SENATOR FRIST STANDS UP? IT SURE LOOKS LIKE IT...
Snave's note: I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when I read this article. The entire article and Senator Frist's statement can be read at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8750167/ . I have to give the guy some credit here. I don't agree with most of what he does or says, but I give him credit for placing some trust in science in regard to the stem cell issue, and for standing up and disagreeing with Bush on something. At this point, my guess is that Frist blew his chance to run for president in 2008 when he got so involved in the Terri Schaivo matter... so he may feel a bit more free to express what he really feels, and to break with the right-wing fundamentalist rank and file. The fact that he isn't just pooh-poohing science out of hand is something I find very encouraging. On a personal 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being great, 5 being in the middle and 1 being lousy, he just elevated himself from a 1 to about a 3 or 3.5 in my estimation. Good job, Senator.
If you would like to personally thank Frist, you can do so here: http://www.stempac.com/
Anyway, enough from me. Here is the first part of the AP article:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday threw his support behind legislation to expand federal financing for embryonic stem cell research, breaking with President Bush and religious conservatives in a move that could impact his prospects for seeking the White House in 2008.
“It’s not just a matter of faith, it’s a matter of science,” Frist said on the floor of the Senate.
Frist, a heart-lung transplant surgeon who opposes abortion, said modifying Bush’s strict limitations on stem cell research would lead to scientific advances and “bridge the moral and ethical differences” that have made the issue politically charged.
“While human embryonic stem cell research is still at a very early stage, the limitation put into place in 2001 will, over time, slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases,” the Tennessee lawmaker said in his speech.
“Therefore, I believe the president’s policy should be modified. We should expand federal funding ... and current guidelines governing stem cell research, carefully and thoughtfully, staying within ethical bounds,” he said.
2 Comments:
Hoorah for common bloody sense on this one, no doubt we shall hear from the religious right soon.
One response that I haven't heard made all that often to those who complain that destruction of an embryo for stem cell research is "murdering an unborn child" or some such rubbish is this: These embryos are being destroyed all the time because infertile couples who had them created to assist in getting pregnant or for implantation into surrogates have their families and no longer need the embryos. Is it not more ethical for their destruction to potentially help people instead of being incinerated to no benefit?
Do you want to know the punchline to that argument? I first heard that stance from a conservative but independent-minded middle-aged Christian woman, though the wording was a bit different and more concise.
Damien, though that may be true, I wouldn't be so sure that all conservative Christians will agree with them. It's just like anything else: The loudest voices, no matter how few they represent, are the most likely to get heard.
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