Michael Steele’s sister and Stem Cell Research

theanchoressonline ^ | 10/28/06

[bnelson44]

STEELE: I’m Michael Steele, and I approve this message.

TURNER: I’m Dr. Monica Turner.

Congressman Ben Cardin is attacking Michael Steele with deceptive, tasteless ads. He is using the victim of a terrible disease to frighten people all for his own political gain.

Mr. Cardin should be ashamed.

There’s something you should know about Michael Steele. He does support stem cell research, and he cares deeply for those who suffer from disease.

How do I know? I’m Michael Steele’s little sister.

I have MS, and I know he cares about me.

Video at link

[ClaireSolt]

Current government policy funds research on existing embryonic stem cell lines. I heard President Bush say that we have spent $90m on it withut any results. With this disappointing track record should we violate our ethical qualms and go gung ho on more research? I think not.

[Hildy]

I don't think so either.

[YdontUleaveLibs]

This is yet another issue that makes me sick of liberals. They deliberately confuse the issue between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. I am OK with adult stem cells being used. I am not OK with killing embryos for stem cells.

[ConservativeTerrapin]

The only phony Conservative I see here is you my dear New Yorker. Do give Bloomberg my best!

[zbigreddogz]

Ouch. That's gotta hurt.

Cardin's research folks must have let him down. If I were his consultant, there is NO WAY I would EVER allow this to happen. You simply to not set yourself up to be attacked by a good looking woman with MS who's related to the guy you are attacking. I can't imagine a worse image to give to the voters.

Not that I'm complaining, this is great news, I just can't believe they were this stupid.

[nmh]

"This is yet another issue that makes me sick of liberals. They deliberately confuse the issue between adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. I am OK with adult stem cells being used. I am not OK with killing embryos for stem cells."

It's the ole "muddy the water" and keep em CONFUSED.

It's more convenient to liberals to just refer to it as STEM CELLS - don't differentiate between the two and WHERE the SUCCESS and FUTURE PROMISE is with ADULT STEM CELLS. For liberals it is more convenient and steals money from folks to push EMBRYONIC stem cells - liberals don't care that there is NO PROMISE, NO SUCCESS with EMBRYONIC stem cells - just empty promises, capitalizing on ignorance, giving false hope and getting $$$, ideally FEDERAL and/or STATE money to pursue this wild goose chase.

[Hildy]

I live in Arizona, you idiot.

[sittnick]

But wasn't Fox's ad for embryonic stem cell research?

Dear Hildy,

I have disagreed with you in the past, but I see nothing here to take your questions at other than face value.

The answer is, Mr. Fox's ad does NOT differentiate between embryonic stem cell research and adult stem cell research. In the Steele ad, he only implies embryonic: "Stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans with diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. But George Bush and Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem cell research." The word embryonic appears nowhere.

It is true that many researchers think there is more potential in the embryonic stem cells. There certainly is more potential supply. So far, real successes have only come from adult stem cells (and lots of them). Moreover, this is not about banning, but FUNDING. That is, taking my money and yours, and spending it on something that we object to.

Fox has not seen fit to mention the word embryonic, and Steele has not seen fit to make the distinction either. The MSM makes even LESS distinction than Michael Fox does. My guess is that both candidates' teams have deduced that there is no good way to make the point in a 30 second spot without weakening the message. So, the Fox spot simply states that Steele would "put limits on the most promising research." This says NOTHING! Other than giving researchers a blank check, EVERYBODY puts limits on ALL kinds of research. When was the last time an AIDS activist was satisfied with the budget given to AIDS research? (They are still probably hogging all the best researchers!) Rather than argue about what kind of embryonic research Steele supports or doesn't want to fund (a libertarian, for instance, might LOVE embryonic Stem Cell research, and still not want to spend a taxpayer's nickel on it), Steele's ad makes it clear that he not only loves puppies, but his sister, as well. Looking at the set-up, it almost looks like the Steele people anticipated this kind of attack. First the pro-Steele "puppies" ad, then the anti-Steele "Steele wants Michael J. Fox to waste away with Parkinson's ad", then the counterpunch, "My big brother loves me and supports research that would cure me AND Mr. Fox. And I'm a doctor so I know." The word "puppy" was a substitute for the victim du jour. This time around, it was Michael J. Fox. Fortunately, the voters were already innoculated with this, and the follow-up ad is positive. There is no need to talk about Cardin's position, because this guy who loves puppies (Steele) also wants to find a cure, so Cardin's position is irrelevant.

[Hildy]

THANK YOU for taking the time and answering my question so eloquently. That is exactly what I was asking and I still don't know why I was attacked. :)