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6/22/2010
Here we go again with the stem-cell business
So the Dems are playing the embryonic stem cell card again. And well they would – it worked last time. Really worked. Remember the Michael J. Fox ad? Mark Green was a killer, denying life-saving research for your family member and mine.
The Doublespeak Media argument below was pretty typical of the rants on the left during the 2006 Doyle-Green contest. (What’s a Christianist? – Oh horrors.)
Wisconsin and Ohio exemplify just how important gubernatorial elections can be to the culture and economic future of the States. Last night’s gubernatorial debate in Milwaukee was an impressive battle between two polished politicos: Governor Jim Doyle and Congressman Mark Green. One of Doyle’s most devastating arguments was his blunt warning that many researchers will simply look elsewhere for jobs if Mark green wins the election. Although Wisconsin is the original home of stem cell research, the Christianist wing of the GOP controls the state legislature. Mark Green tries to pretend he’s in favor of stem-cell research, but he’s a rabidly anti-choice candidate who opposes abortions even in the case of rape or incest, as well as any medical advances that Jerry Falwell wouldn’t approve of. Jim Doyle represents a high-tech future of medical progress; Mark Green promises only a Bible and more tax cuts for special interests to grow Wisconsin.
Sounds like Barrett will be doing it again, spurred on I suppose by last week’s announcement of a collaboration between California and UW-Madison stem-cell researchers. Tons of credibility from California stem-cell rebels and of course, mention of the iconic Jamie Thomson, “the first researcher to derive stem cells from human embryos and the state has been a leader in the field.”
It was a useless strategy in 2006 for the Mark Green group to argue the productivity of adult stem cells. Yet Jamie Thomson’s co-collaborator at UW has done awe-inspiring work with adult stem cells. Not something Tom Barrett will be sharing, I’m sure.
Clive N. Svendsen, joint leader of the widely-respected Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center at the University of Wisconsin, has been named director of the new Cedars- Sinai Regenerative Medicine Institute, effective Dec. 1, 2009.
Currently a professor of neurology and anatomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and consulting professor at Stanford University, Svendsen’s groundbreaking research focuses on both modeling and treating neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Parkinson’s disease using a combination of stem cells and powerful growth factors.
…. "When Jamie Thomson showed that you could take adult human skin cells and reprogram them back to an embryonic state, it changed the way I thought about biology" Svendsen said.
Stem cell scare tactics will be used by the Dems effectively; it’s going to be a problem. I hope the campaign experts are busy preparing brown bags and tough (cute, serious, meaningful, constructive, fanciful, visionary?) ads to counter this stuff.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Both parties are equally adept at using scare tactics to frighten citizens into voting their politic. Jo, you would do us all a service if you did a study of scare politics in a fair and balanced way so we could see first hand the truth of this despicable practice.
billie (Tue Jun 22 08:13:29 2010)
With a 3yo granddaughter with diabetes and inlaw children with serious bone diseases, I've concluded that the stem cell decision should be left to people with skin in the game. Those that object can walk away from miracle cures if they want, but shouldn't oppose that those in need have access. Let these researchers move forward.
And those that want to interfere should not object when these patients later need public help.
Jack Lohman (Tue Jun 22 08:38:55 2010)
I worry less about stem cells than I do about what they represent. They are a symptom of Modern Medicine, who is whispering to us that, with time and money, they will be able to fix whatever we do to ourselves. No need for discipline, Medicine is here! The Passive Cure Paradigm rules! It is a shame that facing our poignantly human fear of death, we turn not to GOd but to science and technology. Talk about your golden calf.
timbeaux (Tue Jun 22 08:39:17 2010)
Tim, when one of your loved ones is in dire need of a cure that only stem cells can deliver, I suspect that you'll be thankful that the Left won this one.
Jack Lohman (Tue Jun 22 09:14:11 2010)
@ Jack When your child is sick with a life-threatening disease you don't give them a medicine because polliticians say it will work. You give them something that will actually do the job. So far, and I've read quite a lot on the subject, embryonic stem cells don't do much except raise a bumper crop of tumors. Adult stem cells and stem cells from umbilical cord blood works over and over again for many different diseases or illnesses.
