Obama: science should trump politics
President Obama, lifting an eight-year limit on federal funding of stem cell research, today portrayed his decision as part of a broader move to focus on science instead of politics.
Besides signing an executive order (read it here) reversing the Bush administration restrictions, Obama is also issuing a presidential memorandum (read it here) directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision making.
The goal, the president said: "To ensure that in this new administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisers based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions."
On embryonic stem cell research in particular, Obama acknowledged the religious-based opposition. But he said there is an ethical way to do such research.
"Rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," he said in the East Room of the White House, filled with advocates of stem cell research who cheered and applauded his annoucement. "In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given a capacity and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly."
Under Bush's order, taxpayer money could only be used for research on a small number of stem cell lines created before Aug. 9, 2001. Since, hundreds more stem cell lines have been created, but off-limits to federal funding.
While urging Congress to give more money to stem cell research, Obama is leaving to Congress the particularly controversial issue of whether taxpayer money should be used to experiment on embryos themselves. A congressional ban has been in place since 1996. He also made clear he opposes cloning for human reproduction.
The president also said that while stem cell research holds much promise in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease, there is no certainty.
"But that potential will not reveal itself on its own," Obama said. "Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit, and from a government willing to support that work.
"Ultimately, I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek," he added. "No president can promise that. But I can promise that we will seek them -- actively, responsibly, and with the urgency required to make up for lost ground. Not just by opening up this new frontier of research today, but by supporting promising research of all kinds, including groundbreaking work to convert ordinary human cells into ones that resemble embryonic stem cells.
"I can also promise that we will never undertake this research lightly. We will support it only when it is both scientifically worthy and responsibly conducted."
Some patients, who could be helped by such research, attended the ceremony.
One was former Communications Workers of American vice president Pete Catucci, who was diagnosed with ALS, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in early 2007.
“Stem cell therapy is real. It’s time the United States caught up with the rest of the world and moved forward on this critical research," Catucci said in a statement. "I am grateful to President Obama for reversing the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research that’s blocked so much important research over the past eight years.”
But one vocal advocate was not. Actor Christopher Reeve, who was paralyzed in a horse-riding mishap and whose crusade Obama noted.
"Christopher once told a reporter who was interviewing him: 'If you came back here in ten years, I expect that I’d walk to the door to greet you,' the president said.
"Christopher did not get that chance. But if we pursue this research, maybe one day – maybe not in our lifetime, or even in our children’s lifetime – but maybe one day, others like him might."
Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts issued a statement praising Obama's move.
"Sometimes medicine advances through inspired discoveries in the laboratory, and sometimes through brilliant insights at the patient’s bedside. But today, an extraordinary medical breakthrough was achieved with the stroke of a pen. With today’s executive order, President Obama has righted an immense wrong done to the hopes of millions of patients. The President’s action today unlocks the enormous potential of life-sustaining medical progress against a wide range of serious illnesses and injuries, all within strong ethical guidelines.”
So did Kennedy's Bay State colleague in the Senate.
“Today’s announcement is a long time in coming,” Senator John F. Kerry said in a statement. “Finally an American President has reaffirmed our country’s commitment to potentially lifesaving, ethical stem cell research. For the past eight years, not only has scientific progress been restricted, but the best hopes for a dialogue that finds common ground have been diminished. I commend President Obama for no longer allowing politics to get in the way of promising work on spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other diseases affecting millions of Americans, and for an approach that restores the promise of ethically-guided research in the best American tradition.”
Obama also won plaudits from an interesting quarter, former first lady Nancy Reagan. "I’m very grateful that President Obama has lifted the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research,” she said in a statement. “These new rules will now make it possible for scientists to move forward. I urge researchers to make use of the opportunities that are available to them, and to do all they can to fulfill the promise that stem cell research offers."
UPDATE: Republicans in Congress, however, objected vociferously to Obama's decision.
