| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"johac" |
| Date: |
20 Mar 2007 12:08:41 PM |
| Object: |
Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
Another defection in the ranks.
---
Embryonic stem cell research gets surprise support
NIH director backs the lifting of federal restrictions. His comments
energize advocates of pending legislation.
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Karen Kaplan
Times Staff Writers
March 20, 2007
WASHINGTON In a high-profile dissent from Bush administration policy,
the nation's top medical research official told senators Monday that he
backs an end to restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell
research.
"From my standpoint, it is clear today that American science will be
better-served, and the nation will be better-served, if we let our
scientists have access to more stem cell lines," Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni,
director of the National Institutes of Health, told the Senate health
appropriations subcommittee, which oversees the agency's nearly
$29-billion budget.
"We cannot, I would think, be second-best in this area," Zerhouni said.
"I think it is important for us not to fight with one hand tied behind
our back here, and NIH is key to that."
Although Zerhouni had been seen as a tacit supporter of embryonic stem
cell research, his unequivocal public endorsement came as a surprise.
His comments in response to questions from Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the
subcommittee chairman, energized backers of stem cell research, who have
been waging an uphill struggle on the only issue to draw a veto from
President Bush during his six years in office.
"I think it will certainly mobilize opinion up on [Capitol] Hill," said
Jerome Zack, an embryonic stem cell researcher at the David Geffen
School of Medicine at UCLA. With stem cell legislation moving again,
Zack said, he was anticipating another Bush veto. But he hoped that it
could be overridden.
"Convincing a handful of [lawmakers] of the opposing viewpoint could
really sway things," he said.
Because they can be grown into any type of cell in the body, embryonic
stem cells are seen by many scientists as holding the key to a new era
of regenerative medicine. Some scientists believe that their use could
eventually result in cures for Parkinson's disease, diabetes and other
intractable ailments.
But producing embryonic stem cells involves the destruction of human
embryos raising moral issues that some find profoundly disturbing.
In what was seen as a compromise attempt, Bush in 2001 limited federal
funding for embryonic stem cell research to cell lines already in
existence. About 20 of those lines are still in use. But they have
become genetically degraded and are now ill-suited for research, said
Zerhouni, who became NIH director in May 2002.
Last year, Bush vetoed legislation that would have allowed federal
funding for research on new stem cell lines derived from embryos that
would have otherwise been discarded by fertility clinics.
The Democratic-controlled House passed similar legislation again this
year, and the Senate is expected to follow. "My hope is that the White
House gets the message and doesn't continue to stand in the way of
progress," Harkin said.
But White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the president's role in the
debate is different from that of Zerhouni, a scientist who serves as an
advocate for research.
"The president has to balance the moral and scientific considerations of
this nation," Fratto said.
While Zerhouni is free to express his personal opinion, it is Bush who
sets policy, the spokesman added.
"After careful and thoughtful deliberation with government and outside
experts, there was only one moral line that the president said he would
not cross and that is that federal taxpayer dollars should not be used
in the destruction of embryos," Fratto said.
Some religious conservatives criticized Zerhouni for his statements
Monday. "He's basically showing his true colors as an advocate and,
sadly, that shows he's not looking at the issue objectively," said Wendy
Wright, president of Concerned Women for America.
In particular, Wright said, Zerhouni is ignoring the promise of stem
cells derived from sources other than human embryos, as well as the
fruits of research from the established lines.
Scientists have been searching for alternatives such as stem cells
from amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and adult organs that can
also play a role in regenerative medicine. But most researchers agree
that embryonic stem cells cannot be overlooked.
Studies claiming that adult stem cells have as much potential as
embryonic stem cells "do not hold scientific water," Zerhouni said
Monday.
"I think they are overstated," he said. "We do not know at this point
where the breakthrough will come from. All angles in stem cell research
should be pursued."
Several prominent researchers welcomed Zerhouni's comments.
