Andy Stephenson in happier, healthier days, March 2004
(Karen Steichen)
Posted on 06/30/2005 10:26:34 PM PDT by Dont Mention the War
July 6 - 12, 2005
|
|
Andy Stephenson in happier, healthier days, March 2004 (Karen Steichen)
|
|
|
Stephenson, 43, who could pass for talk-show host Conan O'Brien's brother, became active on voting-rights issues in 2004 when he learned about the security problems with electronic voting. A resident of North Seattle, Stephenson frequented the left-wing Web site Democratic Underground (www.democraticunderground.com). This virtual community led him to Bev Harris of Black Box Voting (www.blackboxvoting.org), a Renton-based, muckraking activist dedicated to exposing the flaws in our nation's voting infrastructure (see "Black Box Backlash," March 10, 2004).
Stephenson brought an in-your-face activism to what had been a sleepy topic—imagine a combination of ACT-UP and the League of Women Voters. He loved to go into elections officials' offices with his camcorder blazing, demanding information on obscure aspects of voting systems and software. In 2004, he ran for Washington Secretary of State as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Sam Reed, promising to clean up the election system, only to drop out before the filing deadline. That same year, he also began working with Harris on her national campaign to make voting more secure. In the process, he established his own national reputation as a voting-rights activist. Stephenson says eventually he and Harris had a falling out, and they are no longer on good terms.
None of these setbacks discouraged Stephenson from pursuing his goal of improving the nation's voting system. In January 2005, he went to Washington, D.C., as part of a grassroots lobbying effort on behalf of the Voting Integrity and Verification Act, sponsored by Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada. While in D.C., Stephenson became ill with what he assumed was food poisoning. He flew back to Seattle and noticed his skin had turned yellow. He went to the Country Doctor Community Health Clinic on Capitol Hill and received treatment from Karen Johnson, a nurse practitioner, who became his primary care provider.
Months of illness and diagnoses followed. In April, Johnson says the cause of his illness was determined. "He has pancreatic cancer," says Johnson. After researching the best options for his care, Stephenson chose to have his surgery performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. "It's the best of the best," says Johnson. "Andy does his research right."
There was one little problem: Stephenson didn't have health insurance or much money. He says the operation cost $50,000, and Hopkins demanded payment in full before the operation for an out-of-state, uninsured patient. (A Hopkins spokesperson would not elaborate on the bill, citing concern for patient confidentiality.)
Enter San Francisco's Elisabeth Ferrari. She has never met Stephenson in person, but had gotten to know him through postings on Democratic Underground. When she became aware of his need, she decided to raise as much money as she could through an Internet appeal. On Friday, April 28, she put out a fund-raising request on Democratic Underground. Other progressive outlets and activists including blogger/author William Rivers Pitt, Sirius Satellite radio's Thom Hartmann, Air America's Mike Malloy, and numerous Web sites picked up the fund-raising message. By Monday, May 9, she had raised all $50,000—most in small donations of $25 or less. "Democratic Underground has 60,000 subscribers," says Ferrari. "Andy has many, many friends there. He is a people magnet."
It was a remarkable achievement and a real testament to the power of Stephenson's activism. Country Doctor's Johnson confirms that Stephenson had a Whipple procedure—sometimes called the "Olympics" of surgery because of its duration and difficulty—at Johns Hopkins Hospital at the end of May. The surgeon removed a "golf-ball-sized tumor" from his pancreas, according to Johnson. Stephenson came back to Seattle to recover and prepare for his oncology treatment. Says Johnson, "He needs chemo and radiation probably."
Then came the backlash. The origins of the rumors are murky, but the basic theme was Stephenson was a scam artist who didn't have cancer. The rumor spread like a computer virus across the Internet and soon vitriolic postings were popping up all over the place.
The backlash falls into a couple of general categories. One group appears ideological in nature: Conservatives are attacking Stephenson because he's a progressive activist. "The right wing just went crazy," says Air America's Malloy. "This is one of the sickest things I've ever seen."
Another group appears to be people who are rightfully concerned about Internet scams.
Fred Grady, an accountant from Stanton, Neb., straddles both groups. He pays for a site called Scamdy.com that alleges Stephenson defrauded people. He learned of the controversy through a conservative Web site, Free Republic (www.freerepublic.com), that has an ongoing flame war with Democratic Underground. He is also very concerned that Stephenson's fund-raising was not done properly.
The fund-raising effort for Stephenson was the work of amateur activists, not professional charities. Spontaneous mutual aid has both good and bad characteristics. Stephenson's friends did not provide the kind of checks and balances that are associated with mainstream philanthropy. For instance, the money went directly to Stephenson—there was no board of trustees controlling a third-party account and carefully documenting expenditures and donations.
