Posted on 07/27/2004 6:22:26 AM PDT by NYer
Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) -- The Democratic Party will have just one speaker at its national convention in Boston who opposes abortion and, to the chagrin of pro-life advocates, he is only on stage to help tout embryonic stem cell research, which destroys the lives of unborn children.
Jim Langevin, a Rhode Island congressman, will introduce Ron Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan, on Tuesday night. Reagan's speech is something of a coup for the Democratic Party, considering he is the son of a well-regarded pro-life Republican president.
Though Langevin votes pro-life on abortion issues, his introduction of Reagan will help boost research opposed by the pro-life community.
Langevin describes the opportunity as an "incredible honor" and says he asked Democratic Party chairman Terry McAuliffe for the opportunity to introduce Reagan
The congressman's spinal cord was severed when he was accidentally shot in 1980 during a volunteer police program, leaving him a quadriplegic. He sees embryonic stem cell research, though it destroys the lives of human beings in their earliest days, as offering hope for a cures for people like him.
"I recognize the tremendous potential that this research holds to improve the quality of life of millions of Americans suffering from numerous diseases," Langevin told the Providence Journal newspaper.
No one who is pro-life wants to see beneficial research stopped. In fact, pro-life advocates have trumpeted the use of adult stem cells, which have proven far more successful in clinical trials.
Dr. D.G. McKay, a stem cell researcher at the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, has called the promises of miracle cures from embryonic stem cells a "fairy tale."
In June, two leading researchers, including a Johns Hopkins University scientist, said less controversial approaches are more likely to find a cure or reduce the effects of Alzheimer's in the coming years. Using embryonic stem cells may not yield progress for decades, the researchers said.
Ron Reagan has made no secret his contempt for President Bush and his August 2001 policy prohibiting taxpayer funding of any new embryonic stem cell research.
Yet, Reagan realizes the Democratic Party is "using him" and said as much in an interview with MSNBC, where he is a political commentator.
Embryonic stem cell research has become a contentious issue in the presidential election.
John Kerry, the likely Democratic nominee for president, has already said he will overturn Bush's embryonic stem cell research funding limits, if elected. Kerry has criticized the president for "playing politics with science."
DONUM VITAE
Vatican document - Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation.
DONUM VITAE
Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list
Pro-life ping!
"though it destroys the lives of human beings in their earliest days"
Where's the outrage at the hundreds of fertility clinics that routinely destroy unused blastocysts (fertilized eggs) that aren't deemed fit for implantation? Does anyone support outlawing IVF? Just curious, as 'the lives of human beings in their earliest days' are being destroyed daily by these procedures not called 'abortion'.
What a perfect example of Kerry's "stand" on anything (Waffles) -
Here's a guy who is against abortion, but for abortion because it is necessary for stem cell research....
Arrrggghhh..... How are the American people so stupid?????
Dear God,
Please bring an awakening to the voters of America. Help open their eyes to be able to see the moral and righteous path for this country.
Amen....
It's something with the media acting as if getting Ron P. Reagan to speak at the Demonrat convention is a coup! The man is a leftist nutjob like the rest of them using his unfortunate father's name to slam the Republicans and this President. I look forward to seeing the true heir of Ronald Reagan in Michael Reagan at the GOP convention and I hope Nancy could at least just show up and sit in the stands if anything. Ron didn't even vote for his father!
was it me or did Michael look emotionally upset, while Ron looked aloof?
Even when Nancy was crying, Ron still didn't react the way I expected.
What Congressman Langevin is really talking about is destroying some human lives in order to "improve the quality of life of millions of Americans suffering from numerous diseases".
I sort of wonder how COngressman Langevin, a quadrapaligic, might react if someone were to suggest killing all quadrapalegics in order to provide organs such as kidneys and livers to the millions of Americans suffering from kidney diseases and liver ailments.
I would bet that he would recoil in horror at the thought of killing some human beings in order to "improve the quality of life of millions of Americans suffering from numerous diseases", and I woujld bet that he would say that such a suggestion is beyond monstrous.
And he would be exactly correct.
Stem cell research won't be a major issue in this campaign, it will be an add on that does little to sway anyone's vote.
That said, the President's position is short sighted, designed to appeal to the Pro Life side of the GOP. The Prolife side isn't "going anywhere", they won't support Kerry under any circumstances.
The danger, as I see it, is genetic research, specifically using various "cells", is being performed globally. We don't know what might result. Because we don't know, I'm very leery of "falling behind" other nations that don't have the moral compass "We the People" exhibit each day of our lives here in America.
I support outlawing IVF, surrogacy and all other mockeries and travesties of normal reproduction.
The abortion issue is a slight winner for us (Short of trying to outlaw it, of course), but opposition to stem cell research is a big loser. We've got to be careful here.
If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.
The reason the Democrats promote embryonic stem cell research is not to find miracle cures. The reason is to provide a counter argument over the beating they have been taking over Partial Birth Abortion.
Pro-lifers have used the argument over Partial Birth Abortion to insert the edge of the wedge over abortion in general. Most reasonable people can agree that a procedure that is minutes removed from infanticide is abhorrent. Once this position is accepted, that a baby minutes from birth has a right to life, it is a much easier matter to push back the limit of what is an acceptable procedure toward the point of making abortion generally unavailable.
Now the 'Rats may be wrong, but the aren't stupid. They have siezed upon the Embryonic Stem Cell Research issue in order to get people to accept destruction of human life at the very earliest stages by promising miracle cures. Once this position is accepted, that there is a utilitarian argument to be made in favor of the destruction of human life, it is a much easier matter to advance the date of acceptable abortions and other utilitarian arguments for abortion in other situations.
Ron Reagan is being used to promote abortion, plain and simple. He is not a dummy, he must know this. The only possible explaination is that he does not care.
The male ballet dancer has always been an elitist, lefty agitator. Another one who thinks they are above God.
Yes, it should be outlawed, as all murdering should be outlawed.
During the entire X42 administration there was no restriction. Research success...ZERO
Other countries engage in this type of research, including Great Britain, results.....ZERO
Guess the exploitation of those with serious illness are worth lying to in order to promite the assault on life.
Rather ironic, isn't it?
Please bring an awakening to the voters of America. Help open their eyes to be able to see the moral and righteous path for this country.
Amen....
AMEN........
I'm not going to be "careful" about speaking the truth.
"I'm not going to be "careful" about speaking the truth."
Exactly! Pop culture has dimmed us. We are more concerned with secular politics, money and seeking affirmation than standing for the truth.
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