Senator Kerry's Big Lie
Robert P. George on Stem Cells & Debate #2 on National Review Online:
Every reporter covering the election should, after the second presidential debate in St. Louis, be demanding of Kerry an answer to the following question: Who are the scientists who told you that 'we have the option' of curing Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal-cord injuries, or any other disease using embryonic stem cells? If they won't ask him, the Bush campaign should defy him to name the names. He won't be able to do it. No scientists - even those most pro-Kerry and aggressively in favor of the federal funding of embryo-destructive research - ever told Kerry any such thing.
What Kerry has done here is told the big lie about embryonic stem cells. The claim that 'we have the option' of curing Parkinson's disease, diabetes, etc. with embryonic stem cells is outrageous. No one knows when - or even whether or not - human embryonic stem cells will be therapeutically useful in treating any major disease or injury. There are profound - perhaps insuperable - problems with the therapeutic use of these cells. So, despite the fact that there is no federal ban on embryonic-stem-cell research, and that such research can be funded with state money and is being publicly funded in various places abroad, no embryonic-stem-cell-based therapy is even in clinical trials.
posted by David at 8:40 PM
Track with co.mments
Rate this post:
6 Comments:
The NIH says, "Perhaps the most important potential application of human stem cells is the generation of cells and tissues that could be used for cell-based therapies. Today, donated organs and tissues are often used to replace ailing or destroyed tissue, but the need for transplantable tissues and organs far outweighs the available supply. Stem cells, directed to differentiate into specific cell types, offer the possibility of a renewable source of replacement cells and tissues to treat diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, spinal cord injury, stroke, burns, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis."
There's the Society for Developmental Biology. The link actually deals with a comparison of adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells. But, again, here are credible scientists.
The NIH further talks about "the promise of stem cells."The NIH talks here about adult stem cells and embryonic stem cells.In closing, clearly this is a campaign and distortion are made as part of the process, some sides (BC04 and co) more than others, but at the least, won't it benefit you to know exactly what Kerry is saying before attacking his position? Kerry's website says "John Kerry and John Edwards believe that we must lift the barriers that stand in the way of science and push the boundaries of medical exploration so researchers can find cures that may exist. Continuing in our nation's great ethic of discovery, John Kerry and John Edwards believe that stem cell research holds immense promise for curing or treating these diseases and medical conditions." Neither Kerry nor the NIH or scientists in general have promised cures "around the corner," they simply speak of the promise and argue if we don't start now, we delay the realization of the promise.
All these links are available at Kerry Catholics if you ever want to talk more intelligently about Kerry's position on the issue.
Ono
Catholics for Kerry
Notice that in Ono's post there is not one mention that the expanded ESCR would entail the destruction (i.e. murder) of embryos. Not one word about it, just "promise" of this or that. Thanks for exposing your soul-less view.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Let's all remember that he was terminated from his post at the Bishop Council because he wasn't representing Catholics as they should be. He wasn't even willing to follow the Catechism. He has only a self interest in furthering himself and aspirations of changing the church into a more so called "progessive" institution. We want him and his group to fail at this. If he decides he wants to come back to the core of the church, than I pray for him that he does that, but until he does, I plan to tell everyone what kind of a person he is.
Post a Comment
<< Home