Bonnie Rogoff
Embryonic stem sellouts
By Bonnie Rogoff
The ink had hardly dried from President Bush's veto pen when the media began their distorted coverage of the embryonic stem cell issue. The sins of omission began with CNN's follow-up report that had Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash and Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider explaining the "controversial" veto and why embryonic stem cell research is a good thing. Dana Bash stated:
"What has been most fascinating in watching this debate is to hear self-described pro-life Republicans vehemently disagree with him (President Bush) saying they believe the most pro-life position...is to support this kind of research because it holds the promise, they believe, in talking to scientists, they say, of curing many of the diseases that so many people in this country and around the world are afflicted with, like Alzheimer's, like Parkinson's...."
It is true that so-called "pro-life" Republicans supporting this bill are, in fact, "self-described." What's false are news headlines like this one, from Bloomberg.com: "Senate Votes to End U.S. Ban on Stem-Cell Research." Sadly, there is no ban on embryonic stem cell research, only the federal funding. That won't stop Congress from pushing legislation to punish morally-opposed taxpayers. The H.R. 810 bill is called "The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act." Lost in the media hype is the truth.
Compared to adult stem cell research (ASCR), embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) has been unimpressive and holds the least promise for curing disease. Stem cells derived from skin, fat, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood does not destroy any human life and are superior to embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells have already been successfully used to reverse the symptoms and course of a number of serious chronic illnesses.
A new telephone poll conducted by International Communications Research of over 1,000 adults shows that 48% of Americans oppose federal funding for ESCR while only 39% support such funding. Nonetheless, the media reports only the polls favorable to ESCR. Most Americans know nothing about the significant advances being made using adult stem cells. The organization "Do No Harm" reports that "adult stem cells have benefited patients suffering from at least 72 diseases and conditions, where patient improvement is documented by peer-reviewed scientific publications." Inform the public that H.R. 810 pours their tax dollars into questionable studies; mention fetal and embryonic harvesting and the poll results will be very different.
Currently, abortion mills cooperate with biotech labs that harvest body parts from late-term aborted fetuses. The body parts are provided by the abortionists. It's barbaric, horrible, but legislative efforts have failed to stop it. Embryonic stem cell research will likely lead to an escalation of cloning and fetus farming, and would escalate the pregnancy rate by encouraging girls to participate in studies. It's a lucrative exploit for biotech researchers.
Most tragic is that embryonic stem cell research actually hinders funding for studies that could have been used to explore adult stem cells that are more likely to lead to a cure for Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases. We spend money on ESCR research when the same money could be spent using adult stem cells that demonstrate greater success.
Destroying embryos is not only unethical, morally repugnant and 100% wrong; it is unnecessary and a total waste of taxpayer money. Funding ESCR reduces money that should be allocated to adult stem cell research, with the consequence being that potential cures for serious diseases would be hindered.
So why is there such a push by the media to promote ESCR? Polls show that Americans are fed up with the lies behind "pro-choice" rhetoric and are becoming increasingly pro-life. Like abortion, ESCR is profitable and involves killing embryos. Pro-abortion groups have found a clever way to put a good face on evil by promoting research linked to curing diseases and chronic conditions. It's an opportunity to change their tarnished image from baby killers to good guys by appearing to support cures for disorders striking children and the elderly. It's also a great way to con people into becoming donors. If you think that's far-fetched, go visit some of the nation's largest pro-abortion organizations: Planned Parenthood, NARAL, the National Abortion Federation, and the National Organization for Women. One of their priority issues is the expansion of federal funding for ESCR. Why aren't these groups demanding federal funding for adult stem cell research? Why only embryos?
For a thorough and comprehensive fact-based understanding of stem cell research studies, visit National Right to Life (their articles date back to 1999) and Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics. For a comparison of ESCR with ASCR, Do No Harm publishes fact sheets covering a range of diseases, including spinal cord injuries. The results speak for themselves.
Regarding H.R. 810, major kudos to Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska), for he is the only Democrat to vote against the bill and to protect life. By contrast, Republicans backing H.R. 810 have put the pro-life majority on the defensive, all of whom will have to answer for their "Nay" votes in the fall. With 63 votes, the bill passed the Senate only four votes short of a veto override. A turnover in the Senate could change this outcome, as would the election of a pro-abortion president in 2008.
The upcoming election battle will be between the real and the fake. Senators Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, John McCain, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Bob Bennett and others who voted for the H.R. 810 bill have sold out their principles. They are NOT pro-life, no matter what they say to defend their position. The real guys, like Republican Senators Rick Santorum, Sam Brownback, Norm Coleman and John Kyl must speak out clearly and concisely to the public — not the media — in forums and debates. They must clarify why embryonic stem cell research is bad for America and has nothing to do with curing diseases, or they will lose in November and the loss can be big.