"This decision runs counter to President Obama's promise to be a president for all Americans," Representative John Boehner of Ohio, the top Republican in the House, said in a statement. "For a third time in his young presidency, the president has rolled back important protections for innocent life, further dividing our nation at a time when we need greater unity to tackle the challenges before us.
"I fully support stem cell research, but I draw the line at taxpayer-funded research that requires the destruction of human embryos, and millions of Americans feel similarly," Boehner said.
Representative Chris Smith, co-chairman of the House Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference that scientific advances had already been happening under the Bush administration rules.
"At a time when highly significant, even historic breakthroughs in adult stem cell research have become almost daily occurrences and almost to the point of being mundane, President Obama has chosen to turn back the clock and starting today will force taxpayers to subsidize the unethical over the ethical, the unworkable over what works, and hype and hyperbole over hope," Smith said.
"Human-embryo-destroying stem cell research is not only unethical, unworkable and unreliable, it is now demonstrably unnecessary. Assertions that leftover embryos are better off dead so that their stem cells can be derived is dehumanizing and cheapens human life."
Obama's full remarks (transcript from the White House) are below:
Thank you. Please, have a seat. Thank you much. Well, I'm excited too. (Laughter.)
Today, with the executive order I am about to sign, we will bring the change that so many scientists and researchers, doctors and innovators, patients and loved ones have hoped for, and fought for, these past eight years: We will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research. (Applause.) We will also vigorously support scientists who pursue this research. (Applause.) And we will aim for America to lead the world in the discoveries it one day may yield.
At this moment, the full promise of stem cell research remains unknown, and it should not be overstated. But scientists believe these tiny cells may have the potential to help us understand, and possibly cure, some of our most devastating diseases and conditions: to regenerate a severed spinal cord and lift someone from a wheelchair; to spur insulin production and spare a child from a lifetime of needles; to treat Parkinson's, cancer, heart disease and others that affect millions of Americans and the people who love them.
But that potential will not reveal itself on its own. Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident. They result from painstaking and costly research, from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit, and from a government willing to support that work. From life-saving vaccines, to pioneering cancer treatments, to the sequencing of the human genome -- that is the story of scientific progress in America. When government fails to make these investments, opportunities are missed. Promising avenues go unexplored. Some of our best scientists leave for other countries that will sponsor their work. And those countries may surge ahead of ours in the advances that transform our lives.
In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values. In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.
It's a difficult and delicate balance. And many thoughtful and decent people are conflicted about, or strongly oppose, this research. And I understand their concerns, and I believe that we must respect their point of view.
But after much discussion, debate and reflection, the proper course has become clear. The majority of Americans -- from across the political spectrum, and from all backgrounds and beliefs -- have come to a consensus that we should pursue this research; that the potential it offers is great, and with proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided.
That is a conclusion with which I agree. And that is why I am signing this executive order, and why I hope Congress will act on a bipartisan basis to provide further support for this research. We are joined today by many leaders who have reached across the aisle to champion this cause, and I commend all of them who are here for that work.
Ultimately, I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek. No President can promise that. But I can promise that we will seek them -- actively, responsibly, and with the urgency required to make up for lost ground. Not just by opening up this new front of research today, but by supporting promising research of all kinds, including groundbreaking work to convert ordinary human cells into ones that resemble embryonic stem cells.
I can also promise that we will never undertake this research lightly. We will support it only when it is both scientifically worthy and responsibly conducted. We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse. And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society.
Now, this order is an important step in advancing the cause of science in America. But let's be clear: Promoting science isn't just about providing resources -- it's also about protecting free and open inquiry. It's about letting scientists like those who are here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient -- especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda -- and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology. (Applause.)
By doing this, we will ensure America's continued global leadership in scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs. And that is essential not only for our economic prosperity, but for the progress of all humanity.
