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."
In the good ole days she would have been burnt at the stake. sarc/
The best Reagan kids were Maureen and Michael--Jane Wyman was their mother.
Thats absolutely true!
When your best friends in the world are Merv (i love boys) Griffen and Mike Wallace, you've never been a conservative. I'm not sure why people are surprised by this. It is exactly who Nancy Reagan has always been.
The Gipper would be very disappointed in his wife.
So much for her husband’s 11th Commandment.
Dear Nancy, in freepthink if you disagree on ONE issue with the mantra-doctrine, you will be insulted and dissed.
And one wonders why conservatism isn’t growing? Throw our own overboard like this?
The interesting thing about not have a fourth estate reporting the truth any longer is how Barry keeps getting away with misdirection and stupid remarks! He gave a speech regarding this EO rescending the ban on federal funding for new EMBRYONIC stem cell lines and in his speech he consistently referred to the object of the EO as ‘aborted fetuses as tissue sources, being a better utilization of what would be thrown away, wasted.’ The media fifth column enemy is either too stupid to catch the misdirection or complicit in delivering the deceit. Personally, I think it’s both!
I wish you people would go easy on Nancy. I believe she is simply misinformed about the issue. I kind of doubt anyone spent any time in the past few years keeping her fully informed about the stem cell issue, the differences between adult stem cells and embryonic styem cells, etc., or any other political issues.
To most Conservatives, Life is not "ONE" issue.
It is "THE" issue.
To most Conservatives, Life is not "ONE" issue.
It is "THE" issue.
Sorry for the double post. It seems to happening a lot lately.
Maybe she’ll leave all Ronnie’s lovely money to stem cell research.
Patti the Petulant and Ronnie the Ballerina deserve no less...
On THIS issue, she threw Ronnie’s ideals overboard a long time ago
she allowed herself to be used by the gloating left
on THIS issue, she deserves a spanking when she “congratulates” brack
No one gets a pass on disrespecting people who believe in the sanctity of life
“It is exactly who Nancy Reagan has always been.”
Exactly. I wanted to say, “Now, sit down and STFU,” but I thought that might be a little too extreme for a First Lady.
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