For the second time this year the House voted to expand stem cell research allowing the National Institutes of Health ( NIH) to fund research on hundreds of newer and better embryonic stem cell lines. In the past 6 years, NIH funding was permitted only for research on 11 old, Bush approved pre-2001 embryonic stem cell lines.
Bush had cruelly crushed the hopes of over 100 million americans who are suffering from debilitating and deadly medical conditions, by issueing an executive order in 2001 limiting NIH funding to what he believed were over 70 stem cell lines which had been created up until then.
Like the claimed weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Bush's 70 stem cell lines however proved non-existent save for 22 stem cell lines identified by the NIH in 2003, of which only 11 turned out to be somewhat useful for research.
Thus Bush's weapons of mass deception where famously employed in the carefully crafted "balanced" approach which was billed as allowing some embryonic stem cell research, while discouraging any future "destruction" of embryos.
Today, he took time away from his G-8 meetings to give us another cruel "moral" lesson on the science of embryonic stem cell research.
Here is an excerpt of Bush's statement today following the House vote to yet again try to expand NIH funding of embryonic stem cell research:
I am disappointed the leadership of Congress recycled an old bill that would simply overturn our country's carefully balanced policy on
embryonic stem cell research. If this bill were to become law, American
taxpayers would for the first time in our history be compelled to
support the deliberate destruction of human embryos.
Crossing that line would be a grave mistake. For that reason, I will veto the bill passed today.
Another veto which will result in millions of americans losing their lives while we detour to adult stem cell research in hopes they might "one day" replace the need for embryonic stem cell research?!?
Just last year in July, 2006, Bush issued the first veto ever in his presidency, strongly affirming his anti-research stance by crushing the earlier Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. Even as far back as 2004 Nancy Reagan implored Bush to expand NIH funded stem cell research by saying: "We have lost so much time already, I can't bear to lose any more time".
What makes throwing excess frozen embryos into the garbage as currently happens every single day at fertlity clinics all over the US, not what he calls "the deliberate destruction of human embryos?"
So basically it's ok to "deliberately destroy" these fertilized egg cells by throwing them in the garbage during the course of in vitro fertilization procedures,..... but to recycle these discarded cells for research is off limits?
Huh, please explain to me that logic.....?!?
Since Bush's veto last July, a year ago, some 3 million people have come down with the very diseases that might be helped by stem cell research:
- 1,400,000 were diagnosed with cancer;
- 60,000 with Parkinson’s Disease,
- 11,000 Americans with spinal cord injuries; and
- 1,500,000 adults with diabetes.
That’s 3 million more people that might be helped, but can’t be helped.
I know that stem cell research isn't a HOT issue here on Dkos, and I even stopped writing any diaries about it, while I focused my energies on the other issues ( bringing an end to the Iraq war and the need for a Single Payer universal health care system as promoted by Sicko), but when Senator Chuck Shumer sent out an e-mail about today's vote in the House with a call to action, I couldn't keep myself from sharing that here.
This week, the House passed a bill to lift the arbitrary and damaging restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research that President Bush put in place in 2001. Two months ago, the Senate passed a similar bill.
But George Bush is threatening a veto in defiance of almost every congressional Democrat, many Republicans and the overwhelming majority of the American people.
It's not science or facts driving Bush's decision. It is pure pandering to his radical right-wing base. The upshot is that millions who suffer from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes will once again have their hopes dashed.
We can't stand by and let this happen. George Bush is preventing the development of treatments and cures for some of the worst diseases for no other reason than politics. That is unconscionable.
With the veto coming as early as Monday, we must hurry and send our message to George Bush right now.
Click here to tell Bush to stop obstructing the will of the American people and Congress. Tell him to sign the lifesaving Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
It'll come as no surprise that Bush and the small band of Republicans in Congress who are providing enough votes to prevent a veto-proof majority are relying on pseudoscience and outright lies to defend their position.
They tell us that other types of stem cells have just as much potential as embryonic stem cells. They claim that embryonic stem cell therapies are dangerous and always cause tumors in mice. None of it is true.
The country's top scientists believe embryonic stem cells have the most potential to find safe, effective cures. And the American people are right there with them. Surveys consistently find that two-third to three quarters of people support expanding this research.
It is time to change the policy.
Click here to tell Bush to stop obstructing the will of the American people and Congress. Tell him to sign the lifesaving Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.
There is no excuse for the president to veto this bill.
He needs to hear it from all of you today.
So please make sure to tell President Bush:
STOP BEING STUBBORN, Sign the Stem Cell Bill