CNN

Jared -

We care what this athlete thinks because he is a cancer survivor who went on to win the Tour de France after going in to remission. His charitable organization raises money for cancer research, and I have no reason to believe he profits from its fund-raising.

Do you have any evidence for your charges?

I don't remember asking how much he donated. I asked how much he MADE off of LIVEStrong. Do you think that he is not on the pay roll? He started it, and works on the program. He did this for free? They've sold 65 million yellow wrist bands at a dollar a pop.

And why should anyone care about an ATHLETES political opinion anyhow? Especially one that was using drugs to win.

Jared of Tualatin, Oregon writes: “Go ahead and check out how much money Lance makes off of his LIVEStrong program.”

I did check, Jared, since I wondered why a highly paid athlete would make money from cancer research. What I found was that on October 17th, 2005 Lance Armstrong donated $1.5 million dollars of his own money to the foundation, making him the largest individual contributor.

It's bs that Obama couldn't have made it to the forum then to N.O. later in the day like all the other candidates. I'm from Louisiana originally, and I expect all the candidates to show that they care about rebuilding N.O. even though I no longer live there any more; however I believe cancer to be an equally important issue. He certainly could have appeared at the forum then flown down like all of the other candidates. His campaign certainly has enough money for the private charter.

TriSurvior writes: “Government has repeatedly proven itself incapable of accomplishing anything with speed, efficiency and/or accuracy”

The Manhattan Project, the Human Genome Project and the Apollo Missions to the Moon are all examples of governmental successes in large-scale science projects.

The private sector will only do what’s profitable. Sometimes it takes government to do what needs to be done.

Lance Armstrong being upset about Mr. Obama not showing up to his Lance's latest self promotion means nothing to me.

If he would have chosen this, instead of being in New Orleans then everyone would be saying he doesnt care about the Katrina survivors.

Go ahead and check out how much money Lance makes off of his LIVEStrong program.

Again, I could care less about a political candidate helping him make even more.

Would you folks please get real with the Obama appearance thing – isn't he a smoker ????? You figure it out!

As someone who has worked campaigns, I fully understand Obama not attending to spend time with his family. The campaign schedule is endless, there are no breaks. There will be other forums, other opportunities to display his support for Lance and cancer research. Family is first, and Sen. Obama has two young girls – isn't that referred to as "family values?"

Amazing how such a great city can produce idiots like Rick. Cancer affects African-Americans too but apparently that is lost between the ignorance and the gullibility, because according to you and our RI friend, showing up means that you care and it has nothing at all to do with securing votes.

I'm going to hold a Presidential forum on my pet issue (don't worry, I'll find one that resonates), and I demand that all candidates show up. If they don't, I will say that they are meanie-heads for not coming to my event and not supporting my worthy cause. I will further insinuate that they must not care about people associated with my worthy cause by their blatant snubbing of my invitation to participate in my event.

I commend Lance for wanting to help fight cancer, but he is in the wrong forum. Politics and government will never accomplish Lance's loathe goals. No matter how many promises they make.. Government has repeatedly proven itself incapable of accomplishing anything with speed, efficiency and/or accuracy. Much less the desired amounts needed from a 7 time tour de France winner.

No Lance needs to bring his show over to the private forum. Where greed and selfness(human nature) drive different mechanisms, like innovation and progress. Lance should be highlighting those 600,000 deaths per yr to drug companies that are missing out on those profits. It may sound cold, but historically, that’s the only way to make quick progress. The private sector can spend 10 times more capital, more efficiently than the government ever could..

Rick from Chicago,

Come on – howzabout trying to be fair!! You conveniently failed to mention the Republican candidates who have chosen to be personna non grata. THEY ALL SHOULD BE THERE!!!!!!

I agree, Rick. It is sad. It shows the authencity and compassion of the candidates. Obama does not have it...

Look at Richardson...what a clown.

Just because a politician didn't show for Lance Armstrong's latest self promotion extravaganza doesn't mean they are "pro cancer". Virtually everyone is touched by this horrible disease, and TONS of government money is spent researching it. For Armstrong to make a big deal out of his "disappointment" was in poor taste. If I were Obama, I'd rather spend time with my family than with Armstrong too. Doesn't mean the man doesn't take Cancer seriously, just not Armstrong's self promotion, perhaps.

