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underbear1 · Jul 19, 2006, 04:24 pm

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13085442/#060718b

A tale of three stem cell bills
Ron Reagan

This week the Senate takes up the thorny issue of embryonic stem cell research. There are three bills on the table: one is legitimate; one is a political pose that manages to be both useless and malicious; the last is downright bizarre.

The second bill would shift funding to research on creating embryonic stem cells without the need for an embryo. At first glance, this might seem reasonable; it would end run some people’s ethical concerns. But no such science is likely to exist for decades – if ever – a long time to wait if you’re suffering from, say, Parkinson’s disease. The legislation is actually designed to starve real research of funding and provide cover for Republicans running for re-election.

The third bill, sponsored by Republicans Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback, would outlaw the practice of: “fetal farming” – harvesting fetuses for spare parts. Congressman Dave Wheldon of Florida has labeled this a “gruesome practice”. Indeed it would be if anyone anywhere had even the slightest intention of doing such a thing.
In fact, there is no such practice as fetal farming. The only people contemplating such demented weirdness are, apparently, Republican Senators. This is, purely and simply, a red herring meant to appeal to the Republican base. Like “partial birth abortion”, its primary function is to suggest that the conservative’s political opponents are irredeemably depraved.
Disturbing as it is to think that men like Santorum and Brownback actually fantasize dark scenarios like the harvesting of fetuses, it gets worse. Of the three bills – helpful; malicious; and bizarre – which one do you think President Bush has vowed to veto? But then, you knew that already? Didn’t you?

Jul 19, 2006, 04:24 pm	#11 (permalink) (top)
underbear1 BANNED Posts: 2,630	http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13085442/#060718b A tale of three stem cell bills Ron Reagan This week the Senate takes up the thorny issue of embryonic stem cell research. There are three bills on the table: one is legitimate; one is a political pose that manages to be both useless and malicious; the last is downright bizarre. The second bill would shift funding to research on creating embryonic stem cells without the need for an embryo. At first glance, this might seem reasonable; it would end run some people’s ethical concerns. But no such science is likely to exist for decades – if ever – a long time to wait if you’re suffering from, say, Parkinson’s disease. The legislation is actually designed to starve real research of funding and provide cover for Republicans running for re-election. The third bill, sponsored by Republicans Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback, would outlaw the practice of: “fetal farming” – harvesting fetuses for spare parts. Congressman Dave Wheldon of Florida has labeled this a “gruesome practice”. Indeed it would be if anyone anywhere had even the slightest intention of doing such a thing. In fact, there is no such practice as fetal farming. The only people contemplating such demented weirdness are, apparently, Republican Senators. This is, purely and simply, a red herring meant to appeal to the Republican base. Like “partial birth abortion”, its primary function is to suggest that the conservative’s political opponents are irredeemably depraved. Disturbing as it is to think that men like Santorum and Brownback actually fantasize dark scenarios like the harvesting of fetuses, it gets worse. Of the three bills – helpful; malicious; and bizarre – which one do you think President Bush has vowed to veto? But then, you knew that already? Didn’t you?