[You want the truth? Alright, I’ll TELL YOU THE TRUTH!!! You got SCAMMED!!! And if you want to hold someone accountable, then start with Skinner who idly sat by while allowing Bev Harris’ former partner in crime scammed EVEN MORE money from you incredibly GULLIBLE DUmmies. And after holding Skinner accountable, then hold YOURSELF accountable for allowing your feeble mind to guide you.]

Will, you have to get some sleep. Your lack of sleep is impairing your judgment. This is not an attack, it is an observation and you have let all of the Lounge know you have terrible insomnia. Deal with that, for your sake and for those who trust your judgment. Right now, you aren't using any imho.

[Sleep Will. It is ALL a bad dream. Andy is NOT scamming everybody based on your word. It is only a nightmare you are having, Pitt. When you wake up, ALL will be well…in your alternate reality.]

Skinner was going to get in touch with Andy and get him to give his permission to his doctors to discuss his situation. Then he (Skinner) was going to tell us here at DU what the doctors said. What is the status of that?

It wasn't just here it was all over the net. Mike Malloy, Thom Hartmann, the Al Franken message boards, the Randi Rhodes message boards, numerous other websites. Always it was posted that Andy had pancreatic cancer which has a less than 10% survival rate and not pancreatitis (or whatever it is he is supposed to have now) which has a greater than 95% survival rate.

[It’s nice to know that DUmmieland has a lot of Leftist company in the Gullible Fools Dept..]

Couple of things. According to what I have seen, the Whipple is not going to be preformed now. The diagnosos I was told in the last weeks was difinitive: Pancreatic cancer needing a Whipple. That was the basis of the calls for help, that it was immediate and life-and-death. Like I said, I don't doubt that Andy has a tumor requiring treatment. But I am not at all sure that it required $50 grand at Johns Hopkins. It could have been pretty much free at a Seattle hospital.

[Which we have been saying for a LONG TIME here on the DUmmie FUnnies, Pitt. DUhhhhh!]

I thought someone said....that the surgery was scheduled for sometime next week. Is that in question now, too?

Who knows. This has been bouncing around like a ping pong ball. First it was $25k, then $50k, then the checks got lost, then Andy posts a thread about writing a 'hot check,' then he deletes his own thread, Skinner has not posted any clarifications, I don't even know what the surgery date is anymore, and now the whole diagnosis has changed.

[Beautiful summation of what we have been stating ALL ALONG in the DUmmie FUnnies, Pitt.]

But such surgery could easily be performed in Seattle...The $50,000 was needed to cover surgery at Johns Hopkins because the survival rate for pancreatic cancer was higher, not just surviving the surgery.

ANDY ALERT!

ANDY ALERT!

WHAT THE DUMMIE PUNIDIOT "WILLIAM PITT" FORGOT TO DELETE!

TOO LATE! SCREEN CAPTURED!

THE DUMMIE PUNIDIOT "WILLIAM PITT" LAYING (lying?) DOWN ON HIS JOB!

NOT EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AT EFFACING THE FACTS!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

1.Marissa says:

May 17th, 2005 at 7:10 am

So, it WASN’T Cancer. Imagine all the people who could have saved money to pay their bills this month if Andy had just done like everyone else in Washington: get the surgery in a timely fashion (MARCH would have been a good time for a painful ailment) and then let the Wash hospital let him and his mate work and pay off the bills just like everyone else. Just like everyone else. “Andy is gonna die!!

He’s gonna die! He’s gonna die! How can people be SO CRUEL as to QUESTION if there is some documentation of a cancer diagnosis? You must hate America!!! Cause Andy is gonna die!” Will, you got played big time. Wasn’t Andy’s biopsy done in February? Did you EVER see any proof? (How could you, the tumor was benign?).

I can see everyone on DU just being grateful that it is not cancer. That IS a good thing. But Andy and all of the money collectors NEVER corrected the general belief that Andy had cancer. Not even Andy in YOUR initial thread saying Andy had pancreatic cancer! Not even when people speculated about how difficult RADIATION would be for Andy. Not even a simple: Oh, there will be no radiation.

