There's a bit in this article that's just totally wrong:
The Reagans’ split with Bush and the party centers around stem cell research which many believe can help find a cure for Alzheimer’s, the disease that crippled President Reagan in his final years. Bush and the ultra-conservative wing of the Republican Party oppose use of new stem cells. The Reagans, with the exception of Michael, support such use.
As far as I know, the Bush administration merely doesn't want federal funds to be used for stem-cell research based on harvesting embryos. Personally, I'm very in support of stem-cell research, but I support the Bush administration ban on giving federal funding to research that destroys embryos. Importantly, this isn't a ban altogether, even for research that does destroy embryos, but only prevents federal funding for being given for those studies.
This is what frustrates me the most: stem cells can also be harvested from the umbilical cord and placenta, safely, after a birth. I wish the Republicans would take a more sensible stand on this and advocate some kind of national stem cell registry based on stem cells harvested from the umbilical cord and placenta. It could be as simple as having a checkbox on whatever medical release forms you have to fill out when you give birth that says "Check here if you don't want your umbilical cord and placenta to be given for stem cell research". Most are just thrown out anyway. Then, research companies can help pay to maintain this registry, and we don't have to destroy embryos to do it.
Sunday, August 1, 2004
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