Posted on 06/09/2004 6:27:12 PM PDT by Not gonna take it anymore
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Laura Bush, whose father died from Alzheimer's, said on Wednesday she admired Nancy Reagan's devotion to former President Ronald Reagan until his death but could not back her call for relaxation of stem cell research restrictions.
Reagan, the 40th U.S. president, died on Saturday at 93 of pneumonia after a long battle with the brain-wasting disease. His wife, Nancy, and children were at his bedside.
Mrs. Bush, whose father died in 1997, said she had great respect for the former first lady and that she was an excellent role model for families struggling to cope with the illness.
"I know how very difficult it is for the patient, obviously, but also for the caregiver. It requires unbelievable strength of character to take care of the person you love as you see them slip away like that -- 'the long goodbye' they call Alzheimer's," the first lady told the CBS "Early Show" from Sea Island, Georgia, where leaders of the Group of Eight countries are meeting.
But Mrs. Bush said she did not endorse Nancy Reagan's call, already rebuffed by the White House, to allow greater stem cell research to proceed in the hope it would provide some answers to the disease or possibly a cure.
The Bush administration has placed restrictions on embryonic stem cell research and opposes using stem cells from most embryos, a stand Mrs. Bush said she supported.
"There are stem cells to do research on and ... we have to be really careful between what we want to do for science and what we should do ethically," the first lady said. "Stem cell ... is certainly one of those issues that we need to treat very carefully."
Pressed on whether she was prepared to endorse Mrs. Reagan's impassioned call for restrictions to be lifted, she replied, "No."
More than 200 members of the U.S. Senate and House (of Representatives have also urged Bush to allow researchers to use embryonic stem cells to eventually provide brain cell transplants to Alzheimer's patients. They also hope to use embryonic stem cells to treat Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, diabetes and a range of other illnesses.
Reagan had a decade-long battle with Alzheimer's, which affects the brain, causing memory loss, confusion, mood changes, hallucinations, speech problems and incontinence.
Nothing wrong here. Adult stem cell research appears to be as effective.
"I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare the unalienable personhood of every American, from the moment of conception until natural death, and I do proclaim, ordain, and declare that I will take care that the Constitution and laws of the United States are faithfully executed for the protection of America's unborn children." - Presidential Proclamation, Jan. 14, 1988
In other words, "Suck it up nancy, noble suffering is good for you."
Laura Bush has a long way to go before she has the class and wisdom of Nancy Reagan.
I heard (sorry no link) that research looked far more promising regarding *adult* stem cells.
I'm sure there would be generous people willing to make donations, like a blood bank.
It's all George Bush's fault!
< /sarcasm >
Reuters makes me want to barf!
See post #3
What an assholish comment. Get a life AR. Just because people oppose your utilitarian view on human life they are deemed inferior to those that do.
Nancy Reagan has her views, I oppose them 100% regarding embryonic stem cell research. It says nothing about her class or wisdom, it says she is wrong on this issue.
As for Laura Bush, I think she has class, wisdom, a good marraige and a nice family. That she opposes strip mining embryos is even better yet.
Didn't see your post. You said it far better than I did. :o)
The big problem is that the powers that be make it sound like there are no other options to fetal stem cells. Let alone a far better option, scientifically, as well as morally.
Laura and Nancy have an honest and respectful difference of opinion. Nothing at all wrong with that -- this isn't the Fascist Left who tolerate no dissent!
My advice to you is to look at your own class and wisdom before questioning as fine a lady as our First Lady.
Even as the article was written, Laura Bush did not say that, or make that implication.
Pressing for embryonic stem cell research, which has produced only disastrous results in human trials, when there have been such promising results from adult cell tests, is simply human sacrifice ... offered by those who have made "Science" their God, because they can't accept the real God.
My father has Alzheimer's. I sympathize with Mrs. Reagan, but she would have shown better judgment by keeping out of policy discussion in the throes of grief. Sacrificing babies would not have kept President Reagan alive forever ... he was 93, after all; he was going to die from something!
That's what the left does
The obvious outcome of this research is to implant the immature cells into an ailing human in the hope that the gene sequences of an immature cell will overtake the abnormal growth occuring in the diseased cells.
This is so offensive to me I literally become sick to my stomach thinking about it.
I disagree, concerning Nancy Reagan. I think she's talking from her emotions, and like many people, she isn't aware of the benefits of adult stem cell research.
No, there's no living first lady who is Nancy's equal, although Barbara comes in a strong second. And she's definitely right on the issue. It's time the religious puritans stopped controlling scientific research. Even the Pope apologized for what the Church did to Galileo for pursuing science.
Calling Nancy Reagan old and decrepit on this of all nights reflects very poorly on your own character. You could have made your point without a disgusting personal attack on her. It's only my respect for Jim Robinson's rules barring personal attacks that prevents me from posting what I really think of you.
I do hope the Admin Moderator clean up the mess you made on this thread.
Utilitarian "science" proceeds apace. What you and the "scientists" desire is for it to proceed apace using my money taken at the point of a gun. Disgraceful.
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