Posted on 07/28/2004 12:15:25 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
WASHINGTON – Ron Reagan, son of the late Republican president, last night at the Democratic National Convention called on Americans to "cast a vote for embryonic stem-cell research" when they go to the polls in November.
But his older brother, Mike Reagan, says Ron doesn't know what he's talking about and is simply being used by the Democrats.
"I would love for Ron to get involved in the Alzheimers' Foundation or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation," said Michael Reagan on his nationally syndicated talk radio show. " I would love for that to happen. Ron Reagan, my brother – I love him. I would just hope he becomes more knowledgeable on the issue and honors our father."
Ron Reagan delivered what he called a "non-political" speech at the Democratic convention in Boston last night. But it was widely perceived as an endorsement speech for John Kerry and the Democrats.
"He is basically saying vote for Kerry and there will be stem-cell research," said Mike Reagan. "What I am saying is that there is already stem-cell research taking place. The media would have you believe – and my brother would have you believe – that stem-cell research is not going on. But it is."
Ron Reagan told the 20,000 people assembled at the convention that stem-cell research may lead to the "greatest medical breakthrough in our or in any lifetime."
In 2001, President Bush limited the use of federal funds for embryonic stem cell research, citing moral and ethical concerns about performing experiments with fertilized human embryos. Proponents of such research insist those restrictions interfere with efforts to develop new treatments for a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's, which slowly killed the former president.
However, adult stem-cell treatments have actually shown far more potential in treating dread diseases. Preliminary research involving embryonic stem-cell research has been associated with the development of tumors.
"Now, there are those who would stand in the way of this remarkable future," Ron Reagan said, speaking of potential discoveries, "who would deny the federal funding so crucial to basic research. A few of these folks, needless to say, are just grinding a political axe and they should be ashamed of themselves."
Ron Reagan told the delegates that the choice in November is more than selecting one ticket over another.
"We can choose between the future and the past," he said, "between reason and ignorance, between true compassion and mere ideology."
Ron Reagan prefaced his remarks by saying: "A few of you may be surprised to see someone with my last name showing up to speak at a Democratic convention. Let me assure you, I am not here to make a political speech, and the topic at hand should not – must not – have anything to do with partisanship."
He called embryonic stem-cell research the "greatest medical breakthrough in our or in any lifetime."
The issue of stem-cell research took center stage for the Reagan family because of Nancy Reagan's public support. The former first lady, along with other members of the family, has been very vocal in expressing the belief that the scientific community should be allowed to explore this controversial avenue in the search for a cure for Alzheimer's and other diseases.
While Ron Reagan, his mother, Nancy, and his sister, Patti, have weighed in in favor of embryonic stem-cell research, one member of the family opposes it.
As Michael Reagan put it recently: "The media continue to report that the Reagan family is in favor of stem cell research, when the truth is that two members of the family have been long time foes of this process of manufacturing human beings – my dad, Ronald Reagan during his lifetime, and me."
"The media should keep in mind that we are also members of the Reagan family, and my father, as I do, opposed the creation of human embryos for the sole purpose of using their stem cells as possible medical cures," said Michael Reagan.
Michael Reagan said embryonic stem-cell research could not have saved his father from the ordeal of Alzheimer's disease.
"This is junk science at its worst," he said.
At the convention, I believe a Harvard spokesman said that some lines were more flexible 'harvested' from embryos, but that the real issues - was government funding.
This guy seemed to be of the opinion that the only 'real' medical research ever done in this country is that which derives from massive federal funding. TO HIM - THAT'S the 'stem cell' issue in a . . nutshell.
My brother died this past year from severe heart damage since he was young. He was 54 when he died. He was a criminalist and studied many issues related to his own medical condition and the conditions of others. He was very angry about the subject of stem cell research. He supported the concept, and I would have never argued the point with him in his condition.
I have such mixed feelings about all of this. I do not want this country to be involved in the cloning of human beings on an experimental basis or otherwise. However, cloning cells that are not meant to be people is not such a disturbing thought. The entire abortion issue, particularly late-term abortion, disturbs me greatly. Bush has not closed the door to research. He has promoted the efforts by private organizations with private funding.
I wish I was more knowledgeable about all of this, but what I do know is that I do not want to see fetuses sacrificed. I also do not want to see children born who have never been nurtured by a mother's womb. When I hear people talking about women no longer having to carry babies because there will be medical advances that make it unnecessary, I want to puke. The issue really boils down to responsible behavior that is in keeping with God's will. I don't trust the medical community and science to respect those boundaries.
Thumbs up BUMP!
Nancy Reagan also believed in astrology.
Compassion for those in our families who suffer from dread diseases can never be allowed to determine and excuse the deliberate taking of another's right to live.
All men are created equal from conception to natural death.
He was behind the door when brains were given out.
Perhaps his tights were just too tight.
She may have approved the content of his speech. I will never believe that she couldn't have enough forums to say these things herself, and with more persuasion. I will never believe that she APPROVED her son's choice of location when he opened his mouth and was a traitor to his father's political achievements. He made a fool of himself, IMO, and if anything, moved people who are wealthy enough to help fund such research AWAY from that platform. He appeared too looney to be attractive on the topic. IMO.
LOL! Good point. :)
Truthfully, many of us are late bloomers who really failed to "get it" until we began to experience a responsible adult lifestyle. The old saying passed from generation to generation....."one day you will see! What goes around comes around......wait till you have your own children!" ....there is a lot of truth to that wisdom. No offense meant to those who have decided not to have children (or for some reason can not). Only those who demonstrate their lack of respect for the very process that brought us all here.
