Home > Opinion > Bonnie Erbe > Obama Poised to Reverse Bush's Taliban-Like, Big Brother Stem Cell Policy

Obama Poised to Reverse Bush's Taliban-Like, Big Brother Stem Cell Policy

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Does anyone out there realize that Obama rescinded Federal funds for stem cell research that BUSH APPROVED with Executive Order 13435? This is more about politics (appealing to the pro-choice gang) than it is about science. Politics as usual. So much for the change we were promised.

Weslie of ME 11:15AM March 22, 2009

"Discarded blastocysts from fertility clinics have been thrown in the trash for thirty years without objections."
That's because, before the ESCR issue hit the fan, almost no one was aware of that fact. Obviously, our IVF system needs to be monitored and regulated further.

Brian of PA 12:02AM February 27, 2009

I get upset when people want to bad mouth God. America WAS founded by men who believed in one true God, but American public school textbooks have wiped out many references of the founding fathers quoting and relying upon scripture, praying for God's protective hand and blessings. Look where it's gotten us, people shacking up, abortion (murder) and more murder in our schools, streets and workplaces. Greed and uncontrollable spending. "Owe no man anything but love" would be a good verse for getting back on track financially. I'm sick of politicians saying "God bless America" and then putting into law those practices which violate His Word. Read it sometime, it has never been proven wrong and never will. It even could've saved President Washington's life. In that bible right next to his bed, his physicians could have read "The life of the flesh is in the blood", but they bled him to death. They didn't understand. Historically, archeologically, prophetically 100% right! God loves you all.

Mary of IN 8:09PM February 23, 2009

Your qoute These people need to get a life. They care more about potential life than actual living, breathing, grown-up human beings. They are costing lives while pretending to campaign as pro-lifers.
I think you need to get a life and quit thinking of yourself. These children kill through abortion may havehad ways to solve our problems if they were allowed to live.
Stem Cells are our future just not ones from Embryonic stem cells. Look at companies using other means to solve the worlds health problems. Body fat is a great well to treat stem cells.

Jeff of NC 12:51PM February 23, 2009

Stem cells are derived from discarded human blastocysts not aborted fetuses. Discarded blastocysts from fertility clinics have been thrown in the trash for thirty years without objections. To oppose their use for medical treatments is both illogical and morally wrong. Religions which benefit from sickness and death are using the uninformed public to stiffle a technology which may be of a enormous benefit.

A. G. of OH 8:36PM February 22, 2009

HOWUBSOBLIND, What are you talking about? This: "If the Christians are wrong, they have nothing to lose..." simply means that if Christians are wrong about life being sacred it will not have cost them anything to be against murder of the innocent. Actually, you are wrong about Muslims, they (like Christians) are pro-life. So, how could Christians be wrong and Muslims right, if both groups hold the same opinion on this issue?
"But besides that, let say all religion is wrong, and then what do you lose?"
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I have no idea how religion could cause a person to have a shorter life? Whether you are any religion or no religion has no baring on making one's life longer or shorter.
Do you really believe that fear of eternal agony is what motivates Christians? That is very funny. It's like saying the only reason people obey the law is because they are afraid of the police. Or the reason most people don't go around murdering each other is because they are afraid of getting the death penalty. It very well could be that people obey the law because they believe it is right, and they don't go around murdering people because they feel it is wrong. And most Christians believe in caring for other people simply because they believe they are suppose to love their fellow man.
You think that the money people give to churches to feed the poor and help the needy is a loss? Well, maybe, if you count the greed of thinking it's better to keep it all for yourself. I do wonder why you think that Christians sit around waiting for God to do things for them? Also, what it is that you think Christians can't have that would cost them any of their "very short precious time that they have on this planet"?
You lose nothing in my opinion. But then again, none of this has anything to do with the issue. This blog is about embryonic stem cell research, in which the author of the article feels Christians need to "get a life" instead of being against it... not a debate of whether atheist should be the religion of choice or if it should make any difference at all!

Candy Meeks of NC 7:03PM February 20, 2009

"Anyways, I leave you with this thought as far as the Christians are concerned...If the Christians are wrong, they have nothing to lose, but if they are right..."
If you are wrong you have nothing to lose? What if you’re wrong and the Muslims are right? I think you lose according to Muslim believes.
But besides that, let say all religion is wrong, and then what do you lose? You lose some of the very short very precious time you have on this planet. You lose because you lived your life in fear of burning in eternal agony. You lose the money you donate to your Churches. You lose out on all things you could have if you would have understood you need to go make things happen yourself because there is no god to do it for you. You lose quite a lot in my opinion.

