Long time Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, just days after he was involved in a hit and run accident. Many people may remember Novak best from his 15 year run on CNN’s political show “Crossfire.” He has also been a contributor to Fox News. He received criticism in 2003 when he was the first to divulge the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame. The publisher of the Chicago Sun-times, which is also the home of Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper, said that Novak has been a “source of great pride” for the newspaper.
The 77-year-old political commentator hit a homeless man last week in Washington D.C. He kept driving in his Corvette until a bicyclist, who noticed the man was still on Novak’s car, stopped him. Novak received a $50 citation for the incident. Apparently, hitting someone and not realizing it is a possible indicator of a brain tumor. A neuro-oncologist for the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle said that medical school residents who are dealing with hit and run patients are taught to check for a brain tumor. This is due to the fact that people with brain tumors often get spatial and visual neglect in certain parts of their bodies, causing them to be able to do something, such as hit a person, yet not realize it.
While in Cape Cod this past weekend, Novak fell ill and visited the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He was diagnosed with the tumor on Sunday and made the announcement that he will be suspending his work for “an indefinite but God willing, not too lengthy a period.”
His assistant Kathleen Connolly has released a bit more information about his condition. She said the doctors have not yet biopsied the tumor to tell if it is malignant or not. However, she did say Novak was alert and talking. A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed he was a patient there, but would release no further information.