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From Don Reed, national stem cell research advocate:

The next 12 days are crucial in the stem cell research struggle.

Here's why.

Remember when President Obama signed that document removing the Bush stem

cell restrictions? That same day he called upon the National Institutes of Health to draft a new set of guidelines for scientists wanting federal

funding.

Those guidelines have just been issued. see

http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009draft.htm

The next 14 days are the comment period for the new guidelines for stem cell research, which American scientists will have to live with if they want federal funding. This is the public's only chance to shape those guidelines, which can be improved-or made worse.

Unfortunately, there are problems with the proposed guidelines!

Not only are the guidelines far more conservative than we had hoped, but

opponents of the research are systematically flooding the comment process.

Conservative religious bodies, have launched a national campaign to attack early stem cell research by mass emails to the NIH.

Go to this page and leave your comments. You can simply copy and paste the phrase "I support embryonic stem cell research, and am glad some of the restrictions are being loosened." There are longer boilerplates and snail mail addresses/contacts available here.

As someone who has watched and grieved as loved ones suffered and passed away from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cancer, there really is too much at stake to allow ourselves to be limited by anti-science and religious rhetoric.

About Nicole Belle
Nicole Belle's picture
Mom, Wife, Media Critic/Political Analyst, Blogger, Austen Fanatic, Unapologetic Liberal NicoleBelle@crooksandliars.com
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18 Comments
UnholyAvenger's picture

Ugh... why does everything in the Bible have to contradict with common sense? Humanity would be much more technologically advanced if not for religious nuts constantly holding us back.

Mugsy's picture

When signing the petition, you need to reference the Guidelines in your comments for them to be accepted. Here is what I wrote:
----------------

I support Human Embryonic Research as described in Executive Order 13505.

Other forms of stem cell research derived from "adult" stem cells, while showing some promise, are all derived from "compromised" sources that (currently) prevent them from ever being as effective or as widely applicable as those derived from "embryonic" stem cells, and therefore, their use is not only necessary, but critical.

Many advances in "Adult stem cell research" were a direct result of knowledge gained from study on embryonic stem cells, and could not have been achieved without their use.

The compromise put forth by then President Bush to use only existing cell lines revealed that most existing samples were "polluted" with mouse DNA and therefore all but unusable (and thanks to a ban on cloning, not reproducible even if found effective).

It confounds all sensibilities to think destroying and/or discarding unused embryos on the grounds of "destroying life" is somehow preferable to using those same cells to *save* peoples lives.

I greatly support the need for human embryonic stem-cell research.


* There are two types of Republicans: millionaires and suckers.
"Mugsy's Rap Sheet": Recording history for those who seek to rewrite it.

The Bible doesn't contradict too much with common sense, they make most of this shit up. I was a church going Christian until there extreme values and agendas turned to hate and venom against other people.

Their arguments are always circular. Remember the young lady Terry Shaivo in Florida. They wanted the life support left in. They claimed anything other than that was interfering in the hand of the Lord. Well actually, they then should argue that she should have been left for dead in the first place, as life support is the crazy science they now are against. It's republican/conservative arguments, what ever it is that their doing behind their backs, they accuse you of going to do.

As for not believing in evolution???? They acknowledged the swine flu, and as the Governor of Texas indicated, he want tons of the Swine Flu shots. That's science. But what they forget, is that the swine flu, as other flu's like the Asian or even Avian, it mutates or "EVOLVES" several times a year. Nothing like not believing in science and evolution and then asking to be saved from it and by it.

The otherpoint that should eventually be resisted by "US". They have the right to sit in a corner and believe in what they want. They can believe in Miraculous births, Crusades, Inquisitions and fairy tale witches, but they can't ask for the right to force that stuff on us.

It's crazy talk and everyone feels they have to listen. Nuts, lets get on with it and move forward. Write your President and ask for Stem Cell research with limited restrictions, Single pay health care and no more wars.

believe in evolution is just by asking them what their favorite breeds of cats or dogs are...

curtilingus's picture

What did the fetus say to the politician?

I want to be a stem cell when I grow up!

oldretire's picture

Here is a easy solution if it bothers you that much why not stop seeking any and all medical assistance period. As you look back on Medical break throughs depending on its era in time it has never ever been exceptable until the "I" factor was put in.

So let the research go on if not shut up move out of the way and DENY yourself any and ALL medical assistance.

I'm so sick of these so called religious people interferring in other people's lives. Nobody is forcing them to do anything but they want to force us to believe and act like they do. Why can't they just leave us alone to live our lives the way we want to not the way they want us to.

