Stem Cell Research

The republicans have been experts at using “wedge issues” like gay marriage, gun control, etc to draw votes from the very people who their economic policies harm the most. Sometimes I just sit back and marvel at how good the republicans are at politics.

But they are making a big mistake with stem cell research. This is a “wedge issue” that is going to work against them. I’ve seen numbers like 70% of the American public supports stem cell research.

Of course they do. It has the potential to prolong life, reduce suffering, make our lives better. And if we don’t do the research here in this country, they are going to do it elsewhere and so we’ll be falling behind in a critical area of biotechnology if we don’t change our stem cell policy.

But the Republicans are hostage to their conservative wing on this one and they are going to get hurt by it. The average American isn’t as stupid as the Republicans think they are. They see that the embryos are there to be used. They see that the embryos are just going to get destroyed if they aren’t used for stem cell research. They see that this is not an abortion issue, it’s a human life issue.

We use the hearts, livers, and other body parts of dead people all the time to make other people’s lives better. We might not like how they died, but the fact is they are dead and we at least ought to get something good out of that.

I hope the democrats make a big issue of this in the coming mid-term election. It’s good that Bush vetoed this. It would be good if the Republicans can’t summon the votes to overturn the veto.

Because the administration is wrong on this one and America knows it.

Comments

[Dave]

Well, yes the Republicans are being stupid on this issue, as you say, but recall that it's one Republican, in particular, Bush, who is being stupid. Most Republicans in Congress supported the legislation, including people like Frist. Santorum opposed the legislation.

It's also important to recall that the legislation which Bush banned would have only lifted the restriction on federal funds being used for stem cell research. Nothing precludes state or private or foreign funding used for such research.

[howard lindzon]

Bush is as wrong as wrong can be.

[Derek Scruggs]

The restriction on federal funding has a profound impact. To cite a trivial example, if you bought a desk for the lab using federal funds, you can't use that desk to write a paper about your stem cell research. Research scientists are leaving the US for other, more research friendly countries because of this.

[Derek Scruggs]

Also "Most Republicans in Congress" certainly did not support the legislation. If so, it would be veto-proof, and it's a long way from that. In the Senate 37 senators opposed it, mostly Republicans. In the House, 194 overwhelmingly Republican congressman voted against it.

[Tony Alva]

Agreed, anybody who voted against this is doing nothing but pandering to the hyper Christians.

[Dave]

While 70% of Americans say they support stem cell research, I don't think that it will be a hot-button election issue.

This is similar to environmental issues- everyone says its important but when you look at its impact on election decisions environmental concerns is way down the list of importance.

This election will be about the economy and security.

[Rick]

My grandmother died of parkinsons so I find it particularly displeasing that Pres. Bush has such a strong stance on the Stem Cell issue.

However, I respect Bush for sticking to his guns on an issue he obviously believes in. Clinton would have chosen the route that would make him the most friends.

I just wish he'd stand up against some of those spending bills he signed. He needs to feel stronger about non-religious issues as well. That "Veto" stamp needs to get used a little more.

[JB]

This isn't as big an issue as the media is making it out to be. Yes Bush vetoed the bill to provide more federal funding for stem cell research, but that doesn't all of the sudden make stem cell research illegal.
If a company wants to fund the research and development they are free to use stem cells (adult and embryonic). Let's hope someone takes the initiative, funds the research, and cures Parkinsons. Pfizer? Merck? Wyeth? Anyone?
Will this be an issue in the fall? I don't think so. Dems know their bread is buttered by the anti-war money from MoveOn and Soros. Sure, stem cells is an issue, but the war will be the major issue. Now if the Dems can just agree what their anti-war policy is they might stand a chance to win back some seats. But I don't see that happening.

[Rob]

Republicans are against stem cell research? How is it that the bill passed both sides of the republican lead congress? It would have gotten nowhere without republicans voting for it.

Bush vetoed it. Did he ban stem cell research? No. He vetoed a bill that would have our tax money spent on stem cell research. He is leaving it up to private industry to do this, much like all the rest of the medical research that has brought us so many cures.

I do love to look at the liberal way of thinking, though. That is, take a poll and then vote using the results. Forget how YOU feel about it, what your values are, or what you said when you were campaigning. Just vote with the polls.

No, Bush does not follow the polling philosophy. I often don't agree with the man (like on this issue), but I very much like that he knows his values, will tell you straight what they are, and sticks to them, without regard to what the polls say.

[jackson]

I certianly support stem cell research. As far as Republicans and Democrats are concerned, I'm with Lewis Black, I think what they need to do, both parties, in the coming election year is take some time off.

[Darrell]

The only way this becomes any size electoral issue is if the media and the Dems get away with characterizing it as "NO" to ESC entirely rather than what it really is, a NO to Fed $. You would think that a VC would recognize that the pharm/bio companies would be spending like crazy if they thought the payoff was likely.

[Jake]

Here's something that's even harder to believe:

http://bluenoodle.jazznoodle.com/node/1692

[David M.]

I have traditionally voted for a republican as president- however; I feel the far right (aka religious right) have stolen the values; stem cell research should be booming and the US should be leading the way. I'm voting democrat for whitehouse and any senate/house seats henceforth just to ensure we get this issue won.