Obama going to reverse Bush's stem cell 'ban'

[someguy]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/06/obama.stem.cell/index.html

President Obama is planning to sign an executive order Monday to overturn Bush-era policy that limited federal tax dollars for embryonic stem cell research, according to administration officials familiar with the deliberations.

Obama's move will be hailed by advocates for those suffering from a host of afflictions, ranging from diabetes to Parkinson's disease, who believe that an expansion of stem-cell research could boost medical progress toward eradicating the debilitating diseases.

But many conservatives object to the destruction of human embryos because they contend that it ends a human life.

The officials said the administration is planning a Monday event at the White House at which Obama will overturn the executive order signed by President George W. Bush in August 2001. It barred the National Institutes of Health from funding research on embryonic stem cells beyond using 60 cell lines that existed at that time. Interactive: Unlocking the promise of stem cells »

Tony Perkins of the conservative Family Research Council accused the White House of leaking the details Friday night so that the move gets little attention, declaring that it is "a slap in the face to Americans who believe in the dignity of all human life."

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said, "Advancements in science and research have moved faster than the debates among politicians in Washington, D.C., and breakthroughs announced in recent years confirm the full potential of stem cell research can be realized without the destruction of living human embryos."

In addition to signing the executive order, Bush twice vetoed legislation -- in July 2006 and June 2007 -- that would have expanded federally funded embryonic stem cell research.
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At the time, Bush also argued that scientific advances allowed researchers to conduct groundbreaking research without destroying human embryos.

Was waiting for him to do this, glad he's doing it now rather than later. Conservatives would rather have the embryonic stem cells killed after no one uses them rather than have them put to good use, they can whine all they want about it I guess.

[gayzilla]

It's about time. Though I wonder why CNN is waisting their time quoting somebody like Tony Perkins who has no business chiming in on anything. He's not a leader in any medical field, a member of congress, nor a respectable representative for conservatives. . The poorly named "Family" Research Council is a facist organization thats main goal is the destruction of the American Family. I'm surprised CNN didn't have the resources to quote a respectable conservative voice for the opposing side.

[Homyrrh]

poorly named "Family" Research Council is a facist organization thats main goal is the destruction of the American Family.
I am not familiar, to any degree, with the FRC, but I know hyperbole when I see it!

Likewise, my familiarity with stem cells is limited, but aren't we just about able to use stem cell technology without actually killing the stem cell? Why don't we just use that? Again, I have little comprehension of this, or even of the current technology, but it seems unnecessary.

[shoe1985]

I am not familiar, to any degree, with the FRC, but I know hyperbole when I see it!

Likewise, my familiarity with stem cells is limited, but aren't we just about able to use stem cell technology without actually killing the stem cell? Why don't we just use that? Again, I have little comprehension of this, or even of the current technology, but it seems unnecessary.

I am like you, not an expert on this topic. But, I know that they have made many strides in recent years with stem cells.

This should not be a shocker to anyone, just like any of the new things, not really new, Obama is doing. This is what he ran on, and why many of us voted for him. It is like people are coming out saying this is unexpected.

[gayzilla]

I am not familiar, to any degree, with the FRC, but I know hyperbole when I see it!...

Yeah, Tony Perkins often uses hyperbole to push his extreme Dominionist anti-family agenda. he is also a racist. Here are some tidbits on him.

The FRC is an organization deadicated to Dominion Theology. Dominion Theology is a grouping of theological systems with the common belief that society should be governed exclusively by the law of God as codified in the Bible, to the exclusion of secular law, a view also known as theonomy. the defining concept of dominionism is "that Christians alone are Biblically mandated to occupy all secular institutions until Christ returns.

The FRC is lead by Tony Perkins, Tony Perkins has longstanding ties to racist organizations, including an alleged deal with David Duke to share his mailing list. In 2001, Perkins addressed the Council of Conservative Citizens (successor organization to the anti-integration White Citizens Council) - a known racist group with an agenda of white supremacy.

I don't understand why CNN is quoting this extremist. Wasn't Newt Gingrich or Pat Buchanan available. Well, Buchanan is on MSNBC so I see why they didn't go for him, maybe they are just trying to invalidate the Convervative side of the issue by quoting someone like him.

I am strongly for Stem Cell research as it can save many lives, and maybe even cure my mothers MS before it gets too bad. I also dont see the correlation between the use of stem cells and abortion.

[Pentangeli]

I'm like a few others here, I'm no expert on this issue. I don't have a stance on the matter.

Is there any evidence that embryonic (pluripotent) stem cells are of greater use [in tackling deseases] than adult (multipotent) stem cells, or umbilical stem cells?

Where do scientists obtain the embryos used for their research?

Is human cloning part of the agenda?