And that's why today I'm also signing a Presidential Memorandum directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for restoring scientific integrity to government decision-making -- (applause) -- to ensure that in this new administration, we base our public policies on the soundest science; that we appoint scientific advisors based on their credentials and experience, not their politics or ideology; and that we are open and honest with the American people about the science behind our decisions. That's how we'll harness the power of science to achieve our goals -- to preserve our environment and protect our national security; to create the jobs of the future, and live longer, healthier lives.
As we restore our commitment to science and expand funding for promising stem cell research, we owe a debt of gratitude to so many tireless advocates, some of whom are with us today, many of whom are not. Today, we honor all those whose names we don't know, who organized and raised awareness and kept on fighting -- even when it was too late for them, or for the people they love. And we honor those we know, who used their influence to help others and bring attention to this cause -- people like Christopher and Dana Reeve, who we wish could be here to see this moment.
One of Christopher's friends recalled that he hung a sign on the wall of the exercise room where he did his grueling regimen of physical therapy. And it read: "For everyone who thought I couldn't do it. For everyone who thought I shouldn't do it. For everyone who said it's impossible. See you at the finish line."
Christopher once told a reporter who was interviewing him: If you came back here 10 -- "If you came back here in 10 years, I expect that I'd walk to the door to greet you."
Now, Christopher did not get that chance. But if we pursue this research, maybe one day -- maybe not in our lifetime, or even in our children's lifetime -- but maybe one day, others like Christopher Reeves might.
There's no finish line in the work of science. The race is always with us -- the urgent work of giving substance to hope and answering those many bedside prayers, of seeking a day when words like "terminal" and "incurable" are potentially retired from our vocabulary.
Today, using every resource at our disposal, with renewed determination to lead the world in the discoveries of this new century, we rededicate ourselves to this work.
Before I sign, I want to just note the people who are on the stage with me. In addition to our outstanding Secretary of Energy, Secretary Chu; we also have Dr. Patricia Bath; we have Dr. H. Robert Horvitz; we have Dr. Janet Rowley; Dr. Harold Varmus, who's going to be the co-chair of my President's Council on Science; we've got Dr. Michael Bishop; and we also have Dr. Peter Agre. So these are an example of the outstanding scientists who we hope will guide us through this process in the years to come.
And with them standing beside me, I'd also like to invite some of my colleagues from Congress who have done just such extraordinary work to share in the limelight, because you guys are still going to have some work to do, and -- but it's because of the leadership of so many of you across partisan lines that we've been able to accomplish so much already.
So thank you very much, everybody. Let's go sign this.
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HOORAY!!! About time! And for all those who say there is death to a human life because of this. Well the 600 thousand + embyos that are now in storage are set to be destroyed regardless.
Finally we have a president who will listen to reason and realizes that medical research will help people who have various conditions, rather than listening to simpletons who have their heads buried in some outdated "book".
It's funny, Hitler also felt that science should stay out of politics.
It seems to me that if the government is now funding stem cell research, then politics just re-entered the equation.
Finally a president willing to explore the unchartered territory of stem cells...QUITE REFRESHING!!! Thank you President Obama for reversing this HORRIBLE bill signed by a religious zealot who thought nothing of forcing his beliefs on the rest of the U.S. It's about time we catch up to the rest of the world and advance our scientific pursuits. We were once ahead of the curve and to see us fall back was very pathetic. Let's hope we get results we have long been looking for.
Finally.
Again...this president continues to impress me....seperating science and religion from politics is common sense....
Bravo President Obama, bravo!!!!!
Typical Globe spin to suggest that this is "removing politics from science". Bush's decision was primarily on moral grounds, not political. Also in case nobody has noticed, there is plenty of politics creating "junk science" (see global warming).
Glad he is sticking to his promise on this one. I am sure all the conservative, "Christian" groups will all be up and arms over this one.
Good Job Obama. Keep up the good work.
Once again, something that has been lacking in the White House during the 28-year conservative reign - greatness. True greatness, measured in the desire to improve the lives of so many, and in the ability to implement policy to improve all those lives.
Chuck, as you so aptly put it "Bravo, Mr. President, Bravo"!