"When very prestigious physicians and scientists speak out, I think in
the long run it will make a difference," said Renee A. Reijo Pera,
director of the human embryonic stem cell program at Stanford University.
Fred H. Gage, a stem cell researcher at the Salk Institute in La Jolla,
said Zerhouni may have taken a political risk by articulating a position
so clearly at odds with that of the White House.
"He's very careful about what he says, and fairly conservative in his
policy statements," Gage said. "My guess is this was a very
well-thought-out statement.
"If it does put him at risk, all the more reason to respect his
judgment," Gage added.
Harkin called Zerhouni's comments "very profound and courageous."
Several states, including California, are raising their own funds for
stem cell research, but Zerhouni said NIH was better suited to conduct
such long-term and difficult projects.
"There is no state that can really provide the depth and oversight and
stimulation of this research over the long run," he told the panel.
"This is not a one-mile race. This may be a marathon."
Reijo Pera said "it would be great" to have California's $3-billion
funding augmented by the federal government.
"We need to find a way to move forward," Zerhouni said. "Obviously, it's
more than science that's involved, but I hope that we can find that
soon."
---
http://tinyurl.com/ypo2oo
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
01 Apr 2007 01:33:24 PM |
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On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in alt.atheism
[]
But White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the president's role in the
debate is different from that of Zerhouni, a scientist who serves as an
advocate for research.
"The president has to balance the moral and scientific considerations of
this nation," Fratto said.
Who does he think he's bullshitting? Shrub's amoral and pig ignorant.
[]
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
02 Apr 2007 12:42:46 AM |
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In article <qkuv03h1cpd0lreu4sdk40ndo6g7fphihr@4ax.com>,
stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in alt.atheism
[]
But White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the president's role in the
debate is different from that of Zerhouni, a scientist who serves as an
advocate for research.
"The president has to balance the moral and scientific considerations of
this nation," Fratto said.
Who does he think he's bullshitting? Shrub's amoral and pig ignorant.
Pigs are smarter and know more than he does. but he does ***** and is
amoral.
[]
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
01 Apr 2007 06:30:37 PM |
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On Sun, 01 Apr 2007 11:33:24 -0700, stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in alt.atheism
But White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the president's role in the
debate is different from that of Zerhouni, a scientist who serves as an
advocate for research.
"The president has to balance the moral and scientific considerations of
this nation," Fratto said.
Who does he think he's bullshitting? Shrub's amoral and pig ignorant.
But he has a sense of balance ... that tilts toward the immoral.
.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
04 Apr 2007 09:21:26 PM |
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On Sun, 01 Apr 2007 19:30:37 -0400, Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote
in alt.atheism
On Sun, 01 Apr 2007 11:33:24 -0700, stoney <stoney@the.net> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote in alt.atheism
But White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the president's role in the
debate is different from that of Zerhouni, a scientist who serves as an
advocate for research.
"The president has to balance the moral and scientific considerations of
this nation," Fratto said.
Who does he think he's bullshitting? Shrub's amoral and pig ignorant.
But he has a sense of balance ... that tilts toward the immoral.
Heh.
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
.
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
20 Mar 2007 08:51:23 PM |
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On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
WASHINGTON In a high-profile dissent from Bush administration policy,
the nation's top medical research official told senators Monday that he
backs an end to restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell
research.
I predict one of two outcomes:
Either Bush will completely ignore Zerhouni, or Zerhouni will be
replaced - for purely non-political reasons, of course.
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
20 Mar 2007 11:37:00 PM |
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In article <aq3103t8ictq3vooi66afujo0iptl1lqu5@4ax.com>,
Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
WASHINGTON In a high-profile dissent from Bush administration policy,
the nation's top medical research official told senators Monday that he
backs an end to restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell
research.
I predict one of two outcomes:
Either Bush will completely ignore Zerhouni,
I think if Congress tried to pass a stem cell bill again, he'd just veto
it again.
or Zerhouni will be
replaced - for purely non-political reasons, of course.
