Our First "Lady"

[gridlore]

AP Interview: First lady calls Kerry stem cell criticism 'ridiculous'

First lady Laura Bush defended her husband's policy on embryonic stem cell research Monday, calling Democratic rival John Kerry's criticism "ridiculous" and accusing proponents of overstating the potential for medical breakthroughs.

"We don't even know that stem cell research will provide cures for anything -- much less that it's very close" to yielding major advances, Mrs. Bush said.

Which is why, you dumb-ass bint, we do the bloody research in the first place! It might not be anything, but then again, penicillin started out as a bit of mold in a dish. It might be the answer to all sorts of problems, like many genetic syndromes!

But you don't want us to know. You prefer ignorance.

Damn, November cannot come fast enough.

Comments

[aurictech.livejournal.com]

And exactly how much federally-funded embryonic stem-cell research happened during the oh-so-enlightened Clinton administration? Absolutely none. Meanwhile, the allegedly-Luddite Bush administration has funded ESCR to the tune of approximately $25 million for the current fiscal year.

Personaly, based on results already achieved, I believe that adult stem-cell research is far more likely to achieve significant benefits, at least in the near-to-mid term. Yet we rarely hear anything about ASCR in the mainstream media....

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

There are two issues here, making one problem issue. The proper, constitutional solution (which is also a good compromise) is for the government to remove any bans on stem cell research, but not fund any such research.

[aurictech.livejournal.com]

AFAIK, there is no outright ban in the US on ESCR (else the current budget wouldn't have funding for ESCR). The controversy is over federal funding; current policy is to fund ESCR only on preexisting stem cell lines, while militant pro-ESCR advocates want unlimited federal funding of ESCR. As sources of additional stem cell lines include aborted fetuses and viable (but non-implanted) in vitro embryos fertilized in pursuit of fertility treatments, the issue has become a proxy for the abortion debate.

Ban? What Ban?

[vargr1.livejournal.com]

"First lady Laura Bush...says it "ridiculous" for John Kerry to claim the president has banned the research."

"While Bush's action restricts federal dollars, it does not stop private funding of any stem cell research."

Yeah, I think calling that a 'ban' is ridiculous.

Re: Ban? What Ban?

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/07/18/politics/main302045.shtml

This limited the research to 70 lines. Alas, it was later discovered that only 11 of those lines were suitable for research. That's not enough.

It's a ban, since we can't use new lines. John Kerry would change that.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040807-113828-9194r.htm

Re: Ban? What Ban?

[nsingman.livejournal.com]

I agree with aurictech and vargr1 here. It appears that there is currently no federal restriction on private citizens engaging in such research with private funds. I would oppose any such restrictions if they did exist. In the CBS story, Bush seems to be proposing regulations on this research (which I'd also oppose), but I haven't seen evidence of a ban yet.

Re: Ban? What Ban?

[vargr1.livejournal.com]

Nope. There is no ban on research, just that Federal dollars can't be used to fund any other lines. Private and non-govt institutes can and still are doing research.

Just because Federal dollars can't be used to do something, doesn't ban it. If the Federal govt made it illegal for *anyone* to do research, than *that* would be a ban. However, it seems that either the Kerry campaign or the reporters do not know or care about that difference.

Whether the Federal government should fund this research is a totally different discussion.