HowUBsoBlind of WA 12:59PM February 20, 2009

From reading the article I get the feeling we are suppose to feel that Christians are somehow inadvertently responsible for her father dying of cancer. This has got to be the most asinine thing Bonnie has written so far. I have an adult son myself that has a disease that could benefit from stem cell research (duchenne muscular dystrophy). However, neither my son nor me feel that unborn children should have to be murdered so that he could be cured. It's such a selfish attitude for her to have to think her father had a right to life because he was a "living, breathing, grown-up human being" instead of an innocent helpless unborn person who has no say in the matter. She says eggs are potential life like frozen embryos are. Sad truth is, eggs left alone without the interference of science will never on its own become anything more than an egg. However, an embryo is a living person that without the help of modern science: mmurder by pro-choice abortion, frozen for future use by doctors playing God, or whatever other means available; will be able to grow into an adult human being.
It is not necessary to use frozen embryos for stem cell research...there are other options that does not include murder of embryos such as bone marrow, plecenta, umbilical cord and even umbilical cord blood. A way for stem cell research to continue withowt harming a single "potential" human being. And, of course, I must state the obvious, you can believe in the value of life without being religious. You can believe that it is wrong to kill in the name of science and not be a Christian. It would be nice to see America have a few more moral values instead of having less and less every year. Would it be terrible if the world thought American's had morals or would we not want to risk people thinking we might be religious? Anyways, I leave you with this thought as far as the Christians are concerned...If the Christians are wrong, they have nothing to lose, but if they are right...woe unto you Bonnie Erbe!

Candy Meeks of NC 8:08PM February 19, 2009

Creamsykle (addressing Christian in OH): "I discussed this already; you are using a straw man armament instead of any kind of facts to dispute my claim. I don't believe in any deity nor do I believe that I need to be forgiven, I've done nothing wrong, and if I do wrong to someone, I will ask them for forgiveness, not 'god'."
Creamsykle, I really don't care if you believe in God or not. I, myself, am a "praying agnostic," and don't have any inside information on what, if anything, is going on Up There.
I do know, however, that a human embryo is a human being, irrespective of one's religious beliefs. Those who destroy human embryos are destroying human beings. That's a scientific fact, regardless of whether you believe in a deity or not.
Therefore, Christian's alleged "straw-man armament" is a suitable rejoinder to your own straw argument -- which is the same as Bonnie Erbe's. Yes, one religious belief shouldn't hold sway over all others in this country. Yes, we should not turn America into a theocracy. And these ideas have ZERO to do with embryo-destructive stem-cell research, which currently involves entities we know from science to be complete (albeit not yet completely developed) human beings. Human embryos are not potential human beings, but rather actual human beings with great potential. Hope this helps...

Brian Gillin of PA 5:53PM February 19, 2009

CHRISTIAN IN OHIO of OH
"CREAMSYKLE OBVIOUSLY HAS HATE FOR PEOPLE OF FAITH,DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS THERE"
Only for the people who think they have any right to force there dogma on anyone else. Generally these are religious types "go forth and spread my word to all"... yea
"YOU NEED TO GET OVER YOUR RAGE OF CHILDHOOD OR WHATEVER IS CONTROLLING YOUR THINKING AND ASK GOD WHO HAS ALLOWED YOU TO EXIST AND BLESS YOU WITH GOOD THINGS TO SHOW YOU TRUTH. TO SHOW YOU WHO HE IS AND FORGIVE YOU AND YOUR HATEFUL WAYS"
I discussed this already; you are using a straw man armament instead of any kind of facts to dispute my claim. I don't believe in any deity nor do I believe that I need to be forgiven, I've done nothing wrong, and if I do wrong to someone, I will ask them for forgiveness, not "god".
"THIS NATION WAS FOUNDED ON FAITH IN GOD AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY STILL HAVE FAITH IN GOD."
This nation was not founded on faith in god, you sir are mistaken. No worries though it’s a common mistake. This country was founded on equal rights for all, and that religion has no place in dictation of those rights. I could toss a few quotes around from our founding fathers but I would rather not since this forum doesn't give enough writing space to ensure the quotes are full and accurate (Not quote mining).
As for the "MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY STILL HAVE FAITH IN GOD." which god? They certainly do not all believe in the same god, or have the same believes. Also please check census over the last 10 years or so, you will people with no believe in a "god" have almost tripled in the last 15 years, thanks to the information highway known as the internet that can be used to quickly debunk the constant lies and myths religions use to indoctrinate people. You have your right to believe in anything you want, or any god you want, but you can’t use your doctrines in anyway to dictate American government at all, besides in the voting booth. Obama ran with a clear message that he would reveres this decision made by bush, and won a very large of the majority vote.
"THE REASON THIS COUNTRY IS THE SHAPE IT IS WITH SO MUCH VIOLENCE,ANGER,HORRIBLE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN IS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE LOST ANY RESPECT FOR LIFE. THERE IS NO VALUE IN LIFE ANYMORE."
This statement almost doesn’t even deserve any kind of response, it is completely made up with no facts to back it up... but then again that’s the way you like things to be huh?

Creamsykle of OH 12:58PM February 19, 2009