Obama and a Conservative, Pro-Life Case for Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Opposition to the use of waste blastocysts is illogical. Thousands are thrown in the trash every week. Only a fraction are claimed by surrogates other than the parents. Should they join the 500,000 blastocysts already in storage for who knows how long? There is likely a limit to how long they are viable so if throwing them away is murder, and using them for medical use is murder than long term storage amounts to murder also. However, the general concensus is that throwing them in the trash is not murder. Using them for stem cells is a developement of the last 10 years. There has been massive objection to that. During the preceeding almost 20 years they were thrown in the trash without objectors. There are other facts to consider, such as the blastocysts which are discarded because they are clinically useless for implantation due to poor or abnormal cell division. They cannot grow into a viable fetus if implanted so why not use them for stem cells?

Some say that adult stem cells are better. So far experts in the field disagree. Should we believe them or some hack who received his information from the republican party or a priest. Part of their arguement is that no useful therapy has been developed with blastocytic stem cells. That is not for any practical reasons. It is because under Bush, medical trials using them were held up by the FDA. During the first week after Bush left office a trial was finally approved. Geron corp. will use oligodendrocyte pregenitor cells to treat paralysis. The treatment worked in paralyzed rats and did not cause cancer or abnormal cell growths. Dr. Okarma the CEO of Geron said that enough stem cells were derived from one waste blastocyst to potentially treat every victim of paralysis in north america for the next 20 years. For political correctness the blastocyst was a pre-ban one approved by Bush's executive order. If blastocytic stem cells work in people as well as animal models most of the people currentley spouting off against the technology will disclaim ever being against it and will be pushing others out of the way to be the first ones to benefit from it.

A.G. of OH 10:09PM February 22, 2009

Nick: "Please disregard those who argue against embryonic stem cell and the moral issue involved as they are selfish and trivial and have forgotten that there are over 30,000 badly injured young US soldiers who stand to benefit from science and stem cell."

Yes, by all means: ignore all ethics and reason and let's fund research that's unethical and doesn't work. Our soldiers have benefited from ADULT stem cell treatments. You must have missed that.

Jim: "I have questioned the top Adult Stem Cell scientists & listened carefully to their presentations & THEY say Adult stem cells are much less likely to help & even if they do help some, adult stem cell treatment will be delayed for years!"

...we know you're not telling the truth, Jim, as adult stem cells are ALREADY being used to treat people. Are you misinformed on this issue, Jim, or are you just banking on US being misinformed?

"Parkinson's has robbed her of being able to swallow without fear, even a sip of water can be a terrifying fight for breath!"

JIM. ADULT STEM CELLS HAVE BEEN USED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PARKINSON'S. One would hope that you would know that, since the fight against Parkinson's is so important to you:

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=prnw.20090216.LAM033&show_article=1

So you're claiming that adult stem cell treatments are so far away, and yet it is adult stem cell research that is already leading to treatments for the disease that affects your family the most. Wow.

"My Lord and Savior GAVE us Embryonic Stem Cells & the wisdom to use his gifts wisely!"

Funny how the anti-ESCR side is always being referred to as religious zealots, while pro-ESCR commenst such as these go by without comment. One would argue that your "Lord and Savior" also gave us the hydrogen bomb and anthrax, right?

Brian Gillin of PA 10:31PM February 19, 2009

I have questioned the top Adult Stem Cell scientists & listened carefully to their presentations & THEY say Adult stem cells are much less likely to help & even if they do help some, adult stem cell treatment will be delayed for years!

My children ask me why "pro-life" people think their mother should die. I try to explain how "good" people follow without really thinking it through. (some of you may suggest I emphasize that "pro-life/anti-ESCR people don't want your mom to die, they are willing to have her die!) I prefer to say; They don't ask themselves if their actions "make any sense?" My son knows Pope John Paul apologized for the Church's actions & inactions that caused suffering & so many deaths. My son knows it is wrong to purposely hurt others, even if you know you can ask for forgiveness later!

My wife has spent her life making life better for everyone! She was known for her smile (before Parkinson's paralyzed her face into a permanent scowl) She is redefining dignity, because of her strength, my definition of dignity now includes drooling & adult diapers worn by a beautiful young woman. (FYI, teenagers get Parkinson's!) Parkinson's has robbed her of being able to swallow without fear, even a sip of water can be a terrifying fight for breath!

Her medication switches on & off, so she may seem ok & be shopping at 9pm. At other times, her medications cause more harm than the disease.

How can "good" people take actions to prolong other's suffering or work to prevent life saving treatment? When you donate money to stop ESCR, or you influence others, or lump Embryonic Stem Cell Research in with completely unrelated issues for political gain, you are no better than those who assisted in the genocides of World War II.

Millions of newly born babies, children & adults & yes, my wonderful wife are suffering while you circumvent God's Will! My Lord and Savior GAVE us Embryonic Stem Cells & the wisdom to use his gifts wisely!

I am not sorry for painting such a graphic picture, but I will not quietly stand by & politely suggest you allow the doctor to use what he says is my wife's best chance at life!

Jim of TX 3:21AM February 17, 2009

Jesus and Obama... Both can perform miracles...

Just wondering why it is taking President Obama such a long time to reverse the ban on embryonic stem cell research by executive order. I can understand that legislation to support/fund embryonic stem cell research can take a bit longer time. But already 3% of President Obama's term has passed. It is a long time. For the first time since the time of Jesus Christ, STEM, ASTM, ACTC, Gern and other stem cell companies’ experiments has the potential to enable a paraplegic to walk, a blind to see, humans to produce body parts in labs including Esophagus, heart parts. It already wiped HIV from the body of a patient in Berlin who was being treated for Leukemia. All these are actually happening during the miraculous term of a wonderful and great man.... President Obama a black President who deserves to be the President of the USA without any doubt. He already performed a miracle by getting us rid of the Bush cowboy family (which be definition violates anti- trust laws (3 terms for a father and his son). President Obama will be the President of the miracles. He already performed a miracle by becoming

the first black President. We love you President Obama, we have a blind family member and we have

prayed faithfully for you to win and support science.

You taught us that yes we can........and I know you can .... Please rush time is valuable. Every minute counts. Please perform miracles for us….allow the blind to see, the paraplegic to walk, the sick to

get well, please get us rid of MS, Multiple System Atrophy, Parkinson

disease and all such horrible diseases that we are close to find cure

for. Support these stem cell companies. It does not take much to do

so.........considering what was wasted unnecessarily in Iraq....

Please disregard those who argue against embryonic stem cell and the moral issue involved as they are selfish and trivial and have forgotten that there are over 30,000 badly injured young US soldiers who stand to benefit from science and stem cell.

nick of CA 5:45PM February 14, 2009