For a list showing how your Senator voted on H.R. 810, go to this link:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00206
© Bonnie Rogoff
The ink had hardly dried from President Bush's veto pen when the media began their distorted coverage of the embryonic stem cell issue. The sins of omission began with CNN's follow-up report that had Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash and Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider explaining the "controversial" veto and why embryonic stem cell research is a good thing. Dana Bash stated:
"What has been most fascinating in watching this debate is to hear self-described pro-life Republicans vehemently disagree with him (President Bush) saying they believe the most pro-life position...is to support this kind of research because it holds the promise, they believe, in talking to scientists, they say, of curing many of the diseases that so many people in this country and around the world are afflicted with, like Alzheimer's, like Parkinson's...."
It is true that so-called "pro-life" Republicans supporting this bill are, in fact, "self-described." What's false are news headlines like this one, from Bloomberg.com: "Senate Votes to End U.S. Ban on Stem-Cell Research." Sadly, there is no ban on embryonic stem cell research, only the federal funding. That won't stop Congress from pushing legislation to punish morally-opposed taxpayers. The H.R. 810 bill is called "The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act." Lost in the media hype is the truth.
Compared to adult stem cell research (ASCR), embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) has been unimpressive and holds the least promise for curing disease. Stem cells derived from skin, fat, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood does not destroy any human life and are superior to embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells have already been successfully used to reverse the symptoms and course of a number of serious chronic illnesses.
A new telephone poll conducted by International Communications Research of over 1,000 adults shows that 48% of Americans oppose federal funding for ESCR while only 39% support such funding. Nonetheless, the media reports only the polls favorable to ESCR. Most Americans know nothing about the significant advances being made using adult stem cells. The organization "Do No Harm" reports that "adult stem cells have benefited patients suffering from at least 72 diseases and conditions, where patient improvement is documented by peer-reviewed scientific publications." Inform the public that H.R. 810 pours their tax dollars into questionable studies; mention fetal and embryonic harvesting and the poll results will be very different.
Currently, abortion mills cooperate with biotech labs that harvest body parts from late-term aborted fetuses. The body parts are provided by the abortionists. It's barbaric, horrible, but legislative efforts have failed to stop it. Embryonic stem cell research will likely lead to an escalation of cloning and fetus farming, and would escalate the pregnancy rate by encouraging girls to participate in studies. It's a lucrative exploit for biotech researchers.
Most tragic is that embryonic stem cell research actually hinders funding for studies that could have been used to explore adult stem cells that are more likely to lead to a cure for Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases. We spend money on ESCR research when the same money could be spent using adult stem cells that demonstrate greater success.
Destroying embryos is not only unethical, morally repugnant and 100% wrong; it is unnecessary and a total waste of taxpayer money. Funding ESCR reduces money that should be allocated to adult stem cell research, with the consequence being that potential cures for serious diseases would be hindered.
So why is there such a push by the media to promote ESCR? Polls show that Americans are fed up with the lies behind "pro-choice" rhetoric and are becoming increasingly pro-life. Like abortion, ESCR is profitable and involves killing embryos. Pro-abortion groups have found a clever way to put a good face on evil by promoting research linked to curing diseases and chronic conditions. It's an opportunity to change their tarnished image from baby killers to good guys by appearing to support cures for disorders striking children and the elderly. It's also a great way to con people into becoming donors. If you think that's far-fetched, go visit some of the nation's largest pro-abortion organizations: Planned Parenthood, NARAL, the National Abortion Federation, and the National Organization for Women. One of their priority issues is the expansion of federal funding for ESCR. Why aren't these groups demanding federal funding for adult stem cell research? Why only embryos?
For a thorough and comprehensive fact-based understanding of stem cell research studies, visit National Right to Life (their articles date back to 1999) and Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics. For a comparison of ESCR with ASCR, Do No Harm publishes fact sheets covering a range of diseases, including spinal cord injuries. The results speak for themselves.
Regarding H.R. 810, major kudos to Senator Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska), for he is the only Democrat to vote against the bill and to protect life. By contrast, Republicans backing H.R. 810 have put the pro-life majority on the defensive, all of whom will have to answer for their "Nay" votes in the fall. With 63 votes, the bill passed the Senate only four votes short of a veto override. A turnover in the Senate could change this outcome, as would the election of a pro-abortion president in 2008.
The upcoming election battle will be between the real and the fake. Senators Orrin Hatch, Trent Lott, John McCain, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Bob Bennett and others who voted for the H.R. 810 bill have sold out their principles. They are NOT pro-life, no matter what they say to defend their position. The real guys, like Republican Senators Rick Santorum, Sam Brownback, Norm Coleman and John Kyl must speak out clearly and concisely to the public — not the media — in forums and debates. They must clarify why embryonic stem cell research is bad for America and has nothing to do with curing diseases, or they will lose in November and the loss can be big.
For a list showing how your Senator voted on H.R. 810, go to this link:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/
© Bonnie Rogoff
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
