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Michael Reagan: A Little Truth in Stem Cell Debate, Please
NewsMax ^ | 10/27/06 | Michael Reagan

Posted on 10/28/2006 6:59:07 PM PDT by wagglebee

Stem cell research is one of the major issues in many campaigns across the country in this election year, and it is being demagogued like few others.

In the interest of truth in politics it's worth noting that there are two kinds of stem cells research – one involving embryonic stem cells (ESC) and the other using adult or cord-blood stem cells.

The overwhelming number of candidates, Republican and Democratic, favor research on stem cells gathered from adult and core-blood sources. But many, mostly Republicans, oppose ESC research because harvesting the cells requires killing a living human embryo, and in many cases result from cloning human embryos for the sole purpose of harvesting the stem cells from the embryos killed in the process.

All across the country, Democrats and their lackeys in the media distort the issue by portraying those opposed to embryonic stem cell research as being opposed to all stem cell research, refusing to draw the crucial distinction between the two types.

In addition to this dishonest tactic, proponents of ESC research inevitably claim that it is the form of research holding out the most promise as an effective means of curing a host of serious physical and mental disorders, while either ignoring or downplaying the incredible results now demonstrated in adult and core-blood stem cell research.

Moreover, a great falsehood been spread that President Bush and fellow Republicans opposed to embryonic stem cell research have attempted to ban it outright, when the truth is that all they have done is to seek to deny it government funding. Those who want to pursue it are free to find other sources of revenue, which - if the promises made on its behalf were credible - would be readily available from sources such as drug companies.

Such funding is not forthcoming, and for very good reasons.

Think about it this way: there are about 70 to 80 million baby boomers right now on the cusp of reaching the age where they will be susceptible to Alzheimer's disease.

With that many people just in the U.S. facing the threat of falling prey to Alzheimer's disease, wouldn't you think that if there were an answer to the problem - as the use of embryonic stem cells has been widely touted to be by its proponents - that the drug companies would be falling all over themselves to throw money at those wanting to do ESC research and come up with cures that would make them hundreds of billions in profits?

The fact that the drug companies have turned their back on ESC research should tell you something. One reason is that there is absolutely no basis for the claims that ESC holds a promise to cure all sorts of ailments from Alzheimer's to Parkinson's, or even spinal cord injuries. It's all smoke and mirrors and most of it is based on a single source -- the thoroughly discredited claims of South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-suk, who has been convicted of falsifying his research data.

One damning result of the ESC research that has been done is the fact that when the cells are injected into lab animals many grow brain tumors – some malignant and fatal. Thus far, that is the sole fruit of ESC research – fatal brain tumors. Drug companies aren't interested in funding that kind of outcome. There's no money in producing brain tumors.

In contrast to the dismal results of ESC, research on adult and cord-blood stem cells has produced real results, helping to cure such maladies as sickle cell anemia, lymphoma and juvenile leukemia. As a result funding is no problem here.

Claims that the president and his party are opposed to stem cell research fall flat on their back when you recall that last year Congress overwhelmingly passed - and the president signed - a bill funding the saving and storage of therapeutic core-blood stem cells and providing $150 million to fund storage of the cells.

That's the truth of the matter.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; embryonicstemcells; escr; michaeljfox; michaelreagan; moralabsolutes; prolife; stemcells
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One damning result of the ESC research that has been done is the fact that when the cells are injected into lab animals many grow brain tumors – some malignant and fatal. Thus far, that is the sole fruit of ESC research – fatal brain tumors. Drug companies aren't interested in funding that kind of outcome. There's no money in producing brain tumors.

Embryonic stem cell research has ALWAYS been about one thing and one thing only and that is PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ABORTION.

1 posted on 10/28/2006 6:59:10 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: cgk; Coleus; cpforlife.org; Mr. Silverback; narses; 8mmMauser

Stem Cell/Pro-Life Ping.


2 posted on 10/28/2006 7:00:39 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee

Bookmarked


3 posted on 10/28/2006 7:00:51 PM PDT by Skooz (<---- Bible-thumping fundamentalist, known to the media as a "theocon")
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To: 69ConvertibleFirebird; Alexander Rubin; An American In Dairyland; Antoninus; Aquinasfan; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee or little jeremiah to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]


4 posted on 10/28/2006 7:01:21 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee
Two proponents of this failed protocol.

NARAL

Research facilities that desire money from the government that they can't get from the private sector.

Truth is that this precedure is light years away from yielding a successful treatment for any life threatening disease.

5 posted on 10/28/2006 7:03:10 PM PDT by OldFriend (CNN ~ GIVING THE TERRORISTS A FAIR SHAKE)
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To: Skooz

I wish he had addressed how ashamed his father would have been about the pathetic ballerina boy whining about this at the 2004 'Rat convention.


6 posted on 10/28/2006 7:03:54 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee

"Drug companies aren't interested in funding that kind of outcome. There's no money in producing brain tumors.


Embryonic stem cell research has ALWAYS been about one thing and one thing only and that is PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO ABORTION."