Long overdue and highly welcome. Now let's go after the Dickey-Wicker amendment!
He's going to remove politics by making the political decision to fund this research? Asinine!
And there will always be a place for ethics in science.
This president is a disaster - how's the economy doing, Obama? Job #1?
No one's going to say Bush was a good (even borderline) president, but all he signed was bill to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used. He didn't have the research banned, just kept OUR money out of it. The bill said nothing about religion. Butt, of course, you moonbats only care to blame someone else. Are you going to blame GWB when your tax bill for nearly 18K comes due from this "stimulus" porkage?
What a disaster. While strong evidence exists that stem cells taken from adults are just as effective to reverse many disorders, we seem hell bent to harvest as many dead babies along the way to our glorious road of scientific achievments. Does this somehow assuage our collective guilt that we are doing all that we can to save mankind? If Christopher Reeve were meant to walk to the door, God would have seen fit to make it so. But that is not good enough for people. Ethics be damned, lets use OUR tax dollars to harvest as many embryonic stem cells as possible. And now that science and US law allows us to wait until after the child is born to kill it( thanks Ted Kennedy et alia) , the harvest will be even more plentiful. Obama is a joke, and his policies will destroy whatever fabric is left of this country.
#12 - The new president has been in power for about 50 days......and he is a disaster? He has already done more than Bush during his 8 years.
#13 - Do you know anything about scientific research or the proposal grant righting process to get funds to do research??? Opening up the use of the govt funds significantly streamlines this process, and cuts SOME of the red tape....
Keep sucking the proverbial rethuglican/religous right/right wing nutjob radio breast....idiots....
It is funny Obama is doing everything possible to spend us into the stoneage and the best the Globe and the left can do is write glowing articles about him for spending money. It is funny how this article did not mention that by using Fed money to research stem cells actually it is actually combining Politics and Science.
Gee it is funny how this paper never questions Obama's bad choices so far.
Good job on the DVD gift for a sight impared guy Pres way to be heads up he is so savy.
Bush did not ban stem cell research.
If pharmaceutical companies want to invest in stem cell research, there is nothing stopping them.
Now that Obama has "removed politics from science" by mandating that tax-payer dollars go toward this research, these multi-billion dollar pharma companies can save R&D money for lavish executive boondoggels.
Obama doesn't get it, it's not about politics, it's about MORALITY.
It's about the life of the unborn, judgement is coming......
Has anyone thought about all of the embryos that are being destroyed while harvesting the stem cells? I think that all of these cures are great but that the ends don't justify the means in this situation. Hopefully a good ammount of money put into the bill will be towards Induced Pluripotent Stem cells. IPS cells will have no conttoversy surrounding and are a great alternative to embryonic stem cells
What does this have to do with the burning issue of Rush Limbaugh?
"#12 - The new president has been in power for about 50 days......and he is a disaster? He has already done more than Bush during his 8 years."
Yes, more BAD! Thus, he is a disaster.
Das is good, how soon can we start the experiments on twins?
The Republican Party likes to label the Democrats as promoting Socialism. Yet they are the Socialist Party when it comes to meddling into the personal and sexual lives of everyone else, whether or not they share the same religious beliefs.
It is very encouraging to see the government removing religion from its 8 year stranglehold on scientific health research. Claiming that stem cell research is equivalent to abortion makes as much sense as claiming eating eggs is killing chickens. Maybe there is a pill to cure people from religious hypocrisy.
Hello,
My take on this Stem Cell issue is that science will always beat religion. Faith is faith. Nothing wrong with this but religion is all with that’s erroneous. My wife has Muscular Dystrophy., our nephew has it also. My former wife had End Stage Renal Disease, (ESRD). She has passed away because her kidneys also passed. My current wife’s brother just recently died from MD complications. Let’s hope that by the reversal of President Obama’s signature we can save not only the diseases Obama mentioned but these, too.
