He is according to Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch. Today, the Senate will debate a bill that would loosen restrictions set by President Bush in 2001 on embryonic stem cell research. Specifically, the bill would allow federal funding for research done on embryonic stem cells created through in vitro fertilization. If the cells are not used for research, they are simply thrown away. The President threatened on Tuesday to veto this bill, which he did last year to a similar measure. In a statement, the White House said that they oppose the bill, “which would use federal taxpayer dollars to support and encourage the destruction of human life for research.” Embryonic stem cells are thought by scientists to show the most promise for developing treatments for illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease (“Senate, Bush head for showdown on stem cells”).
Do you think Congress will be able to override a veto this time around? Why do you think the Bush administration is fighting to protect embryos which would otherwise be thrown away? Are they simply trying to trump the Democrats from delivering on a key campaign promise, or are there real principles behind their position?
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Comments: 11
Bush was the first to make any money available for stem cell research but introduced the practice carefully and only made it avaialble starting with existing stem cell lines. He was careful about encouraging the cessation of life for money but he did nothing to restrict private money for any type of stem cell research and to be fair you should be sure the reader understands the distinction.
James C said it is all about abortion. There is a relation Jim but to be fair the abortion system should be handled by each state. Let each state decide if they will allow abortion and a few will. That will give a place for women with special problems to go and we can work on a better solution. In order for abortion to be handled by states Roe V Wade would have to be overturned. That will not happen.
We should be working for a solution,understanding each other and not encouraging fighting each other over an important issue that we can resolve, just like the stem cell research. The human body can heal itself in many ways and the use of stem cells holds great future for us. No other President ever approved any federal money for stem cell research. Please be fair and lets help each other find compromises.We have a lot to gain. Thank you.
Stem cell research MUST be permitted to expand. Japan is already making great strides in this area, and we are seriously lagging.
Embryonic stem cells can be used for anything adult stem cells might. It's just that embryonic cells which can be used to replace any cells in the body while adult cells can only be used in certain areas where they are related. There should be no real argument or controversy here as no one is proposing to abort babies for this purpose. Just use in vitro tissue which will otherwise be destroyed.
If embryos are not Human, why do they have rights to inheritance? why may they be legally adopted? why is it possible to be charged for their murder?
If they are human, then they have certain inalienable rights under the U.S. constitution, the chief of which is the right to life. If it is possible to harvest embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryos, I don't have a problem. If those embryos are spontaneously aborted, fine by me. If an innocent human who poses no threat to any human is deliberately killed, that is murder.
If anyone wishes to debate that with me, go to my post: Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research?Facts Why It's Wrong>
"In order for abortion to be handled by states Roe V Wade would have to be overturned. That will not happen."
Don't be too sure. There are already rumblings.