I suggest studying the subject a little further.
Mark Green was lied about because he apparently had studied the subject, even though he is a "christianist" whatever in the world that is.
C. R. Stevenson (Tue Jun 22 09:53:17 2010)
C.R., when even the medicines now marketed are being found to cause early cancers, I prefer to let stem cells face the same "free market" that conservatives usually tout. If they fail they fail, but they've been given a chance. I don't want somebody else's religion throwing rocks at a potential cure that will benefit my grandchildren. Let the cards fall where they may.
And yes, I'd prefer that none of it originate from abortions, but abortions are going to occur nonetheless. This should remain a pragmatic discussion.
Jack Lohman (Tue Jun 22 10:27:10 2010)
Here we go again, indeed!
There is a $175 million building on the Madison campus set to open late this year in which embryonic stem cell research will be conducted. Private contributions paid for all but $50 million of the cost, with the state's contribution (bonding) coming out of the BioStar program created by Governor Thompson. The Madison campus now has an agreement with the California government-funded (via referendum) foundation which has $3 billion to invest.
What happens if the Republicans take over both houses of the legislature and we elect a Republican Governor?
The last time we had an all-Republican legislature it put a bill on the Governor's desk which would have made criminals out of the professors then conducting this research.
Will an all-Republican legislature put such a bill on Governor Walker's or Governor Neumann's desk and will he sign it?
This is a real concern, Jo, and the state's economy has billions of dollars on the line in the answer.
Where do you stand, Jo, on this critical issue?
Patient Advocate (Tue Jun 22 22:01:53 2010)
Patient Advocate's question in indeed a good one, Jo. How would you deal with that fiscal issue were you an elected politician?
And a second one I'd have is, IF you had a child or grandchild with a crippling disease that could only be cured as a result of stem cell research, would you, on your loved one's behalf, avail yourself of the technology?
Two very pragmatic questions, but I think the second hits closer to home.
Jack E Lohman (Wed Jun 23 20:50:10 2010)
Jack, perhaps I don't have the fear of death that you may have. I'm not sure how far we - our society - must go in curing every and all disease. However, that's way too long and sensitive a discussion to be had in sound bites. What's critical to the discussion here is that my prayer is that our researchers can continue seeing productive, very fruitful results with adult stem cell research and application.
Jo (Wed Jun 23 21:04:04 2010)
This isn't about you, Jo, or somebody's fear of death. It's about COMPASSION for those with crippling diseases. Yes, we'd all prefer adult stem cells, but is it fair to put off a cure for 20-30 years while people are suffering or dying unnecessarily? What would you say to your own child? "Just wait and pray, help is coming." What would you say to voters?
Jack E Lohman (Thu Jun 24 04:58:04 2010)
Your hypotheticals are misstating your case Jack.
Jo (Thu Jun 24 05:01:10 2010)
Jo, that's a non-answer. You either support stem cell research or you don't. It doesn't have to be a long and sensitive discussion. A simple yes or no will do.
And for the record, I DO!
Jack Lohman (Thu Jun 24 06:54:13 2010)
I've stated, perhaps repeatedly: I support adult stem cell research.
Jo (Thu Jun 24 07:15:22 2010)
So you do not support embryonic research that could shorten the time to cures, and if you ran for office again you'd vote against taxpayer support of Madison's research efforts. So be it.
And for the record, my argument is not "hypothetical." I have a 3yo grand daughter with diabetes, and I look at the Michael J Fox's of the world and hope for a cure for them as well. My "ideology" will never supplant my pragmatism or compassion.
However, I do understand the compassion people have for the unborn child being aborted, but blocking stem cell research will not reduce abortions by even one case per year. Abortions happen for radically different reasons and they will continue regardless of the research.
Jack Lohman (Thu Jun 24 07:37:19 2010)
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