John Wissler
Attleboro, MA
Sorry number 22 he is not the angel of death (joseph mengele). None of you guys have ever tried to get funding for research eh? Unfortunately there's not a whole lot of private funding and federal funding will help out greatly.
Most of the innovation that we see today is from government funded research that was then sold to the private sector. Get your facts straight most of these embryos were going to be destroyed anyways.
If science should trump politics, how about applying a little economic and military science to our current situations? Our southern border is in worse condition that Iraq, yet Obama wants to set up a health care system that will have US citizens paying for those who are waging war on us.
Note to the President: Please focus on the economy as it is going down the tubes.
I would like to know what scientific methods Prof. O is going to use to conjure up the money to pay for this. Don't look at me. He and Deval already have almost all of mine.
If you want to make an omelet (i.e. cure a disease) you gotta break a few eggs.
This is great news!!! As usual the religious nuts don't understand what they are whining about.
From #2 -> "Finally we have a president who will listen to reason and realizes that medical research will help people who have various conditions, rather than listening to simpletons who have their heads buried in some outdated "book"."
Well, this "simpleton" - with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences and a Master's degree in Computer Science knows that EVERY advance in stem cell research has come from the use of ADULT STEM CELLS, not the glorified embryonic stem cells. Of course, that fact doesn't seem to matter in the discussion, does it?
Disgusting. I have no say whatsoever and my tax money will now be spent to harvest embryonic tissue from unborn babies that have been killed. This should be put to a vote instead.
One, science and government should be separated? So, does that mean he plans on placing no limits on other frontiers in science such as human cloning and biological weapons? Also, stem cell research has been ongoing in this country throughout the last administration... it just was not funded by tax dollars. Using government funds to pay for the research is the exact opposite of separating the two.
Two, if he studied the science he would understand that you can harvest stem cells from many sources other than embryos now, including placentas. There is no scientific need for the destruction of human life to be part of this science. The thinking he displays here is antiquated but his concern for human life is so minimal he does not even take the interest or time to research it.
At least the nation is now starting to realize how inexperienced this man is, how far his knowledge is lacking on critical issues, and what a mistake it was to elect him.
We are also seeing his cowardice, since this was first released to the media late Friday night. Notice how all his controversial liberal actions always occur late on Friday nights when he can go a weekend without scrutiny and questioning? What a coward to rule while dodging accountability.
Beware - be very ware - of anyone who leans on their academic credentials to promote their superior knowledge.
"My good man, I have TWO degrees...bluster...puff."
Poor me. I have but one (unless you count my rather ancient AAS). And yet, I like to think my opinion counts, somehow. Good for President Obama. It's for the hope that he'd do things just like this that I voted for him.
Not one comment preceding in favor of Obama has addressed his assertion that he is removing politics from scientific inquiry---but offers no reconciliation for his use of tax dollars in promoting and paying for that inquiry. Come on guys, you profess to have the answer and are all in favor of Obama so why don't you address it? What does it fall off the table when (as usual) with liberals they accept what is in their favor and ignore what itsn't. so much for your "thought out" views whose doing your critical thinking (for you?)
Hello, nutbags (I am talking to you religious folk). We are talking about embryos that are in fertility clinics that were never used for in-vitro fertilization, will never be used for such fertilization, will end up being frozen or stored for periods of time past their viability, and will end up being destroyed anyway.
Can you argue this? So unless you are willing to have these embryos implanted and carrying them to term, please be quiet and let science advance. If they were going to be destroyed anyway, why not do some good with them? If you want to save the embryo, offer to have it implanted in your uterus. Then there won't be any embryos for the fertility clinic to have to destroy.
I will put it another way, unless you can bring an embryo to full term IN A TEST TUBE, please offer that solution so there can be hundreds of thousands of orphans born at once. Otherwise, the embryos were going to be destroyed anyway...get over it!
Now, like every other scientific areas, federal grants can be sought after to advance the research...go 'Bama go!!!!!!
