The Apple Does Not Fall Far From the Tree

Some readers have asked why The Duckpin only writes negatives on the Cox Campaign.   As a contributor to The Duckpin, I can only say that the Cox Campaign gives us a lot of material.  I’d love to stop writing these posts.  

But let’s move on to the topic of apples.  

The Duckpin has already written on the strange SM discourse coming from Josiah Cox, one of Dan Cox’s children.  You can read The Duckpin article here:

The Ballad of JsqueeZzy

I am here to validate that Josiah does inappropriately attack people while being unable to stick to a fair argument of the issue. He said some really mean-spirited things to me trying to intimidate me.

(Let me make this clear.  I will never start commenting on a candidate’s children unless said children are putting themselves directly in the campaign promotion.  And when I see a family pattern of ad hominem’s, the adult child does not get a pass.) 

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What is bullying?  

Josiah had no intention of talking to the issue.  He had no interest in understanding what I was saying.  He was only interested in trying to intimidate me.  

 Let’s look at the screenshots!

When I made my initial comment, it didn’t dawn on me who wrote the original post.  I stuck with the issue – Republican talking points.  Josiah quickly went to insults, “you” statements, name-calling, assigning blame to me.  Really, calling me an elitist?  Calling me big pharma?  I lie?  I destroy? Calling me arrogant?  Calling me ignorant?  Calling me a big pharma techie?  Telling me I did something to Marylanders?  If Josiah cannot see bullying in what he posts. . . . .

If this were my adult child, I’d be having a real tough conversation with him regarding the manner in which he speaks to a Maryland constituent, let alone anyone.  I taught my children to respect others, even when you disagree with them.

Why did I entitle this piece “The Apple Doesn’t Fall From the Tree?”   Because Dan Cox has also tried to shame me for my 40 year career.

Several months ago, Dan Cox was given some VERY false information about me.  I had been pushing back hard on Dan’s promotion of IVM.  I knew the medical science and Dan was providing disinformation about the product.   Dan Cox then used the false information about me and tried to shame my 40-year career in pharma/biotech/oncology genetic testing.  He totally misrepresented my career with false information.   Interestingly reading Dan’s false comments about me (and those comments from the individual who passed false information to Dan), it is obvious that neither of them understand oncology genetic testing OR the difference between the biotech and testing industries. 

And Dan, I never worked for xxx, Inc.      

Let me provide two examples where my intervention in my job in biotech helped save someone’s life.  We introduced the first out-patient immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma.  (MM is about the absolute meanest metastatic disease of all cancers. These patients are desperate for help.)  One oncology office was using the product for a patient.  When I came into the office, I was told that the patient had lost her/his job and no longer had health insurance, and would be unable to receive the rest of the protocol.  She/he had only received 2 out of 4 infusions.  I facilitated the work that needed to be done – getting the office billing to contact the right department within our organization and having the patient provide appropriate documentation that was required per the company’s instructions.  Everyone was cooperating with the process; we were all hopeful that something could be done.  Without skipping a beat, my company sent the product for the final 2 infusions at NO cost to the office or to the patient.  That patient went on to complete her/his therapy.  The doctor took time out of his day to call me to tell me he was so grateful on behalf of his patient, that my company provided the product, and that this patient could have the benefit of a possible cure.  

Let me provide a second example.  I am again referring to the outpatient immunotherapy that is used for metastatic melanoma.  This was a new category of oncology treatment at the time, in that it involved releasing the brakes on the immune system so that those T-cells could work toward eradicating the cancerous cells.  However, anyone who has any knowledge of the immune system knows that it is one of the most complex systems we have and that it is a balancing act between revving the system up and keeping it in check.   Oncologists were having to relearn the immune system.  

An oncology office started a diabetic on this immunotherapy.  It was their first time using the product.   They were struggling in managing the immune response when the immune system started to go out of whack.  They were ready to give up on this product.  I was able to get them in touch with one of the investigators of the product – they had their doctor talk (I was not involved beyond making the connection for them).  The oncologist got the answers he needed and understood better how to manage these high-risk patients.  I can say with certainty that my effort helped many more patients beyond this first initial one. 

My response to Josiah and to Dan Cox?  What have you done today to impact the survival of a cancer patient?    

Josiah and Dan.  I am retired.  I did NOTHING to any Marylanders during this pandemic other than to call out the disinformation that was coming in.  I’m hardly an elitist – I am the mother of 3 adult children.  I am the grandmother of five grandkids.  I raised my kids and paid for their post-high school education.  I’m a 22 year colon cancer survivor!  I’m certainly NOT ignorant of the workings of this virus, the therapeutics to treat Covid, or the vaccine (hey, I also worked with vaccines).  I worked through the bullshit of sexual harassment and bullying that occurred when I started in a male-dominated industry years ago.  I helped more women enter and survive some of these male-dominated industries.  I was an adjunct instructor teaching “Women in Business” and opening the eyes of the students to a variety of dilemmas that, sadly, women still face today.  It is frustrating to know it still appears that some men still feel that they can intimidate other people.  

I had a 40-year career in pharma/biotech.  I am proud of the work I did to help ensure that the patient (the end user of our products) had the best possible opportunity to benefit from the product with minimal toxicities.  I am proud that I broke some barriers to women in business, and that I served as an example of dealing with barriers that we had to tear down. 

So, tell me, who is the ignorant one here, Josiah?  on Covid? On pandemics?  On vaccines?  On immunotherapy?  On pharma? On therapeutics?  On being a woman in business?  On handling bullying men?

1. The official policy of The Duckpin is to not comment on family members unless that family member is actively participating in the campaign. Since Josiah Cox is an active participant in the campaign and attacking The Duckpin and others, he is no longer a civilian.