Posted on 03/10/2009 1:03:47 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Republicans on Monday decried President Barack Obama's lifting of the ban on embryonic stem cell research, but former First Lady Nancy Reagan, whose husband had suffered from Alzheimer's disease, welcomed the decision and said she is "grateful" to the President.
Obama signed an executive order on Monday reversing the eight-year ban on research using embryonic stem cells.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that exist only within five days of embryonic development. They have an indefinite capacity for self-renewal, making them ideal for tissue replacement and for treating diseases, including degenerative diseases, spinal cord injuries, diabetes and heart disease.
Federal funds for embryonic stem cell research were limited by former President George W. Bush to 22 stem cell lines created before August 2001. The former president, with the support of conservatives and evangelicals, had said such research was increasingly unnecessary because of scientific advances that allowed the use of adult stem cells.
But according to a primer by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which aims to advance stem cell research and regenerative medicine, adult stem cells are extremely useful for future therapies but are restricted in what they can do.
The 87-year-old Reagan, who had urged former President George W. Bush to support embryonic stem cell research, said in a statement on Monday she is "very grateful" to Obama for lifting the ban, according to Politico.
"I urge researchers to make use of the opportunities that are available to them, and to do all they can to fulfill the promise that stem cell research offers. Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to do everything in our power to find cures for these diseases -- and soon. As I've said before, time is short, and life is precious," the former first lady added.
The same day, Republicans strongly criticized the President.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in a statement called the decision "a troubling shift in U.S. policy." He added, "The government is, for the first time, incentivizing the creation and destruction of human embryos at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer. I support biomedical research and I believe the administration would be far better served by directing taxpayer funds to research on non-embryonic stem cells, which is both effective and ethical."
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) stood firm in saying such research is unnecessary with the availability of adult stem cells.
"The President has rolled back important protections for innocent life, further dividing our nation at a time when we need greater unity to tackle the challenges before us. I fully support stem cell research, but I draw the line at taxpayer-funded research that requires the destruction of human embryos, and millions of Americans feel similarly," he said in a statement.
"Non-embryonic stem cell research is not only showing great promise in the laboratory, but its applications are already being used to treat scores of diseases and medical conditions. Indeed, science and respect for human life can coexist," Boehner added.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC), a group of conservative Republicans in the House, called on Obama to reconsider his decision.
"Ignoring moral questions is not change in which Americans can believe... Scientific evidence, not political patronage, demonstrates the ability for researchers to solve our moral dilemma without having President Obama force taxpayers to subsidize research that will destroy human embryos. Successful research does not have to come at the expense of human life. I call on President Obama to reconsider his decision," RSC chair Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) said in a statement.
Obama was surrounded by a Democratic leaders and a bevy of scientists when he signed his executive order at the White House. There were also several Republicans present, including Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who had said over the weekend in a statement, "This research enhances, not diminishes, human life."
Now, get a clue.
After he insulted her...
Nancy, Nancy, Nancy...
Hey Nancy: An astrologer and some embryonic stem cell research will get you a cup of coffee.
Adult Stem Cell Research 72 - Embryonic Stem Cells 0
She heard at a seance that it was ok.
Laud have mercy!
“Now, get a clue.”
Ah, Nancy is what...87 now? She may have a touch of senility.
I thought Obama said his administration would be guided by facts? All the research shows adult stem cells as fantastic, embryonic stem cells are tumor factories.
“a troubling shift in U.S. policy.”
Look who’s President. Mr. *Right to Kill*, himself.
She’s senile, so this doesn’t surprise me.
“Ah, Nancy is what...87 now? She may have a touch of senility.”
Maybe she’s hoping those embryonic stem cells will make her young again.
Nancy Reagan’s pro-embryonic stem cell research stance is proof of her immorality, not senility. NR’s argument is, “If doing X could benefit me or someone like me, X is morally acceptable.†This the-ends-justify-the-means argument, along with a large dose of denial (of the humanity of an embryo), are now openly trumpeted by many Americans...including our President.
This statement is a lie.
Nancy helped keep the greatest American president of the 20th century happy. So she gets a pass on this one.
Yes, it is. But it’s the meme of the week for the main-stream media.
Gotta cover 0bamas arse now, don’t they?
A few things you can be sure of:
1. In the next four years we will spend billions in federal dollars on stem cell research.
2. Our ROI will be negligible.
3. The negative consequences will be ignored by the FDA. Meaning, while some medications have been noted to increase the risk of blood clots in a small segment of the population, yet allow millions to live more productive lives, those drugs have been pulled off the market. Yet when it turns out that the stem cells cause all sorts of tumors, these therapies will not be pulled off the market for any reason. Stem cell research will become the next religion in the lines of abortion, where it is so important we need to federally fund as much of it as we can.
Honestly I can't fault her for having that hope, even though it's misinformed. Mrs. Reagan served her country with honor - by being one of the most gracious and lovely first ladies ever. She stood by her husband, and it was her strength as well as his, that gave us one of our finest presidents.
She's not robbing banks, she's expressing her opinion. I give this woman the benefit of the doubt.
Good Lord
Shes 84 yrs old. She doesn’t understand the facts. She has been brainwashed by the left.
Obama’s friends laud his decision, too.
I’d guess a lot of them have friends and family who are invested, BIG TIME, in embryonic stem cell research.
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