Yeah. Like all those prosecutors. No politics involved at all.
<gag>
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
21 Mar 2007 07:52:44 AM |
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On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:37:00 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
In article <aq3103t8ictq3vooi66afujo0iptl1lqu5@4ax.com>,
Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
WASHINGTON In a high-profile dissent from Bush administration policy,
the nation's top medical research official told senators Monday that he
backs an end to restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell
research.
I predict one of two outcomes:
Either Bush will completely ignore Zerhouni,
I think if Congress tried to pass a stem cell bill again, he'd just veto
it again.
or Zerhouni will be
replaced - for purely non-political reasons, of course.
Yeah. Like all those prosecutors. No politics involved at all.
<gag>
Now he's going to let Rove "testify", but in private, not under oath,
and with no transcript. And watch the 'conservatives' go along with
the "separation of powers" lie and the "fishing expedition" lie. If
they did nothing wrong, what's wrong with saying so under oath? That's
THEIR position when it comes to those THEY accuse.
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
21 Mar 2007 05:36:10 PM |
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In article <1ha203hl9channhrka0m69ecl7a3gg8nkl@4ax.com>,
Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:37:00 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
In article <aq3103t8ictq3vooi66afujo0iptl1lqu5@4ax.com>,
Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote:
On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:08:41 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
WASHINGTON In a high-profile dissent from Bush administration policy,
the nation's top medical research official told senators Monday that he
backs an end to restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell
research.
I predict one of two outcomes:
Either Bush will completely ignore Zerhouni,
I think if Congress tried to pass a stem cell bill again, he'd just veto
it again.
or Zerhouni will be
replaced - for purely non-political reasons, of course.
Yeah. Like all those prosecutors. No politics involved at all.
<gag>
Now he's going to let Rove "testify", but in private, not under oath,
and with no transcript. And watch the 'conservatives' go along with
the "separation of powers" lie and the "fishing expedition" lie. If
they did nothing wrong, what's wrong with saying so under oath? That's
THEIR position when it comes to those THEY accuse.
Yeah. Now Tony Snowjob is saying that Bush will invoke 'executive
privilege' even though none of those involved weren't speaking directly
to Bush. Tony, by the way, condemned Clinton for trying to use executive
privilege during the Monica nonsense.
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
|
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
21 Mar 2007 10:23:49 PM |
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On Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:36:10 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Yeah. Now Tony Snowjob is saying that Bush will invoke 'executive
privilege' even though none of those involved weren't speaking directly
to Bush. Tony, by the way, condemned Clinton for trying to use executive
privilege during the Monica nonsense.
Executive privilege is a Republican invention for Republicans to use
to "save the country". Democrats shouldn't use it to turn the country
over to terrorists. Or something. (I may have gotten it backwards.
Maybe?)
.
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Bush Appointed NIH Director Backs Stem Cell Research. |
21 Mar 2007 11:46:34 PM |
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In article <7it303pfnnor9amcjearogqpn5kr62noco@4ax.com>,
Al Klein <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote:
On Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:36:10 -0700, johac
<jhachmann@remove.sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Yeah. Now Tony Snowjob is saying that Bush will invoke 'executive
privilege' even though none of those involved weren't speaking directly
to Bush. Tony, by the way, condemned Clinton for trying to use executive
privilege during the Monica nonsense.
Executive privilege is a Republican invention for Republicans to use
to "save the country". Democrats shouldn't use it to turn the country
over to terrorists. Or something. (I may have gotten it backwards.
Maybe?)
"Executive privilege" is a legal invention for Republicans to hide their
crimes. "Executive privilege" is a criminal invention for Democrats to
hide the crimes that the Republicans allege they commit.
--
John #1782
"We should always be disposed to believe that which appears to us to be
white is really black, if the hierarchy of the church so decides."
- Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order.
.
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