Hentoff: The Stem Cell Clashes (George W. Bush Can’t Stop Science)

Village Voice ^ | 8/4/01 | Nat Hentoff

[dead]

So why isn't there a campaign—crossing all political, religious, and other ideological lines—to get more federal funding for adult stem cell research too?

Because adult stem cell research does nothing to further the idea that abortion is beneficial to society.

[alloysteel]

George W. Bush is not trying to stop science. He is not going to allow FEDERAL funding for certain forms of stem cell research. And not even the most promising stem cell research. Only that which would be fueled by aborted fetus commerce.

The one line of development that is most likely to provide the greatest benefit is adult stem cell research, taken from the bone marrow of the afflicted patient, which some preliminary research indicates may be used to do some extraordinary things like regrowing damaged or missing organs, or reversing certain degenerative diseases.

[tallhappy]

So why isn't there a campaign—crossing all political, religious, and other ideological lines—to get more federal funding for adult stem cell research too?

Because adult stem cell research does nothing to further the idea that abortion is beneficial to society.

Bingo bingo bingo.

You are 100% right on the mark.

This "controversy" is not about medical research or stem cells, but abortion and the baggage surrounding it.

They want to use it for what you say, and also politically to bash Bush.

The latter makes no sense because Clinton had the same proscriptions on the funding of the research and Bush simply inherited the policy.

But truth is of secondary importance for these zealous crusaders for abortion.

[Artist]

BUMP

[HalfIrish]

More proof of what we've known all along. The "debate" was hijacked early on by the pro-aborts. There's a special place in Hell for them.

[Oschisms]

The fetal tissue industry, I'm guessing, proved so lucrative that they are trying to open up new markets for the cadavers of the innocent.

[TheDon]

Even the pro-life individuals are split on this one, with some supporting the Bush plan.

Ain't that the truth! I've definitely seen this in the press, and even here on FR.

Although it is sad to read of the kind of censorship mentioned in this article, I think it is a sign that the other side realizes that ESCR is not as promising as ASCR. It is encouraging to read about the lives ASCR is helping today, and the more likely promise for even more treatments in the future. No doubt ESCR will diminish as ASCR grows.

[TheDon]

And my Senators, Feinstein and Boxer have front row seats!!

[BibChr]

Thanks for the bump! Some good observations here.

I see a parallel with what W said, to wit:

You should also know that stem cells can be derived from sources other than embryos -- from adult cells, from umbilical cords that are discarded after babies are born, from human placenta.  And many scientists feel research on these type of stem cells is also promising.  Many patients suffering from a range of diseases are already being helped with treatments developed from adult stem cells. ...Eight years ago, scientists believed fetal tissue research offered great hope for cures and treatments -- yet, the progress to date has not lived up to its initial expectations

It's my hope and expectation that his panel will make this conclusion and announcement, and that embryonic stem-cells will be abandoned in favor of the other routes, as Hentoff discusses.

Dan

[RJayneJ]

[Askel5]

It's my hope and expectation that his panel will make this conclusion and announcement, and that embryonic stem-cells will be abandoned in favor of the other routes, as Hentoff discusses.

Your expectation?

You don't get it, do you?

Is it likewise your hope and "expectation" that the GOP rape/incest compromise on abortion is the vehicle by which all will one day understand that abortion ALWAYS is an essentially EVIL act which deprives another innocent human being of life?

C'mon Dan ... wake up.

[Askel5]

Cheers to Nat Henthoff ... one of the three or four U.S. journalists to cover the Tainted Blood Scandal.

[MHGinTN]

ESCR is about money, about wealth beyond avarice, my friend. Here's how:

Companies like Geron want to establish tissue and organ banks that varying in ethnic/racial category, to cover as many varieties as possible, from which medical people will draw (at greatcost/corporate profit) to treat patients; a monopoly will exist for the companies who can develop these fast-grown tissues and organs; embryos are very fast to transition from pluripotent to multipotnet and there is an unending supply of embryos, IF the society can be duped and the pro-life voices squelched such that the corporation can create and kill at their whim.

In the above scenario, the thing that will be lost (if not discovered in the public sector to prevent patent protection/hording) is the process whereby a patient's own stem cells may be coaxed into producing ALL the tissue lines needed and thus achieve PERFECT histocompatibility (read, no anti-rejection meds needed to assuage entry of foreign tissues of embryos). [Incidentally, it is that fact, that embryonic stem cells will be different antigen-wise from the patients body tissues and thus require anti-rejection meds, that at once proves the embryos are individual human beings different from the rest of more advanced nearly infinitely different individuals.]

[MHGinTN]

I've posed the profit/loss reasoning. The moral ethical loss, if embryos are routinely created and killed for exploitation, will be the founding principle that we are endowed by our Creator with the right to life, that individual human life begins at conception, and that arbitrary assigning of personhood and thus individual right to life is NOTa governmental function, because it comes from our Creator by endowment not governmental proclamation. The right to life as endowed by the Creator was once one of the founding principles of this now fading-morally nation. With broad somnambulent acceptance of abortion on demand came the subtle lie that the pre-born are not fully human bbeings, that the pre-born are tissue, to be exploited if a woman chooses to stop life support. This is nothing less than the loss of moral character by a nation. With that final loss, the Republic will be no more. IT IS THAT BIG AN ISSUE and that principle is getting only radical treatment by Alan Keyes, who, in his near insane ravings, is driving more people away from the essential truths than he is awakening! [Don't read my negative toward Keyes as a positive toward Bush; I'm not that either/or in my arguments.]

[BibChr]

2 pennies

[Askel5]

Faith without reason is worth just about that.

[BibChr]

2 pennies

[Askel5]

It's okay just to ignore me, Dan. I'm used to that. (Like you, the atheists and libertarians often have no answers for me or run out of rational defenses for the statements they make.)

"Two pennies" ... like their "Bzrrtt, thwip" sorts of responses ... ruin any chance of a bluff by underscoring the fact you're holding nothing but ponies.

[BibChr]

2 pennies

[Askel5]

I still would give anything -- even throw in the six cents I've earned on this thread -- to understand the logic you're using with regard to your hopes and expectations.

In the meantime, I guess I owe 'ya for bumping the thread.

(Might want to drop that "two pennies" line into your boilerplate. As the site's premiere Biblical Christian and the first I noted who used Scripture to defend the "Solomon-like" act that was actually splitting the babies on this ungodly stem compromise, I probably will be dogging you. Nothing personal, of course. Ask OWK.)