Karen Daley,
I couldnt agree with you more. Heck lets put everything to a vote...
1) Iraq War - I would love to get my $$$ back on this waste
2) USA Patriot Act - How much money has been squandered on this stupid law to capture the "terrorists"
Shall I continue.....
#14- "If Christopher Reeve were meant to walk to the door, God would have seen fit to make it so".
Are you kidding me? Can you right wing zealots actually be serious?
I knew Reeve and he would have congratulated and honored any president, Dem. or Rep. who has finally begun to reverse 8 years of completely inept adminstration. Science is not about politics, that is why Georgie's decision was based solely on moral grounds. Until you suffer from some currently irreversible condition, you never know how precious scientific advancement is. Why should those who hope be denied?We support you Obama. Keep up the good work!
I posted a comment on another stem cell article on this website, so I'll post a similar one here too:
Adult stem cell research does provide promising results, but these results are meaningless (and probably would have been impossible) without embryonic stem cell research as well. You could probably build a car engine out of duct tape and toothpicks if you had to, but it would be pretty darn hard to do so without knowing how an actual car engine works and looks. And even if you did manage to make a tape-and-toothpick engine, you certainly wouldn't want to try it out right away without first directly testing it to see how it compares with an actual engine.
Obama is not saying we should focus only on ESC or just on ASC research. He also is not automatically mandating billions of dollars to go straight into ESC research. He is simply saying he promotes both ESC and ASC research since they both hold promise and are complementary to each other. There's a big difference between relieving a federal ban on stem cell funding and outirght mandating $100 billion to stem cell research as many commentors here seem to think he's doing. Obama simply allows ESC researchers to now apply for federal funds for their work, which definitely makes it a lot easier for researchers to get anything productive done. Note the key word "apply" though - if ESC researchers aren't getting any actual breakthroughs or results as some people claim, they won't get approved for federal funding so there's nothing to worry about (it seems a lot of commentors have a really warped idea of how researchers actually go about getting funding - it is not quite the walk in the park some of you make it out to be - if your work isn't golden, it's not getting funded, especially these days).
And for those who say Bush kept religion out of politics when making his stem cell policies, he consulted the POPE fro crying out loud when making his decision.
Hey #15. What's he done?
Joseph, the federal government has funded all kinds of scientific research that they believe could help mankind. This isn't breaking any new ground. Bush was infusing his religious beliefs with federal policy when he banned funding on this research. Try to remove blanket labels like "liberal" from the thought process and just piece it together yourself, without regurgitating stuff you hear on the radio or in church.
well, ge consults warren buffet; none of them know what they are doing
Too late for my mother and grandmother, with our family's history of Alzheimer's, but not too late for the families after us. Thank you, President Obama. Science is lovely - and so is your heart, which allows scienceto progress and save future lives.
fishman1234 you're a typical liberal moron, choosing a side without even understanding the facts. The lifting of the ban is so that there are no restrictions on what embryos are used. Not only do they get federal funding it isn't limited to lines or anything else.
And the only reason this science advanced in the first place is because all the federal dollars went to the productive adult stem cell research. Not waste on a phony crusade that is merely another way to protect abortion.
Hey wingnuts, where were your complaints when Bush was spending us into oblivion? Bush pushed through funding for 'faith-based initiatives' which indirectly put money right back in the pockets of his political cronies. Same thing with your tax money that paid for the egregious waste by contractors like Halliburton, KBR, and Blackwater in Iraq. And we're left with the buggest deficit in history, and the worst economy since the great depression.
Some of you need to go take 7th grade science again before you throw around your inane comments about basic biology.
How is this "separating science from politics" when Obama is proactively using my tax dollars to fund this abomination? Injecting public funds into something is about as "political" as one can get.
By the way, I thought liberals were opposed to government "enforcement" of certain moral beliefs? How is Obama not forcing his moral conviction that stem cell research is morally permissible on me by compelling me to use my hard-earned tax dollars to fund what I regard as an ethical abomination?
