Mitt owns stock in stem cell research

Boston Herald ^ | 8-15-07 | Casey Ross

[14themunny]

Despite his “pro-life” campaign pitch, former Gov. Mitt Romney owns stock in two companies involved in embryonic stem cell research, a controversial field of study he previously cited as the reason for his rightward shift on abortion.

Romney holds stock in the biomedical firms Novo Nordisk and Millipore Corp., both of which use human embryos to research cures for chronic diseases, records show. Many conservatives fiercely oppose the research because it destroys the embryos in the process.

“I believe (pulling the investments) is a step he should take,” said Mildred Jefferson, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. “I do believe (Romney) is an honorable man, and having declared that he understands the ethical violation in embryonic stem cell research, I feel certain he would not want to have his money go to support it.”

In his public actions, Romney has occupied a middle ground on stem cell research. He has supported research using excess embryos created at

[Aquinasfan]

The blind trust argument is moot. If he sincerely is Pro-Life, he would direct that the trust divest itself from companies that violate that moral conviction, especially for a Christian.

True, but they may have erred, or been ignorant of the situation.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Is killing the baby okay because the woman was raped or her health is at risk? No, not really. But a majority of people have come to believe that the exception is acceptable whether we agree with it or not. The same will be true with the embryos that are waiting to be destroyed.

I know this sounds cold, but if I ruled the world I'd prefer that there would be no fertility clinics implanting people with embryos, so there would be no discarded embryos. I'd ask that people adopt instead. But, alas, I do not rule the world. We have to deal with the world that we have in the most rational and reasonable fashion while we attempt to change things.

[Kaslin]

Another important thing for people to know is that Mitt Romney also supports cloning embryos, disabling them, and then robbing the body parts for experimentation. It is a process called “altered nuclear transfer.” It, like Mitt Romney, is a sham.

Do you have any proof for that or are you just making this nonesense up. Your hatred for Mitt Romney is well known here

[Badeye]

It isn’t buried, if you understand the make-up of a blind trust.
This doesn’t excuse him... he needs to tread very lightly between his political speech and his financial actions.

People do stand up and take notice when they find discrepancies.

To me its more about those that hate him searching for a reason to validate the position.

[EternalVigilance]

I know this sounds cold, but if I ruled the world I'd prefer that there would be no fertility clinics implanting people with embryos, so there would be no discarded embryos. I'd ask that people adopt instead. But, alas, I do not rule the world. We have to deal with the world that we have in the most rational and reasonable fashion while we attempt to change things.

None of that justifies using the embryo for experimentation and profit.

[Badeye]

Thanks.

[Kaslin]

You’re welcome

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Hate him?

I see people who find that they do not agree with him politically and are subsequently supporting another candidate. It’s called the election cycle, and it is quite normal.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Maybe not to you or me, but to a majority of Americans they will make the Hobbesian choice and decide that it is better to help the living with research and do something good with those embryos that would otherwise be detroyed for no good reason at all.

[Lovebloggers]

I predict this will need to be repeated often in this thread.

[EternalVigilance]

Do you have any proof for that or are you just making this nonesense up. Your hatred for Mitt Romney is well known here

I guess you haven't been reading Mitt's writings, or watching the presidential debates. These matters have appeared quite recently in both, from Romney's own hand and mouth.

Mitt Romney essay

Romney claims that "altered nuclear transfer" doesn't involve cloning, or destroying human embryos, but it most certainly does.

May 4, 2007 – 11:23 am

Mitt Romney tried to dodge a question on embryonic stem-cell research, but Chris Matthews asked the tough questions. Again, Mitt flopped. Last night he said:

MODERATOR: And you won’t take any from these fertility clinics to use either?

ROMNEY: I’m happy to allow that to — or I shouldn’t say happy.It’s fine for that to be allowed, to be legal. I won’t use our government funds for that. Instead, I want our governments to be used on Dr. Hurlbut’s method, which is altered nuclear transfer.

__________________________________________________________

Altered nuclear transfer creates an embryo by means of cloning, disabling it in the process so that it theoretically cannot implant, and then harvesting the pluripotent cells...ie the cells that would become heart, brain, lungs, skin, etc., if they had left it alone and not played Mengele.

ANT is a scam. It's no wonder it's a perfect fit for Mitt Romney.

[EternalVigilance]

Somehow I doubt you speak for most Americans on this as you claim.

The vast majority have no idea this scam is being perpetrated on them...and on the innocent children that are being destroyed for convenience and profit.

[EternalVigilance]

Your hatred for Mitt Romney is well known here

Kind of a liberal tactic you're using there, champ.

I don't hate him. But, I do hate the fact that on his watch in MA gay marriage, socialized medicine complete with taxpayer-funded abortions, the complete homosexulization of the public schools, and a permanent assault weapons ban were all implemented, with varying degrees of Mitt Romney's cooperation and empowerment.

And I hate the fact that there is no similarity between that record and his current rhetoric.

I hate the fact that Mitt Romney is trying to perpetrate a gross political fraud on the conservative movement and on America.

[MHGinTN]

Wise words, we do in fact have to deal with the world the way it is. That doesn’t mean we are obligated to support folks who utilize the world’s methodology.

[redgirlinabluestate]

President Bush's Council on Bioethics has made the same recommendation regarding Alternative Sources of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. I think Sen. Rick Santorum previously introduced legislation in support of this procedure as well. Here is the White Paper on it: http://www.bioethics.gov/topics/stemcells_index.html

FWIW there is also a newer bill in the senate proposing to use embryos that have died naturally for this procedure. They make an argument that it is akin to organ donation from a dead person into a living person to save them. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/61613.php

[MHGinTN]

Why am I not surprised that Mittster would like ANT since it is so slick to deceive the public. One wonders if this guy realizes the public is not deaf and dumb to this dissembling. Purposely handicap a newly conceived human being so the utility of killing them for body parts looks like it’s making good use of a poor circumstance, yet the scientists create the poor circumstance of being handicapped. It reminds me of the try at obfuscating with ‘therapeutic cloning’ to get public accpetance of cloning just not to birth children only make parts providers out of the alive unborn. Disgusting, and even more disgusting that those we thought were pro-life will defend this ghoulish crap because they want their man elected.

[EternalVigilance]

I don't care who supports it. It's a complete scam, and amounts to cloning, disabling a defenseless human being, and harvesting their body parts for profit.

"Pluripotent" cells are actually the child's developing body parts.

[EternalVigilance]

I think Sen. Rick Santorum previously introduced legislation in support of this procedure

He did. And a whole bunch of people who should know better signed off on it. Doesn't make it right.

[redgirlinabluestate]

I don't think Rick Santorum is defending ghoulish crap. And I don't think Mitt Romney is defending ghoulish crap. They both support this research. http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/santorum-takes-on-thorny-stem-cell-research-issue-2006-06-21.html

Also, there is evidence that the new research can be done by using embryos which have died naturally.

I like the fact that people like Santorum and Rommey are out there trying to come up with alternatives to the solutions that we conservatives definitely do not want. They may not always be perfect, but they are attempting to do something positive rather than allowing the liberals to frame all the arguments and control the agenda. They are attempting to improve the situation in wise fashion.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Let me tell you, I wish we had’t gotten to this point, but if it can be done using naturally dead embryos how is it disabling anyone? I think those who receive kidney and liver transplants from brain dead people do not think they are disbaling defenseless human beings. Are you opposed to organ donations too?