Meanwhile, Stephenson was readmitted to the hospital because of postsurgical complications on Wednesday, June 22, and remained there at press time on Thursday, June 30. Stephenson says Medicaid is now covering him, so his medical bills are not a cause of concern.
I visited Stephenson in his hospital room at Virginia Mason Medical Center and listened to surgeons, a resident, and nurses discuss his cancer with him.
His spirits rise and fall on an hourly basis with the news of his condition. Through it all, he pushes his political issues, railing to me about decisions at the King County Elections Division.
His current diagnosis and treatment are unclear as the doctors struggle to figure out how best to help him. It is very clearly, however, a matter of life and death. "I am prepared for whatever the outcome is," Stephenson says. "I want to live—I don't want to die—but if not I've left a legacy."
Maybe his death will convince you.
DU claims: Andy Stephenson has died
Many who pried their way into the personal life of Andy Stephenson should be ashamed.
Please, take it back over to CP.....
There were many unanswered questions about this case....even from some of those who donated....read up on it before you comment.
Like I said, your posse is waiting.
I read it at the time. I know a lot of FReepers with delusions of a great gotcha moment tried to get into the personal life of a man who it turns out, was actually dying of cancer. If you had a role in the muck raking, I'd think you'd be a little ashamed.... I didn't... the whole thing reeked of bad taste.
And I have no posse. They are just part of a grand spectacle they claim to watch. ;~D
Have a nice day!
Well, I didn't have a role in the muckraking, as you call it. My post was mainly to call out the Christian bashing on the thread....but of course you couldn't resist posting something to me....when I really had nothing to do with it....there are many others who posted many times to these stories....(not that I had a problem with their suspicions) but I and many others know why you singled me out....and that is fine...I know that my comments upset many of you.
Anyway, I am sure this will end up at CP where you and your buddies can dis FR.
Let me make this perfectly clear....I understand why some people were questioning the fundraising....which is what it was all about. You seem to know alot HOTD....did Andy have to have his sugery at John Hopkins....did Medicare not cover Andy....was it really pancreatic cancer???? I will await your answers. I really don't know and would love to know the truth.
Fair enough, but don't the people who actually donated money have a right to ask? I think they do.
Had I known replying to your post would make you so paranoid, I'd have left you alone...
Oh please, you singled me out, someone who made 2 posts on threads that had been running everyday about this....many other posters posted everyday to them, yet, for some reason, you singled me out.....
They are what they mock, so try not to let them bother you...
Are you sure you are going to be allowed back?
I don't think any of the junior detectives here at FR were any of the donors who deserved answers.
Are you 100% sure? If you are not, then I would be careful stating that as a fact....some of those posters may have donated or know someone who did.
What about those at DU who wanted answers....did they not have a right to ask? It seems to me that alot of those threads by FReepers were devoted to talking about what DU members were doing, what questions they were asking, the infighting going on about the subject...etc...
Have a nice day.
My brother was just hospitalized with pancreatitis and an enlarged spleen...he's out now, but since they don't know what caused it, he's not a whole lot better. :(
I didn't hear that it could possibly be deadly...but I'm glad I didn't know, as I was worried enough to begin with.
This mag is a left wing publication right? This is awful, just awful journalism.
I know nothing about this controversy but I recently had a good friend die of pancreatic cancer. Before he died I did some research on the disease and the picture ain't pretty. It's almost Lourdes material to survive over 18 months.
First of all, my condolences to Andy Stephenson and his friends and family.
But I'm sorry. I was suspicious, and the behavior of Mr. Stephenson and many at DU led to my suspicions. Be honest: if a freeper announced he was raising many for surgery, having the money go to his personal account without any controls, and delaying the surgery for four months while he got donations, what would you all at DU have thought? After all, surgery for such deadly diseases is usually performed immediately.
In the end, my suspicions were not correct, but I don't apologize for having them. The whole fundraising was run very poorly and opened the door to questions. Why should you get angry at people for having those questions?
Now I will say that I held open the possibility that my doubts were not justified. I wasn't calling the FBI or anything and kept my thoughts to myself for the most part. But how can you say I wrong to be suspicious?
He's dead now. I suppose you are happy.
You evil cretin.
Do you like making fun of people dying of cancer?
The Nazi's laughed at dying jews too.
You're in the company you deserve.
He's dead now.
Happy, Repig?
Andy's dead.
You will die someday too as we all will. Except you will burn in hell.
So I guess you are as bad as the biggest fantasy you have about evil libs. That must feel good.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.