This despicable travesty of USING people and misleading people to soak them for a ton of money needs to be remedied not ignored, Will. I believe you were taken. I do. But your credibility was used to gain the confidence of god knows how many people. And for THAT, you need to publicly find a way to determine exactly how much money was collected. And that means paypal and amazon account statements (personal info redacted of course). All the naysayers who got banned from DU…and got flamed on other boards where this scam took place…were correct in their suspicions. And our second question is: How much friggin money was collected. NO ONE KNOWS… except the owner of the paypal and amazon accounts, and that’s the same person who allowed everyone to say it was CANCER. Put up, Will, or just bow out of the public activist scene.

ADMISSION, finally, on DU:

bettyellen Donating member (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author’s profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue May-17-05 08:05 AM Response to Reply #29 30. yes, pain, and no i don’t think he’s on any meds. and that’s it for now.

i’m sorry, when i was with him, we really tried to focus on other things. again as i said, he reads these things, and i think this really is not helping him right now. since most of the correct info was searchable. and it’s just getting intrusive and worse, tactless. the negative stuff here is hurtful and inaccurate and worse, always spreads likfe fire. i’ll suggest you do a search and try to get up to speed before posting a brand new thread. and keep in mind he reads this. fyi: it is a tumour on the duct, not the pancreas themselves. it looks to not have spread at all. it is not pancreatic cancer as others have posted, but if it was not caught early enough, it would have certainly spread there. so you can do some searches on that, keeping in mind, he has the best surgeon at JH.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3667896&mesg_id=3671011

2.Lauri says:

May 17th, 2005 at 7:25 am

Will, you may not be complicit in this tale, but with every hour that you do not admit this is a scam, the noose is tightening on your own neck.

Andy bipassed excellent medical coverage in Seattle in order to make a point about health care - that much is truly evident. His message, however wrongheaded and pathetic it is, has been drowned out by the simple fact that the whole thing was a set up.

Please ask Andy, since he is a friend of yours, to give us the diagnosis of his condition. He has stated that the surgery he needs is for pancreatic cancer, as have you.

But now its a tumor on the duct - which is new info for most of us. Which is it?

3. Marissa says:

May 17th, 2005 at 7:37 am

Lauri, It’s clear that Andy had a biopsy of the tumor done. We now know that it was benign. There isn’t anything for Will to sort out EXCEPT “how much money was collected?” Actual paypal and amazon account statements will suffice. Money Orders and checks?

Won’t ever expect to learn how much was raised with them.

4. Lauren says:

May 17th, 2005 at 9:16 am

I’m sorry, but if there was fundraising for a person who says he has cancer, then it turns out that he never had that diagnosis, isn’t that fraudulent and a crime?

I am not a lawyer, so I don’t know.

Will, my biggest fear is that the authorities will be involved, and I hate to see you caught up in it. I love your essays and your writing style is just beautiful; I would hate to see anything happen.

5. Anonymous says:

May 17th, 2005 at 9:30 am

God damnit! I’m physically disabled, can barely walk, and living off my $700 a month SSD payments. I chose to give Andy Stephenson $250 and now I learn he never had fucking cancer? This is fucking bullshit!

6. TheMotz says:

May 17th, 2005 at 10:00 am

To the tune of “The Candy Man”….

“The AndyScam”

Who can make some dough-rise?
All he needs is you
Blinded by your hatred and
Your lack of judgement too
The AndyScam
The AndyScam can
The AndyScam can
Cause a tumor could be cancer
If the money’s good
(If the money’s good)

Who can take compassion?
Wrap it in a lie
Those checks were not deposited
But don’t you wonder why
The AndyScam
The AndyScam can
The AndyScam can
Cause a tumor could be cancer
If the money’s good
(If the money’s good)

The AndyScam makes the schemes he bakes
Appear on the up-and-uppy
Don’t listen to that Freeper yuppie
Here’s a pic of my new puppy!

