Replies to post #21049 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[F6]

ed -- to borrow a phrase, 'it is difficult to find words to describe' how stupid and disingenuous that piece is, and those quoted as attacking Edwards in that piece are -- stem cell research and Bush's stand against stem cell research were real and legitimate issues before the country before Reeve passed away, and they continue to be so after his passing -- to assert that Democrats can't discuss or focus on those issues, or make mention of the fact that Reeve passionately suported stem cell research and opposed dubya's restrictions on stem cell research, just because Reeve has suddenly passed on, is utterly ridiculous and obviously self-serving (on this day of the final debate, the one dedicated to domestic issues, no less) -- not to mention that what Edwards said was absolutely true -- and oh yeah, dubya&co most certainly tried to exploit Reagan's death, to exploit Reagan after his death, for their political benefit -- if you want something to be honestly and legitimately outraged about, try looking in that direction

[easymoney101]

Support growing for embryonic stem-cell research
53% in survey approve; more Americans found to oppose cloning
By TODD ACKERMAN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

A majority of Americans favor research on stem cells taken from discarded human embryos, according to the latest survey to show growing support for the controversial science.

The nationwide survey released today found 53 percent of respondents favor stem-cell research and 36 percent oppose it, up from 47 percent and 44 percent, respectively, a year ago. Virginia Commonwealth University conducts the survey each year.

"That's consistent with other polls released this year that indicate support for embryonic stem-cell research has increased," said Matthew Nisbet, an Ohio State University professor of communications who has studied public opinion of the issue. "Heightened media attention to the benefits of research may be driving the upward swing in support."

But the survey also showed Americans are increasingly opposed to stem-cell science involving human cloning. Known as "therapeutic cloning" and considered the next step after research on discarded embryos, it would create human embryos for the sole purpose of harvesting their stem cells.

Stem-cell research is the surprise issue of the 2004 presidential campaign with Democratic candidate John Kerry, an avid supporter, frequently accusing President Bush of sacrificing science for ideology because of his policy limiting research. The issue came up in last week's debate and may again in tonight's.

Embryonic stem cells are considered the key to regenerative medicine, which many scientists say is the future of health care. Retrieved from 5-day-old human embryos, the cells can morph into virtually every kind of tissue, providing a potential source of replacement organs in disorders such as diabetes and Parkinson's.

But the research is controversial because the embryo is killed in the process. In 2001, Bush announced the government would provide $25 million for research on fewer than two dozen cell lines derived from embryos already destroyed by that date. Kerry proposes increasing funding to $100 million and allowing research on fertility clinics' leftover embryos. He also favors research on cloned embryos, a technique accomplished by South Korean researchers earlier this year but not yet duplicated.

The new survey found Americans' views on stem-cell research continue to be related to the respondents' attitudes toward God and science. Sixty percent of respondents opposed to such research cited religiously based or abortion-related ethical concerns. Nearly all respondents favoring stem-cell research cited medical progress over disease.

The 53 percent support for stem-cell research marked the field's highest approval since VCU launched the poll in 2001. The previous high was 48 percent in 2001, but it dropped the following year to 35 percent, when the issue receded from public attention.

Nisbet attributed this year's support to media attention following Kerry's emphasis on the research, scientists organizing in support of it and former President Reagan's death from Alzheimer's disease, which galvanized advocates. The death of Christopher Reeve, an advocate, occurred after the poll.

The opposition to therapeutic cloning this year — 56 percent oppose it, 42 percent favor it — also is the greatest ever. A year ago, 48 percent opposed such cloning and 50 percent favored it. When the subject was cloning a baby, opposition jumped to 83 percent. Thirteen percent favor such cloning.

The VCU survey is at least the fifth on the subject this year. Surveys by Pew, Harris and Zogby found support for stem-cell research, and one by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops found opposition, though its opposition dropped to 47 percent this year.

The wording of the NCCB question emphasized the destruction of the embryos, and the Zogby poll emphasized the potential to treat disease.

The VCU survey was conducted by telephone Sept. 7-17 with 1,004 adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Oct. 12, 2004, 9:57PM
[e-mail]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/metropolitan/2844532

[BondGekko]

Yeah and 9/11 was exploited by the Bush campaign, Bush chose to exploit 3,000 lives during his campaign and at his convention, I didn't hear you complaining about that