The Chris Moeller Archives

Bush sends more Americans to Jesus

It looks as if we're finally going to see that long-awaited first Bush veto. The Senate today voted to expand federal support for embryonic stem cell research, and the President has already made abundantly clear his intention to wield the executive pen on this issue. What's ironic is that the Senate bill in question-- already passed by the House-- didn't do enough to begin with to help find cures for some of the world's most devastating diseases. Thousands of surplus embryos in fertility clinics would be made available for federally-funded research with this measure, but nothing was included in the bill to boost what's referred to as "therapeutic cloning," or the creation of embryos genetically matched to patients with specific diseases so that their stem cells can be extracted and used towards the restoration of damaged tissue. The potential of that research is mind-blowing.

Still, Wednesday's anticipated veto will have devastating repercussions for disease sufferers such as those with diabetes, and it will weaken America's competitiveness in the field of research. "There has been an upsurge in demand," said Senator Hillary Clinton, speaking for the base of her party on an issue with 70 percent public support. Backers of the legislation "(have) crossed every line we could imagine, certainly partisan lines, ethnic, racial, geographic lines."

I hope Bush's children get Parkinson's Disease. I'm not sure what else it would take for the President to get behind this. Do you think Nancy Reagan would be making private calls to GOP Senators on behalf of this research if her husband had never been diagnosed with Alzheimer's? Of course she wouldn't. That's how the Republicans dance-- ignore it, condemn it, and/or politicize it until it reaches into their own backyard.

posted by CM @ 9:10 PM