So, we’ll be here tomorrow
Who could miss the scene?
Monitor the sorrow
And watch the DUmmies scream
The AndyScam
The Andyscam can
The AndyScam can
Cause a tumor could be cancer
If the money’s good
(If the money’s good)

The AndyScam can
Cause a tumor could be cancer
If the money’s good
(If the money’s good)

7. Lauri says:

May 17th, 2005 at 10:22 am

Marissa,

I agree.. the money trail is the bottom line now. How much went in, how much came out. How much is still left. Those need answering.

As for the person up above who sent Andy 250 bucks? Please make sure they get their money back!

8. DU member says:

May 17th, 2005 at 10:43 am

Will,

I regular reader of your column and at DU who wishes NOT to be banned for posting incorrect comments. So I’ll say what I have to say here.

THANK YOU! Thank you for asking some tough question at DU concerning this unfortunate incident and I hope you get to the bottom of what’s happening here.

9. JMK says:

May 17th, 2005 at 10:45 am

The DU got OWNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10. Abby says:

May 17th, 2005 at 8:12 pm

Will, based on YOUR CREDIBILITY I donated. Now the DU is saying he doesn’t have cancer? I don’t wish cancer on him, but I gave money I couldn’t afford because YOU SAID HE HAD CANCER. YOUR NAME, Will. PLEASE comment — what’s going on?

11. Marissa says:

May 17th, 2005 at 11:04 pm

You have my respect, William Rivers Pitt. I saw your question post on DU, and, as an upstanding man, you questioned the veracity at the exact moment that it became apparent that one should do so. Kudos for that, Will. Kudos. It’s a shame that the same calibre that you exude and own was used for this. I am looking around.. and I don’t see Andy out defending anything. And that says quite a lot. This is a lesson learned for all of us. We can’t do the DEAN BAT approach to bringing money in for anything other than a legitimate org or TRUST ACCOUNT… with lots of documentary proof.

Take it easy. You really redeemed yourself today. Big time. Jeeze, $50K. I think of those posts from people who chose to let their utility bills go. And that guy who got his employer to allow a bid on a week in Fla. And KarlSchneider INSURING donations for $20… and I just CRINGE.

Peace, Dude.

12. Marissa says:

May 17th, 2005 at 11:06 pm

Oh yeah, I practically wept when I read about that activist who has colon cancer. That really brought it all down to earth!! Blessings to him!

13. Steve says:

May 18th, 2005 at 11:54 am

As the DUmps love to say, Will, “What a moran!” Cancer indeed!

14. JoJo666 says:

May 18th, 2005 at 1:06 pm

testing

15. JoJo666 says:

May 18th, 2005 at 1:13 pm

Hi Will. Sorry you are going through this, it must be heartbreaking. I’m not sure Skinner is handling this situation well at all… in fact I’d say I’m really dissapointed in his judgement and how to handle this matter. Him saying that he’ll wait until May 26 and Andy’s scheduled surgery before he can get his ‘proof’… In the meantime there could be as many as 125 sites still asking for donations… They should all be made aware of this snag before everyone involved gets mired even deeper into this monstrous mess. But how can this be done - pull the requests, and with what explanation? Continue the fundraising under information that could be false?

Andy and his fundcrew should get a swift kick in the ass as well for handling this like they have. “”Oooo, I can vouch for Andy, I had Dinner With Him Once.” sheeeeesh.

16. Harhar says:

May 18th, 2005 at 3:23 pm

I can’t believe how easy it is to scam leftwingers out of cash.. Hell, this PDA crap is another scam, but just a little less devious because they aren’t actually claiming to be able to do anything with any money they get.

This place is similar to Bev Harris scam. Andy’s one of the most blatant I’ve ever seen however.

17. andy says:

May 18th, 2005 at 9:29 pm

When you Stand Up Next to a Mountain, be prepared for a mudlside when the storms come.

18. JoJo666 says:

May 19th, 2005 at 8:22 am

Hey, Will… (said in my best conspiratorial paranoical voice)… If this fiasco can bring DU down (which I really think Can be the case)… who would benefit most? Just looking at the huge picture here. DU has been a burr in the neocon saddles since the get go and it seems to be the season for bringing down dissenters or those who will not be stenographers for the WH…. Newsweek, Dan Rather, etc.

nah…….

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