Everyone knows by now that just showing up will not win you the support either. Clinton’s campaign should really stop it with the cheap shots. It is annoying to all of us, even the ones considering voting for her.

Why is this a problem for government? In fact Lance, if you got government OUT of the business, you might find yourself a solution to the problem. I mean, their track record at solving other problems (terror, poverty, education, immigration, drug / alcohol abuse) is, like, not so stellar and stuff. HEE HEE.

Ron Paul has all the answers you need and want ... you just aren't asking him the right questions yet, Lance! Get to work, get informed, get active!

what's to debate? "I'm more against cancer than my respected opponent". Really. Seems we're really grasping for special-interests here.

Now, if Lance had gotten Sheryl to attend also, well. . . .

Yea, well, remember that Obama is too concerned with limiting his appearance at debates so that he doesn't bumble anything. I agree it's a great way to ignore reaching out to cancer survivors all over America who can see him on T.V. While what he caters to voters in one state? Not impressed.

Oh, and to the above poster that says Obama doesn't have time for cancer survivors?

Obama has developed a very comprehensive health plan that would do wonders for cancer patients and every other kind of illness. He supports stem cell research, which promises a cure someday for many types of cancer.

Before you hang someone find out their positions. People are dying every day in this country that dont have to because of backward republican thinking on issues like cancer research. Your words actually have an affect. They can change things for better or worse. By feeding into political nonsense and soundbites, you may find that one day you yourself are the one with a disease that could have been cured but wasn't due to the hateful rhetoric and backward thinking.

And yeah, I'm sure Obama can kick some ass at basketball, politics, and i hear he's a pretty good uno player too.

He's also the next President of the United States, and he's pretty damn good at getting there too.

Lance Armstrong is a hero in the very best sense of the word. He has done more to raise awareness about cancer than anyone I can possibly think of.

It should not be surprising, however, that the Republican candidates where not at this fundraiser for cancer cures. One of them may have been asked about stem cell research and then they may have developed a fatal tumor right there on the stage. Faced with this development they would have sought help but of course they'd be doomed because Republicans vetoed stem cell research and kept the Congress from having a veto proof majority.

Funny how their right to life beliefs stop at birth. I wonder how the same party that loves the death penalty so much can be so moral and righteous.

cry me a river you critics ... Obama is spending time with his family. Give me a break, there seems to be a forum every week, or every other week. People all your issues are important but talking with the American people is more important. Retail politics in the early states is more valuable then a forum put on by Lance Armstrong. (i did not know there was a forum today, and I am a news and politics junkie.) You can only be in one place at a time.

Soooo.... You're saying we shouldn't care about Katrina survivors?

You think this means Obama doesn't care about cancer?

I don't see any reasoning or logic here....

Cancer is a fundamental problem, we've had a war on cancer, that war is continuing. Tremendous progress has been made. My daughter has a 50% chance of carrying my wife's breast cancer gene. If she has it, it is very likely she'll have breast cancer before she's 40-45. Thankfully, we know how to proceed and my daughter will either not get breast cancer or it will be detected and treated very early and will be very unlikely to be life threatening. We have made progress, and yes, there is a long way to go. But Obama – in case you haven't looked – has very detailed plans concerning health care. I have very strong confidence that all of the democrat party candidates will do an outstanding job with respect to cancer education, prevention, detection, and treatment. I strongly resent your unfounded attack against Obama, or any other democrat candidate.

One issue forums don't attract a lot of attention. Let's face it Cancer research is not a great campaign issue.

And I 'm not even going to respond to that first bigoted comment.

Rick, Obama is also a human being, he deserves rest and at least the minimum quality family time he can afford just like every other human being.I guess he is also fully aware of the cancer stigma as his own (white) mother died from a cancer related illness, Lance is not the only man who cares about cancer and Obama's no show doesnt necessarily mean he wont address the issue.