I didn't vote for him....and am very very unhappy that my wallet is being removed from my back pocket. At least with Bush, I agreed with his plan for the free market economy. With OBie, we are doomed. Why even bother to work. The more you make, the more OB feels he can steal.
47 - W's economic plan wasn't much different from Obama's. Do the research.
Science? No, Obama is an alchemist - apparently he has discovered the method for creating gold out of ordinary materials. How else is he going to pay for his massive deficits?
What happened to "focusing like a laser on the economy"?
Science, not superstition. At last we have a President who knows where each belongs. The former in the advancement of humanity, and the latter in church.
ge's definition of morality, and they are a large medical company, is whether or not it's "legal"; their definition of "legal" is to put as many disclaimers as possible on their defective products so by the time it fails, they say it's your fault as a customer for buying and using it (and for trusting their engineers, who are forced to do cost reduction that jeopardizes you and your loved ones)
just because you're president doesn't mean you know anything; jack welch said he doesn't know anything about jet enines, and it shows - happy flying!!
using one of ge's products is like plucking daisies: will it blow up in your face or not? yes it will, no it won't, yes it will, no it won't, yes it will....
At_Last - science is the "advancement of humanity'? Are you sure about that? I'll give you a few to think that over.
Embryonic stems cell research has been going on for over 20 years now without an ounce of success. So private capital is drying up (if there was any hope of finding a miracle cure, the EVIL drug companies would outspend the government 2-to-1 to be first to market - but why invest in something with no hope of a return); therefore, our government, in its infinite wisdom, is going to use our tax money to step in and make an "investment" for future generations and the Obamacrats applaud. On the other hand, the government makes an investment in several US banks that have been profitable for 50+ years (that the Government failed to regulate appropriately) and everybody wants to cry about about the misuse of tax dollars. Go figure.
With proper oversight, this important research may help solve some of the most complicated medical mysteries of our time - diabetes, Parkinson's, spinal cord injury, etc.. This is the cutting edge of science and we have the technology to move it forward. We have been stalled for 8 years - that means when a therapy is found for a particular disease state, there are thousands of people that may have been saved that will not be. Nobody gave two thoughts about creating those frozen embryos - but all the controversy surrounds using them for research. OK to put in the trash, though?
We have become death. Sacrificing the lives of the defenseless, those without voices all in the name of science. As someone said earlier - this is no different than what Hitler did - no difference whatsoever. Life is life. And although what to do with frozen embryos is a problem - harvesting in this manner is not the answer. As for those who have posted jokes about this - do you also crack jokes about the disabled or sick kids? Is nothing sacred? This is a profoundly serious matter that future generations will judge us on.
This Obamanation now tries to define "morals". Please.
What a complete disaster Obama is. Is there nothing he touches that doesn't dissolved into pure rubbish and tripe?
Remember we treat your President the way you Socialists treated Bush.
Have a good night.
I have a Ph.D. in life sciences (Biology) did my thesis on using recombinant human hormones to treat infertility back in the late 80's when we were still treating women with hormones purified from human urine. I have several papers published on this subject as well as from research I did on human growth hormone treatments for AIDS wasting syndrome.
Now that I've stated some background. Let me say that I am one of the many scientists that is appalled at the direction science ethics is headed. The pressure-cooker left-wing baby murderers, who throw away ethics in the name of their humanistic agendas, elected a president who will bow to their whim *because he does not understand what he is doing.*
This president is one of the least-informed I've seen in several decades (since Carter) and he proves it over and over with his shoot-from-the-hip policy uzi. Sure, he's done "more" than previous presidents in the same amount of time, but what he has accomplished will irreparably damage this country.
Maybe the best that we can hope for is that the liberals will donate their unborn for stem cell research. That way the right wing "nut jobs" will quickly begin to repopulate the US with moral based children.
I'm so happy to see that illogical religious beliefs are being swept aside. Science must move forward. Our future is not in gods hands its in ours. Kudos to President Obama!