Posted on 07/28/2004 11:02:48 AM PDT by Vision Thing
(CBS/AP) Delivering a slap to his late father's political party, Ron Reagan told Democratic delegates Tuesday that voters in November face a choice between "the future and the past, between reason and ignorance, between true compassion and mere ideology," on the matter of embryonic stem cell research.
Reagan's appearance drew a sharp and personal response from his helf-brother, Michael Reagan.
Ron Reagan, a television journalist and longtime liberal activist, insisted that his speech was not intended to be political and that the issue of stem cell research should never be partisan.
But his brother Michael Reagan, told CBS News Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm Wednesday that his brother's appearance in Boston had everything to do with politics.
"He (Ron) really doesn't want George Bush reelected and this became an issue he could use for the Democratic convention," Michael Reagan said. "Nobody's surprised, I think, in the family that he would be at the Democratic convention. He's never really supported Republicans at all."
Michael Reagan also criticized Ron and sister Patti Davis for not joining their mother at a ceremony for the USS Ronald Reagan last week.
"If Ron is going to find time to show up at the DNC convention, it would he nice if he and Patti would have been at the home porting of the USS Ronald Reagan," Michael Reagan said. "I know that she [Mrs. Reagan] would love to have her kids, Patti and Ron, with her when her husband, our father, is honored like he was last Friday."
Ron Reagan, 46, became an active supporter of stem cell research after his father, President Reagan, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The elder Reagan died of complications of the disease last month at age 93. Nancy Reagan also is a strong advocate of stem cell research.
"I am here tonight to talk about the issue of research into what may be the greatest medical breakthroughs in our or in any lifetime — the use of embryonic stem cells, cells created using the material of our own bodies — to cure a wide range of fatal and debilitating diseases," Reagan said in his address at the convention.
Michael Reagan says he is also active in the fight against Alzheimer's, but sides with those who feel further scientific research is the best route to a cure.
Scientists believe stem cells, the body's building blocks, can be used to repair organs or treat diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. But because stem cells are typically removed from days-old human embryos that are later destroyed when the cells are extracted, many anti-abortion activists oppose such research.
President Bush has ordered sharp restrictions on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, allowing it only for stem cells created before Aug. 9, 2001.
"It does not follow that the theology of a few should be allowed to forestall the health and well-being of the many," Ron Reagan said. "And how can we affirm life if we abandon those whose own lives are so desperately at risk?"
And while acknowledging some opponents of the research truly believe that an embryo at its earliest stages is an actual fetus, "a few of those folks ... are just grinding a political ax and should be ashamed of themselves."
Ron Reagan devoted much of his speech to describing a 13-year old friend who suffers from juvenile diabetes, saying she faces an uncertain future.
"What excuse will we offer this young woman should we fail her now?" Reagan asked. "That facing political opposition, we did nothing? That even though we knew better, we did nothing?"
Its a riot watching the press hold up Ron Reagan as if he has qualifications to speak authoritatively or actually has something important to say, when their only real purpose in doing so is they think it annoys conservatives.
Ron Reagan is gay and ignorant.
This isn't about finding a cure for Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, or anything else. This is about providing a justification for the devaluation of human life even further.
"What excuse will we offer this young woman should we fail her now?" Reagan asked. "That facing political opposition, we did nothing? That even though we knew better, we did nothing?"
Ron your at a presidential convention everything's political.
He's the complete opposite of his father, who was able to effectively define himself before the American people despite a hostile press.
Don't forget ballet dancer.
And dog show host/judge.
Which is why the librats love him.
I like Michael Reagan a lot, but I don't think he should be going public with his family squabbles. I heard him say yesterday that in Nancy's eyes Ron Jr. can do no wrong. It sounds like he has a heck of a chip on his shoulder and he isn't doing any service to his Father's memory by criticizing his step-mom in public forums.
I guess all Ron Jr. wants is his pound of flesh.
He knows that, but he dares say he is not political because he thinks we're too dumb to figure it out. This is the hidden message of their convention.
I saw him say it too (on H&C). It was stated matter-of-factly, and I dont' think it's something that would be disagreed with by those who follow the Reagan's.
"...helf-brother..."
What's a helf-brother?
Don't they proof and spell-check the copy before it's released?
Completely true. My blood boils every time I see that filthy queer smear his father's name. And my heart breaks that Nancy seems complicit.
Would Ron, Jr. still support embryonic stem cell research if it could cure homosexuality?
>>but I don't think he should be going public with his family squabbles.
Yeah, Michael, shut up. You have no right to speak on this issue because its not like you are the boards of some research foundations that do stem cell research, or have any knowledge or opinion of your own. Oh, wait, I guess you are on a couple of boards of some research foundations.
>>I heard him say yesterday that in Nancy's eyes Ron Jr. can do no wrong.
Again, Michael shut up. Its not like Ron P. is being a traitor to the legacy and party his father built by urging America to vote for the Democratic nominee, while Nancy sits idly by. Oh, wait, Ron P. did just tell America to vote for Kerry, and Nancy is just sitting idly by.
>>It sounds like he has a heck of a chip on his shoulder and he isn't doing any service to his Father's memory by criticizing his step-mom in public forums.
Just shut up Michael. You have no right to speak at all. Ron P. was speaking first, so you should just shut up and never say anything, especially if it is not favorable to Nancy. Even if it is something you strongly believe in.
"I am here tonight to talk about the issue of research into what may be the greatest medical breakthroughs in our or in any lifetime — the use of embryonic stem cells, cells created using the material of our own bodies Uh, Ron, if they're embryonic, they're not from YOUR body, they're from someone else's, an aborted child's.....idiot.
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