I wouldn't have shown up either if I were a candidate. The United States presidency is above and beyond a celebrity athlete's vain attempt to get some press. And press he sure got. He has CNN's attention. Armstrong has gobs of nerve and ego to say he's disappointed, to even be disappointed at all. Funny how Democrats can't separate entertainment from politics and government. But they'd pounce to separate church from state.

I wouldn't have shown up either if I were a candidate. The United States presidency is above and beyond a celebrity athlete's vain attempt to get some press. And press he sure got. He has CNN's attention. Armstrong has gobs of nerve and ego to say he's disappointed, to even be disappointed at all. Funny how Democrats can't separate entertainment from politics and government. But they'd pounce to separate church from state.

We need to realize that politicians participate in debates on specific issues not because they feel passionate about it or they have a particular opinion about it, but because the current environment expects them to do so.

The current political system expects politicians to participate in debates on every single issue that comes to mind regardless of it's importance. What's next, a heart disease forum?

Do you see the Republicans having an NRA, stem cell research or abortion debate?

Senator Obama chooses to debate issues that are worth debating, like the ways to fix the health care system, understanding our countries role in the world and resolving the immigration issue, these are the topics that need to be debated. Cancer, much like global warming is an issue we all agree on. What is there to debate on cancer? Cancer, asthma and genetic diseases should all be apart of the comprehensive debate about our health care system.

Presidents address big complicated issues in a comprehensive way.

Obama will regret this deliberate absence from a major American health concern. He has time for his family but not for the America he seeks to lead? what an insult..! Now we know those candidates who care about us and our welbeing. Certainly not Obama who cares about his family only.

Obama has time for Katrina victims (african americans) but no time for supporting Cancer survivors?

Two games he seems to know: Basketball and Politics.

Cancer Wellness–not in the medical vocabulary.

Vitamin C given medically can selectively destroy cancer cells, similar to radiation, but makes the patient healthier, so says the NIH.

Healthy Chemo! who would have thought?

Lance call me. Let's "get er done"

Lately it just seems that every entity can have a debate and the Presidential candidates have an obligation to attend but that's not realistic or fair. It's elitist to say, well, Im so important you CANT decline my invitation. God forbid someone is actually booked up alraedy that day.

It is really disappointing, kudos to those who actually showed up. Even though I don't agree with all of them at least they show enough care (for whatever reason) to show up. It's getting tired to push health issues to the side; these issues are just as important as international affairs b/c it affects all.

President’s Bush’s budget proposal for the National Institute of Health includes a $40 million cut in the fiscal year 2006 funding for the National Cancer Institute.

Mayor Rudolf Giuliani has been treated for prostate cancer.

Senator John McCain has battled recurrent skin cancers including melanoma.

Senator Fred Thompson has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Thompson’s campaign has strong ties to the Philip Morris conglomerate:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/06/25/fred-thompson-the-philip_n_53736.html

To be quite honest, I wouldn't attend something a celebrity athlete organized either, especially something so serious. Armstrong has nerve and ego to be disappointed – and to express it. He has no place in the news except as a biker, a winning biker at that.

The reasons for some no-show candidates:

- Obama treasures private time over public service

- McCain runs out of campaign funds to travel

- Giuliani has better use of the donated funds to pay his personal company's and his friend's alledged services

Lance Armstrong is a hero in the very best sense of the word. He has done more to raise awareness about cancer than anyone I can possibly think of.

It should not be surprising, however, that the Republican candidates where not at this fundraiser for cancer cures. One of them may have been asked about stem cell research and then they may have had a heart attack right there on the stage.

They would have been rushed to the hospital while gasping with their final breaths, "somebody save me! do something!"

But of course the doctor would have just shrugged and said, "can't do much for you. Stem cells could have reversed the damage, could have cured hundreds of thousands of cancer patients maybe. Six cels taken from blastocysts that were thrown into the trash at the local fertility clinic as a rule. But... uh, your Republican congress couldn't bring themselves to overturn your Republican president's veto on the issue."

You see, Republican candidates only want to give you a tax break so you can pay the HMOs some more money, instead of actually addressing anything real like finding a real cure for a disease that is afflicting our children, grandchildren, parents and friends.

It's just safer to stay at home than it is to exert their hearts like that, and wind up in a bad way that they've made for themselves...

uh oh. Too late.