UH ... Don't think there is a lot of money for the drug companies in "protecting the right to abortion" either ...


7 posted on 10/28/2006 7:04:48 PM PDT by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
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To: OldFriend
Truth is that this precedure is light years away from yielding a successful treatment for any life threatening disease.

And in the meantime, successes of adult/umbilical cord stem cells keep piling up.

8 posted on 10/28/2006 7:04:57 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: RS

And the reason that biotech and drug companies aren't investing in ESC research is because they know it will NEVER PAY OFF.


9 posted on 10/28/2006 7:06:18 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
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To: wagglebee

I support Michael Reagan and his indirect defense of Rush Limbaugh.

He really turned me off though in the late 90's when I used to listen to his show by calling "Limbaugh's nothing more than a Tie Salesman".

Those ties were ugly, but that petty manuver did not sit well with me. At the time, Rush was challenging my positions and as a result opening my eyes way more than Reagan could ever could.


10 posted on 10/28/2006 7:39:55 PM PDT by Eddie01 (please let me know if I missed anything)
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To: wagglebee

"And the reason that biotech and drug companies aren't investing in ESC research is because they know it will NEVER PAY OFF."

Then you really don't have much to worry about, do you ?


BTW - Did you know that Israeli human embryonic stem cell research is 2nd in world ?

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1159193379030&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull


They never were good businessmen, were they ?


11 posted on 10/28/2006 7:43:20 PM PDT by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
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To: I'm ALL Right!

Ping~


12 posted on 10/28/2006 8:04:13 PM PDT by No Fool ("He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot 1927-1956)
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To: RS

"Morning after pill" as one product produced by the "drug" companies. They have other products used to prevent pregnancy as well. So, the drug companies do have a stake in the pro-abortion issue.


13 posted on 10/28/2006 8:38:25 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Father of a 10th Mountain Division 2nd BCT Soldier fighting in Mahmudiyah)
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To: Coleus; nickcarraway; narses; Mr. Silverback; Canticle_of_Deborah; TenthAmendmentChampion; ...
Pro-Life PING

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

14 posted on 10/28/2006 9:21:54 PM PDT by cpforlife.org (A Catholic Respect Life Curriculum is available at KnightsForLife.org)
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To: wagglebee

My in-laws just told me they still didn't know how they were going to vote on Amendment 2 here in Missouri. It was all I could do to keep my jaw off the floor. I tried to calmly give them a little background info without causing trouble. I don't know how my husband came from these two. I still think he was adopted. :o)


15 posted on 10/28/2006 9:29:48 PM PDT by samiam1972 (Live simply so that others may simply live!)
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To: samiam1972

Special interest groups are the prostitutes of our society - when are we going to shut them down and cut off their business for good?


16 posted on 10/28/2006 9:34:41 PM PDT by princess leah
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To: princess leah

I agree. I'll do my small part by voting no on Amendment 2 in MO. Best I can do right now!


17 posted on 10/28/2006 9:37:40 PM PDT by samiam1972 (Live simply so that others may simply live!)
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To: OldFriend
"Stem cells" are like "global warming". Both share words for a science issue that has a parallel political/ideological issue that is totally disconnected from the science.

The issue known as "global warming" is not about climate change. It is about increased control, big and Bigger government, higher costs, fewer consumer choices, less liberty.

The issue known as "stem cells" is not about finding cures for horrible diseases. It is really only about propping up the flagging justifications for allowing unrestricted abortion.
18 posted on 10/28/2006 9:45:15 PM PDT by theBuckwheat
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To: wagglebee

Demagoguing the issue of ESC research obviously has proved
positively irresistible to the Dems: it seems to offer so many things all at the same time: a justificiation to continue full-throttle abortion, ( we need those embryos,folks), another opportunity to paint those opposed to it as (yes, once again) uncaring, selfish, and socially regressive, another opportunity to set up a politically-defined enclave with multiple-millions flowing into an entire pseudo-medical structure of professionals and even more unskilled associates, all of whom owe jobs and allegiance to those wonderful Democrats who funded their entirely fruitless enterprise. As always with the Dems, their is an attempt to link these things together, so it is never going to be clear whether they're even interested or willing to defend ESC on its own terms: it may just be a sub-issue put in the service of abortion rights....who knows? All I know is there seems to be a particularly desperate attempt underway to spot-weld a bunch of things together, hoping they all rise as one huge hotair balloon
with a giant "D" painted on it, rather than crash to earth , all weakened and discredited together, each "cause" a little the worse for wear. One thing is sure, when they are challenged to actually address the real details of the issue and their exploitation of it, they swerve and all they can talk about is how awful Rush Limbaugh's "mockery" of Michael J. Fox was.


19 posted on 10/28/2006 10:08:15 PM PDT by supremedoctrine ("Talent hits a target no one else can hit , genius hits a target no one else can see"---Schopenhauer)
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To: supremedoctrine

BTT


20 posted on 10/28/2006 10:09:42 PM PDT by supremedoctrine ("Talent hits a target no one else can hit , genius hits a target no one else can see"---Schopenhauer)
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