Embryonic Stem Cell Breakthrough Reveals Religious Right Hypocrisy

[ck4829]

"I just watched J.C. Watts, former Republican Congressman and former Southern Baptist pastor, gibberishly "explain" to CNN's Wolf Blitzer why today's landmark announcement of a breakthrough in embryonic stem cell research still creates unresolvable ideological concerns for him and the religious right.

But rather than demonstrate a desire to seriously examine an advance that could potentially cure hundreds of life-threatening diseases, Mr. Watts displayed stubborn partisan unwillingness to resolve a hot-potato political issue that serves to rally religious right voters to the polling booth.

And Watts did so using the exact same scientifically-inaccurate talking points as did a spokesman for conservative Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) to the press today.

...

On August 24, 2006, in the journal Nature, biologists for Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (ACT), a Massachusetts company, announced that it had pioneered a new approach to embryonic stem cell therapy that does NOT cause the destruction of human embryos.

Here are the basic facts:

- Using techniques employed in in-vitro fertilization, a tiny glass tube is used to extract a single cell (called a blastomere) from an embryo extremely early in development.

- Per scientists, the blastomere is incapable of developing into a separate embryo, as "twinning" occurs at a later stage of embryonic development.

- In tests, the embryos developed normally at the same rate as those in commonly performed in-vitro fertilization techniques.

- Many dozens of blastomeres, each taken from a separate early-stage embryo, must be accumulated to form just one viable embryonic stem cell line.

- ACT's new technique is many years from public availability, and is presently inefficient and time-consuming. And unless goverment funded, this new embryonic stem cell therapy would be cost-prohibitive for all but the very wealthy.

On CNN this afternoon, echoing words from Senator Brownback's office, J.C. Watts commented that he objects to this new embryonic stem cell technique because the extracted cell could possibly grow into a twin, and the twin would die in the process.

According to scientists and researchers, Mr. Watts' statement is inaccurate and scientifically impossible."

http://usliberals.about.com/b/a/257726.htm

[Beelzebud]

1. I wonder if Watts would like a bunch of scientists regulating his church?

So then, why the FUCK does some uneducated moron's opinion, on something he has no clue about, end up in the "national debate"?

Have I mentioned today, how much I HATE these people?

[bryant69]

2. While Watts is a buffoon he's at least consistantly a buffoon

If you have a moral objection to stem cell research based on the theory that each cell is a life form, well, this really shouldn't change your position.

I like Alter's forcing those who oppose this research to pledge that they will never use any medicine or treatments derived from this research even to save their own lives.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[BOSSHOG]

3. And how many have taken that pledge?

The same number as the chickenhawks I offer a ride to the Army recruiting office - None!

[charlie]

4. Each cell?

Wow. I didn't know there were people who regarded single cells as life forms. Of course, there are plenty who feel zygotes are sacrosanct, but I never heard about people who think replaceable cells are incipient humans.

[intaglio]

5. Should someone tell the ReliRighters that ...

Between 30% and 50% of normally fertilised ova never implant or are miscarried very early

These poor little lives are usually flushed away down the toilet with noone knowing they even existed.

[Igel]

6. That this cell can't develop into a twin is a fact almost everybody

will come to agreement on.

Some will have their own private facts, but this routinely occurs in subpopulations anyway.

[zbdent]

7. Don't forget that vaccination which would prevent a certain cancer

in women, if given before puberty ...

The Religious Right took a hit there when they forbid it PERIOD because it would "encourage young girls to have sex" ...

[aein]

8. don't you know? Cancer is God's expression of eternal love