Mike, I am actually a Conservative that favors Stem Cell Research. Thanks for giving your little brother and mother even more publicity for their stance on the issue.
Ron Reagan works for MSNBC. Were he actually a conservative and spoke at the GOP convention, what is the likelyhood he would still be employed as a media person?
If China has the answer you would a a dozen fully loaded 747's each day flying to China for the cure. Included on those planes would be many Christian Conservatives seeking a cure.
Hopefully, these people can stay in America after a stem cell cure is found in America.
The dream of the abortion industry is to be able to
tell women that they are "doing a good and honorable
thing, in fact an altruistic thing, by having an abortion".
The time will come when women having abortions will think
they are "giving" something back to society - if it keeps
going like it is.
Conservatives know that the issue isn't 'stem cell' - it's government funding, and graft, and largesse. Follow the money.
The Bush Administration allows for a number of 'lines' of 'stem cells'. Complaints have been made that certain embryonic lines provide 'more flexibility'. But it's unclear if it's much of an advantage over those not taken immorally. Rather, as I recall a spokesman for Harvard (if anyone remembers for sure, please let me know) during convention coverage, debating an administration official, ultimately said the issue is really just government funding - not 'stem cell', by itself.
It was his opinion that the only worthwhile or 'real' medical research ever done in this country came as a result of massive govenment funding - essentially equating medical research, generally, with defense spending and military sector innovation and spinoff.
So, that's the issue you're debating.
The Frankenstein solution? Give them more credit than that.
The Bush Administration allows for various lines of 'stem cells', already, but not those derived under his watch by immoral procedures. That's all. The issue was framed by I believe it was a Harvard spokesman (someone correct me if I'm wrong), perhaps on PBS coverage (?) last night, that it was all about the money - federal funding, and I would assume not all that carefully audited, to boot.
I heard Mike Reagan on Hannity's radio show in Boston from the Fleet Center yesterday afternoon, and he said he gets along fine with Ron, and they both have different politics, which they both acknowledge. He also said Ron knew absolutely nothing about stem cell...and that the DNC was using him to maybe win over any of the GOP that might be negative out there on this subject. He said Ron and Pattie have attended NOTHING that has been dedicated to their father...especially the new carrier. He said Ron calls that an instrument of mass destruction. Ron and Patty are agnostic, certainly a sorry spot for President and Mrs. Reagan. Mrs Reagan is closer to these two, being her own, but Mike,adopted at birth, seems to understand and loves all of them. He is a super guy and would make President Reagan proud. His devotion to his dad is wonderful. He would love to speak at the Republican convention, so I hope it is in the wind.
MB: Yes, thanks in large part, to teachings found in the bible.
I'm not well schooled in the Bible but I think you're lying through your teeth. It was inarguably Christians who ended slavery in Britain and America.
They do lots of nice things in China.
Undated photo of 36-year-old accountant Gao Rongrong. (FDI Photo) 
Ms. Gao endured seven hours of electric shocks to her face. (FDI Photo)
“There are over 30,000 documented cases of severe abuse and torture of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
I guess I fall into some other pigeon hole than 'Conservative' then because the
issue to me is farming human beings and then killing them for fun and profit.
"Since you chose to humiliate your father and me. Most monies and all property goes to the library. A LOT of money is going to the GOP."
(I realize Nancy is FOR this stem cell research because ronnie boy has sold it to her.)
What species are they, then? Tell us, ontologically and scientifically, when did YOU begin to exist?
Or, are you against using the same things to help women, who couldn't otherwise, get pregnant?
Get pregnant with what? Or I should say, whom? Of course I'm against it. It is in the first place allowing a third party into what should be the marital relationship, which constitutes a kind of artificial adultery. Second, in position but not in importance, is that to deliberately create human beings knowing and planning that some of them will be killed or deprived of their liberty by being frozen is hideously immoral. Ron Reagan should be ashamed of HIMSELF.
I say rather than just disposing of them, use them for research if that research shows promise...And it looks like it does.
"If you are going to kill all these people, at least take the brains out so that the material could be utilized." (Testimony of Dr. Julius Hallervordan, 1947)
"Julius Hallervorden was born in East Prussia. He came to Emil Kraepelin’s (1856-1927) clinic in Munich to spend sabbatical leave there and brought with him the brain of a girl who had suffered with the syndrome. He met Spatz there and together they described the syndrome. Hallervorden worked with Spatz from then on. A distinguished academician, Hallervorden occupied the Chair of Neuropathology at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institut in Berlin-Buch throughout the war years and following the war was a neuropathologist at the Max Planck Institute in Frankfurt.
Like his friend, Hugo Spatz, Hallervorden became a notorious Nazi war criminal. When Adolf Hitler's infamous words on the morning of September 1, 1939, "Seit fünf Uhr fünfundvierzig wird jetzt zurückgeschossen", marked the attack on Poland, Hallervorden was the Prosector (Pathologist) at the Brandenburg State Hospital. That year an euthanasia centre had been established at the Brandenburg-Görden centre, where there was a sudden surge in institutional deaths.
During the war years he used brains from people murdered by the Nazis for investigations. "I accepted the brains, of course. Where they came from and how they came to me was really none of my business.""
Cordially,
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