Tax the Rich's picture

Because they would have no reason for living.

Without the "fulfillment" of trying to save us inferiors who don't get the "word of god," their insecure ignorant lives - would have no meaning.

So they are annoying us for our own good!


If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.

Yellowbird's picture

Am I the only citizen out here who thinks it is INSANE to keep calling, writing, stomping, protesting, etc. at each and every single little ISSUE to remind the RETARDS in Congress and the White House what it is that is EXPECTED from them?

What is wrong with this picture? When oh when will the PEOPLE UNDERSTAND that this TRIUMVIRATE of a government we keep thinking is worth keeping is NOTHING MORE THAN A GIGANTIC TRICK TRAP GAME to make us THINK they're taking care of our needs while we SLAVE OUR LIVES AWAY WITHOUT THE BASIC NEEDS OF HUMAN NEEDS BEING MET.

This government sucks. I don't want to keep wasting my time writing and calling, etc. I am ready for MORE.

OtteronSki's picture

and the growth is like a cancer just starting to infiltrate our Lymphatic system. Yellowbird, you'll ask the question eventually that I have been asking for a few decades.....Where can I hide? I've lived in Europe, SE Asia, the Caribbean, Canada, the US and even for a short time in Africa, it all leads to the same eventuality of pulling out my hair in frustration and asking.....where can one go to hide? The only hope, like the French Revolution, it will all collapse at some point.

Tax the Rich's picture

You are point on.

I too am tired of calling and writing these assholes.

I have no intention of supporting anymore democrats who are nothing more than republican-lites. That includes Obama.

These assholes know what the people want. They just don't care, and they are so arrogant they don't think there would ever be another revolution like France had in 1792. Well, history DOES repeat itself, and if the global elites keep it up, they may be surprised some day.


If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.

I'm hopeful that many of us could live centuries-- or if that, why not millennium-- and enjoy exciting lives made possible by future technologies.

When people get sick, or die, or simply lose youthful levels of functioning, it is sad, especially if it is preventable by following our human nature to solve our real problems.

We can let scientists make products that will plug that drain on happiness, or block their efforts and watch each other wither and die needlessly.

bmw 528's picture

My father had Parkinson's disease for twelve years and died because of it two years ago at age 71. I will never forget watching him gradually deteriorate from involved public citizen to helpless invalid in that time.

I have had enough of these rabid religious zealots and their rigid orthodoxy compromising legitimate research that is desperately needed. I am going to fight these assclowns tooth and nail until we have a just solution that benefits those afflicted with these horrible diseases. The idea that their selfish and rigid ideology ought to take priority over helping others in need is utter bullshit. Let these fools take their pedantic garbage to some other planet.


"We will find fulfillment not in the goods that we have, but in the good we can do for each other."

Robert F. Kennedy

Tax the Rich's picture

Which one? Should we send out warnings ahead of time before they leave?

Planet Earth - spreading stupidity throughtout the galaxy.


If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.

nogodsnomasters's picture

Done-zo! I shared it on FB, too.

Mr. Green Jeans's picture

driving the anti stem cell program that now is getting "all mobbed up" to oppose ANY person that President Obama picks to be the new SCOTUS justice.

It is all they have left. Scream and holler NO for stem cells, health care, the Supreme Court, etc.

We need to have our own database of supporters to stomp these ludy heads. Screw 'ell all!


"Let's talk dirty to the animals"

You must allow scientific stem cell research as it is an issue of providing the best medical research for Americans to have access to cures for chronic life-thereatening diseases and conditions. Also, the best scientific minds will leave the US to work on this research for other countries. If anyone objects due to their religious beliefs, they should be allowed to sign an opt-out form so they won't be given access to any cures or treatments that are developed as a result of embrionic stem cell research.

jmmartin's picture

If we're lucky, Jebus will take umbrage to Randall Terry's showing up at the Notre Dame graduation, getting himself arrested because he so identifies with the pale Galilean on the cross and wants to emulate him so. Jebus would be thinking that stem cells promise to cure so many ills and the research should not be thwarted by 12th century thinking like Mr. Terry's. If we are really lucky, Jebus will strike Mr. Terry with Parkinsons and he will die of the disease before they find a stem cell cure that will help him. Damn all religious bigots for the fools and proud losers that they are!

I featured Mr. Terry on my blog: http://fundamentalistjackass.blogspot.com/


"Respect for the rights of others is peace." --Benito Juarez

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