The Big Lie

Nationalreviewonline ^ | October 09, 2004, | Robert P. George

[kingattax]

Every reporter covering the election should, after the second presidential debate in St. Louis, be demanding of Kerry an answer to the following question: Who are the scientists who told you that "we have the option" of curing Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal-cord injuries, or any other disease using embryonic stem cells? If they won't ask him, the Bush campaign should defy him to name the names. He won't be able to do it. No scientists — even those most pro-Kerry and aggressively in favor of the federal funding of embryo-destructive research — ever told Kerry any such thing.

What Kerry has done here is told the big lie about embryonic stem cells. The claim that "we have the option" of curing Parkinson's disease, diabetes, etc. with embryonic stem cells is outrageous. No one knows when — or even whether or not — human embryonic stem cells will be therapeutically useful in treating any major disease or injury. There are profound — perhaps insuperable — problems with the therapeutic use of these cells. So, despite the fact that there is no federal ban on embryonic-stem-cell research, and that such research can be funded with state money and is being publicly funded in various places abroad, no embryonic-stem-cell-based therapy is even in clinical trials.

For months now, the Kerry campaign and its surrogates, such as Ron Reagan Jr., have cruelly led suffering people to believe that cures for their diseases are just around the corner. All we have to do is replace Bush with Kerry, open the federal funding spigot, and presto! The blind see and the lame walk! The Kerry campaign's hyping of embryo-destructive research for political gain is the cruelest and most shameful episode in the story of the 2004 election.

What Elizabeth Long (the woman who asked Kerry the stem-cell question) said is true: "Thousands of people have already been cured or treated by the use of adult stem cells or umbilical-cord stem cells. However, no one has been cured by using embryonic stem cells. Wouldn't it be wise to use stem cells obtained without the destruction of an embryo?

Kerry answered with a lie. A lie that will falsely inflate the hopes of countless people who would dearly love to believe that "we have the option" of curing them.

— Robert P. George is McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program at Princeton University.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

I said this earlier, but when Kerry talks about this issue (and PBA) he sounds like Dr. Frankenstein.

[NYer]

"Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law.
HUMANAE VITAE

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[NYer]

Who are the scientists who told you that "we have the option" of curing Parkinson's, diabetes, spinal-cord injuries, or any other disease using embryonic stem cells?

Pro-life ping!

[taxesareforever]

Embryonic stem cell research is very unlikely to ever lead to the curing of any illness. What it would lead to, and this is the goal,is huge amounts of taxpayer money to fund the research. Embryonic stem cell research is a red herring for money grubbers.

[ladyinred]

But ABC says that Kerry's distortions (LIES) don't matter.

[Old Professer]

Quite frankly, society can't afford immotality.

[Old Professer]

Quite frankly, society can't afford immortality.

[nickcarraway]

Already posted here: The Big Lie: An inhumane platform (Kerry's Stem cell Lie)

[Maurice Tift]

when Kerry talks about this issue (and PBA) he sounds like Dr. Frankenstein.

All Dr. Frankenstein wanted to do was to create a monster from human body parts. Kerry is in favor of socialized medicine and partial birth abortion (sucking the brains out of little babies) Socialized medicine alone would kill millions. Dr. Frankenstein is a much better man than John Kerry.

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

Dr. Frankenstein is a much better man than John Kerry.

You know, you're right. I stand chastened and corrected.
But for sheer ghoulishness, Kerry could go toe-to-toe with the Monster, if not Dr. F.

[kitkat]

***Dr. Frankenstein is a much better man than John Kerry.***

I like your attitude. Thanks.

[sphinx]

I thought you knew -- this is just like AIDS. The only thing blocking an immediate cure is the malevolence of the Republican administration. Unless, of course, there's a Democrat in the White House, in which case the problem is the inattention of the previous Republican administration.

That's been the case for the last 25 years. It'll be the case for the next 25.

[newzjunkey]

The irony being the evil drug/research companies who are keeping these folks alive and treated for HIV/AIDS and other illnesses donate to Republicans more than Democrats. Obviously they're not going to toss good money down a 'rat hole! Seems like a DISCONNECT to me.

[spodefly]

BTTT

[Twinkie]

The goal of abortion activists' thrust for stem cell research is to the end that they will see the day in which they will be able to approach pregnant women on the street and convince them they will be great humanitarians if they will only go to the nearest abortion clinic and "contribute" their unborn babies to stem cell research.

[TexasCajun]

Don't count on the OLD MEDIA to ask any questions of Mr. Kerry, it's a constant attack on President Bush!

[speekinout]

What Elizabeth Long (the woman who asked Kerry the stem-cell question) said is true: "Thousands of people have already been cured or treated by the use of adult stem cells or umbilical-cord stem cells. However, no one has been cured by using embryonic stem cells. Wouldn't it be wise to use stem cells obtained without the destruction of an embryo?

I loved the way she posed that question. I've been waiting for someone to ask it in that way, but of course the media wouldn't. The truth is, the whole argument over embryonic stem cells has been co-opted by the pro-abortion crowd. They want to make abortion a noble thing.

BTW, I read (I can't remember where now) that there has been some promising research done with stem cells from adult fat tissue. That will sure throw some Libs into a quandry. Hmm - liposection or abortion? Which do I want gov't to pay for? :-)

[Citizen of the United States]

Dr. Frankenstein wanted to advance the science of life. He had nothing to do with the Culture of Death, nothing to do with the destruction of innocent human life. He sought to create, not to destroy. For all his flaws, for all his hubris, Dr. Frankenstein was no Angel of Death.