Member Center
Blog Central
Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash.
 |
 |
 |
Ever wonder why the Herald does something? Or how? Or "what were they thinking?" Now you can find out. Executive Editor Ken Robertson and Managing Editor Rick Larson will do their best to explain what happens in the TCH newsroom - and why. Have a question? Click here to send it in. |
Print
E-Mail
tool name
close
tool goes here
Thursday, Mar. 27, 2008
Advances in isotope science win a surprising convert
By Ken Robertson, Herald Executive Editor
More than a few Tri-Citians were shocked to see the Rev. Jesse Jackson spend the past two days in the Tri-Cities avidly promoting research into the use of radioisotopes to treat cancer, HIV and other ailments.
Liberal Democrats aren’t supposed to be interested in using nuclear materials for anything, and for decades, Tri-Citians have watched and listened as the mere whisper of the word nuclear set off alarm bells west of the Cascades.
Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, Gerald Pollet, the director of Heart of America and lately a candidate for a Seattle House seat, and their ardent supporters respond to the word nuclear like a pit bull startled by a midnight intruder.
Not a lot of thought — original or otherwise — usually goes into their blustering rush of wild barking, but it always seems to succeed in marshaling knee-jerk opposition.
Used to reactions like that, most Tri-Citians hardly expected someone at the level — and politics — of Jackson to travel thousands of miles to learn more and to encourage research into development of better medical technology for use of radioisotopes.
“Trying to figure out some way to cure diseases, to extend and expand our lives — what a great moral mission,” he told the 200 people gathered at the Three Rivers Convention Center during a dinner that was part of the symposium held in the Tri-Cities on medical isotopes.
What a refreshing change from folks like Kline. I sat next to him during a dinner in Olympia a few years ago and the topic turned to Hanford’s shut-down research reactor, the FFTF.
During the conversation, I observed that it surprised me people would shut it down and eliminate it as a possible option for producing cancer-fighting isotopes when so few options for that role existed nationwide.
Kline fairly bristled, and the tone and volume of his argument began escalating. Former U.S. Rep. Sid Morrison jumped in and began talking about what a wonderful machine FFTF was.
Kline continued to glare, but his flare-up subsided.
That’s why I, like many others, found Jackson’s message such a refreshing surprise. Who guessed a dyed-in-the-wool liberal would come to the Tri-Cities to preach to the converted about medical isotopes?
It’s a pity more folks from the west side didn’t get to hear his message.
Ken Robertson: 582-1520; krobertson@tricityherald.com
Be the first to comment on this story click the 'Add Comment' Tab!
Tri-City Herald is pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity to make comments and hold conversations online. However, the interactive nature of the internet makes it impracticable for our staff to monitor each and every posting.
Since tri-cityherald.com does not control user submitted statements, we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted on our website. In addition, we remind anyone interested in making an online comment that responsibility for statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not Tri-City Herald.
If you find a comment offensive, clicking on the exclamation icon (!) will flag the comment for review by the administrators, we are counting on the good judgment of all our readers to help us.
Most Recently Commented Stories
