First Lady Calls John Kerry's Stem Cell Research Claims "Ridiculous"

http://www.lifenews.com/bio416.html

by Steven Ertelt

LifeNews.com Editor

August 9, 2004

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- First Lady Laura Bush is rising

to the defense of her husband's policy against federal funding of

any new embryonic stem cell research. She called Democratic

nominee John Kerry's criticism "ridiculous" and said that the

president's opponents were making wild assertions about the

effectiveness of the unproven research.

Over the weekend, Kerry repeated his claim that President Bush is

putting "ideology over science" and again said he would mandate

that taxpayers fund the destructive research in one of his first

acts if elected president.

"That's so ridiculous," Laura Bush said in an interview with The

Associated Press regarding the claim about Bush's decision. "It's

one of the myths that start during a campaign."

She told AP that Kerry was trying to turn a sensitive issue into

a political football "without saying what's right. I imagine he

knows better."

Earlier, in a speech to the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Laura

Bush said that lawmakers need to understand the "ethical and

moral implications" of embryonic stem cell research.

"I hope that stem cell research will yield cures," the First Lady

said, according to an AP report.

"But I know that embryonic stem cell research is very preliminary

right now and the implication that cures for Alzheimer's are

around the corner is just not right and it's really not fair to

people who are watching a loved one suffer with this disease,"

Laura Bush added.

That's a point that even Ron Reagan, who told Democrats at their

recent national convention to "vote for embryonic stem cell

research," admits.

In an interview on MSNBC's "Hardball" on July 12, Reagan

acknowledged that embryonic stem cells are unlikely to cure the

debilitating disease.

"Alzheimer's is a disease, ironically, that probably won't be

amenable to treatment through stem cell therapies," Reagan

admitted.

Alzheimer's contributed to the death of Bush's father in the

1990s.

Last month, two leading researchers, including a Johns Hopkins

University scientist, said less controversial approaches are more

likely to find a cure or reduce the effects of Alzheimer's in the

coming years. Using embryonic stem cells may not yield progress

for decades, the researchers said.

Dr. D.G. McKay, a stem cell researcher at the National Institute

for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, has called the promises of

miracle cures from embryonic stem cells a "fairy tale."

Others point to the convulsions patients receiving injections of

embryonic stem cells have had and say that the use of adult stem

cells have shown far greater progress -- already curing some

diseases and lessening the effects of others.

No patients have yet shown any benefits as a result of the use of

embryonic stem cells.

Pro-life advocates argue that embryonic stem cell research has

not been as successful as research employing adult stem cells.

They oppose embryonic stem cell research because unborn children

in their earliest days must be destroyed to obtain the stem

cells.

Today is the third anniversary of President Bush's August 2001

decision that prevented taxpayer funding of new embryonic stem

cell research.

Pro-Life Speakers at GOP Convention Discuss Abortion, Stem Cell

Research

http://www.lifenews.com/nat778.html

by Steven Ertelt

LifeNews.com Editor

September 1, 2004

New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Several speakers at the Republican

convention in New York touched on pro-life issues Tuesday night

in their addresses to delegates.

"We believe in a culture that respects all human life, including

the most vulnerable in our society -- the frail elderly, the

infirm and those not yet born," North Carolina Senator Elizabeth

Dole told the delegates.

"Protecting life isn't something Republicans invented, but it is

something Republicans will defend," she said. "This is our true

north -- we believe in life."

Dole's mention of unborn children bought loud cheers from North

Carolina delegates, including Barbara Holt, president of North

Carolina Right to Life.

Meanwhile, Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, who has led the fight to

pass a ban on all human cloning, spoke about the "respect for the

inherent dignity, equality, and sanctity of every human life."

"Every life must be honored and protected," said Brownback in his

address.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist defended President Bush's

policy against using federal tax dollars to fund new embryonic

stem cell research because it destroys the lives of unborn

children.

"An embryo is biologically human. It deserves moral respect,"

First, a Tennessee senator, explained. "This President will not

use your taxpayer dollars to destroy human life or create human

embryos solely for the purpose of experimentation."

"John Kerry claims that the President has put a 'sweeping ban' on

stem cell research," Frist said. "I challenge Mr. Kerry tonight:

what ban? Shame on you, Mr. Kerry."

Frist referred to Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's

remarks that Bush's policy effectively banned funding for stem

cell research. However, the Bush administration has spent $190

million on the use of adult stem cells to find cures for

diseases.