John Kerry on Bush Stem Cell Veto

[whometense]

“This wasn’t a pro-life veto. This was a political veto, and I believe Americans will veto this President’s narrow political agenda in November.



“Honoring the sanctity of human life means giving hope to the 100 million Americans suffering today from illnesses that stem-cell research may one day help cure, not vetoing hope. Instead, because of politics, more than 3,000 Americans will continue to die every day from diseases that might one day be treatable because of stem-cell therapy. We can support our scientists, help the sick, and ensure that our legal and ethical boundaries continue to reflect our unshakable sense of human dignity and the value of human life. Today President Bush failed that test. This was not a simple decision, but it shouldn’t have been a close call, let alone the wrong call.



“Instead of vetoing runaway spending or cuts in medical services for the poorest Americans, the president has chosen to veto the promise of groundbreaking research. On this issue President Bush has said one thing and done another. That’s not leadership, it’s playing politics with people’s lives, and it’s unacceptable.”



# # #

[kerrygoddess]

1. StemPAC gives John Kerry the credit he deserves

StemPAC Credits Kerry and Frist For Leadership Roles in Fight For Stem Cell Research
July 19th, 2006 @ 2:23 pm

StemPAC gives John Kerry the credit he deserves for his actions to fight for federal spending for stem cell research. StemPAC has reviewed the actions of the potential 2008 Presidential candidates and found that “A number of the ‘08 Presidential hopefuls have expressed support for HR 810, but few have actually taken a leadership role on the issue, pushed hard for it, and tried to rally their supporters at this critical time.”

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3644

[demdiva]

4. StemPAC deserves a lot of credit for Frist's support in the first place

From a USAToday article almost a year ago

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-07-29-frist-stem-cell_x.htm

Frist backs more funding for stem cell research
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist endorsed government-funded research on human embryonic stem cells Friday, breaking with President Bush and the religious conservatives he's been courting for a 2008 presidential bid. He drew praise from former first lady Nancy Reagan.
--snip--
His announcement came the same week that a group of supporters for the research, StemPAC, began a television ad in New Hampshire, site of the first 2008 presidential primary, criticizing Frist for not scheduling a vote on the issue. Frist said the Senate would debate and vote on the issue in the fall.

It took him long enough, but I'm glad it finally came to a vote

[globalvillage]

2. How sad is it that this is bush*'s first veto.

He made a choice between allowing these embryos to become medical waste or the seeds of hope for millions. Not only does bush* not understand relatively concrete issues like science and technology, he can't grasp more abstract concepts like hope and progress and empathy.
For most, that would merely be a sad individual failing. bush*'s small minded, short sighted lack of leadership is a tragedy for us all.
Worse than useless. I hate that son of a bitch.

Good statement from the Senator.

[demdiva]

5. Seriously....

[whometense]

9. god, I hate him too.

On the lighter side of the news, every single repuke who got up and spoke on this issue over the past few days sounded like life imitating art.



Sammy the Stem Cell

http://www.thesnotgreensea.com/mp3/sammy/aams052605Sammy.mp3

http://www.thesnotgreensea.com/mp3/sammy/aams060105Sammy.mp3

http://www.thesnotgreensea.com/mp3/sammy/mms06122006Sammy.mp3

[globalvillage]

3. New StemPAC e-mail. Take Action

ALERT: Fax Congress -- Demand an Override of the Bush Veto



Dear xxxxxxxxx:

We'll keep it short and sweet, so you can take action as soon as possible:

1) HR 810 passed the Senate with 63 votes

2) President Bush has used his veto

3) Congress is debating RIGHT NOW whether to override it.

Our friends at DefCon have set up a page to fax Congress, to demand an override. Go there now, and send a fax:

http://ga3.org/campaign/stem_cell_override_web

Do not pass go, do not collect $200, send a fax now:

http://ga3.org/campaign/stem_cell_override_web

And remember -- the fight has just begun.

The StemPAC Team

[demdiva]

6. Did you post in GDP???? This is a MUST POST!!!! Thanks for the alert.

[globalvillage]

7. I posted in GD n/t

[demdiva]

8. Great! I'll follow you there

[JI7]

10. i am so angry and disgusted

next time i hear some snotty ass piece of shit demand what the difference is between x candidate and y candidate when it's clear one supports this while another doesn't ............

i saw the idiot on tv. i can't even stand looking at his face and his voice is so painful to listen to.

[whometense]

11. Charlie Pierce is

in a magnificent, towering rage.
http://www.prospect.org/weblog/2006/07/post_887.html#comments

It just so happens that I have a couple of really ugly-ass dogs in this fight over embryonic stem-cell research. Not many political issues are personal with me, but this one deeply is. I have watched slow death from neurological disease once too often in my life to be anything but furious when Sam Brownback, a United States senator to the everlasting embarrassment of that body, pulls out a child's drawing of an embryo with a smiley-face in order to argue his position. Or when Tony Snow, that towering public fake, starts getting glib about "murder," as though there isn't enough blood lapping at the ankles of everyone in this White House to float a barge. Or when Snow's boss, that tough-talkin', crumb-spittin', neck-rubbin' international buckaroo, uses the first veto of his presidential career and then hides behind children while maundering incoherently about a "moral line" as though he'd recognize one if he fell over it. Is there any doubt that, if this guy got Parkinson's Disease, he'd eat those little buggers out of the petri dish with a spoon, probably dribbling some of them on Tony Blair in the process?...

[ProSense]

12. That has got to be

one of the most well-written, scathing and concise smack downs I've ever read. The only thing left to do is print it out, roll it up and slap the evil bastards in the face with it!

[whometense]

13. He is an absolute treasure.

And, what's more, he has a virulent line of early-onset Alzheimers in his family, so the rage is honest.

He's an amazing writer. He wrote one of my favorite pieces ever on Kerry for Esquire in 2003 or 2004.

Oh, and I loved that well-deserved little slap at Obama too.

[ProSense]

15. I forgot to ask,

please post this in GD. It's friggin great!

[Blaukraut]

14. Damn! This is one for the personal archives!

The best smackdown ever! I'm saving this on my hard drive. :applause: :wow:

Incidentally, I'd like to know if Bush and his cronies can come up with enough human incubators to hatch those "snowflake babies" before they hit the trash. Goodness forbid these pre-embryonic cells get used for chimp's enemy number 1 - science.