Need help formulating debate against anti stem cell lobby

[DanCa]

Hey everyone I need help from you all. As many of you know that I am a lobbyist for parkinson's disease and stem cell research. My next function is at the pan forum in Washington DC next month. And hopefully I'll be at the parkinsons congress if I get a scholarship.

Now I have a problem regarding the recent scandal involving the korean stem cell scientist, who faked his results. I am sure that the "culture of life" crowd is going to be throwing it into our face that he 'faked' his results. Do you guys have any well reasoned counter arguments to counter the charge that stem cell should be banned because of this guy fabricating his results. Please bare in mind that my side only gets 5 minutes to rebutt. Note - I dont want to get into the trap of defending the fraud that the scientist committed. Note two I am attentionly leaving out the researchers name because I lack the ability to spell it and my notes are in my other room. (My New Year's resolution is to work on my spelling and puncutation at DU)

Thanks for the help in advance, big hugs. :hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Hey Dan I am going to a meeting tomorrow on this very topic

It has become a hot bed issue in MO.

If I get anything there I think you can use, I will PM you.

I am passionate about this. My dad died in 1999. He had Parkinson's.

[DanCa]

4. Can I say a prayer for your dad? If it's okay.?

Good luck to you and let me know. :D :hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Sure but he died 6 years ago

Pray for my mom. She hasn't handled his death well at all. And she almost died taking caring of him herself.

I will let you know what happens. :hug:

Biomedical research is a BIG industry locally. The largest lab has already announced it will move out of state if stem cell research is banned. It will be on the ballot in MO in Nov as a referendum for the voters. And the fundies are coming out of the woodwork.

It's actually been pretty interesting. I live in KS and work in MO. So we have creationism and ID debates on one side of the state line and stem cell research on the other.

[BuyingThyme]

2. If you try to counter the charge, you lose.

Stick to the facts.

[DanCa]

5. That's what I am going to t ry to do but the pro life crowd plays dirty.

I have been called everything from an embryo farmer to a toddler killer. I even had one Bishop say that I deserved PD because I want to manufacture babies for my own ends. Thanks for the support though.

[BuyingThyme]

7. Maybe you can retort by readily agreeing that the falsehood is a falsehood

while quickly turning to additional examples of falsehoods -- theirs -- to claim the high ground.

[politicaholic]

3. Speaking to my brother who's a tenured cell biologist about this...

It's common knowledge that the peer review system in Korea is incredibly flawed. During the conversation we came to the conclusion that this is in fact a great argument for bolstering the research in America. This way the US can be the ones to either legitimize or de-legitimize the prospect of stem cell research. By leaving this research in the hands of less established scientific systems opens the door for research that those who want to ban the research all together are trying to avoid. By allowing stem cell research in the US, the US/European scientific establishment will be able to direct that research in the direction that can be most ethically advantageous to society.

This is going to come up. You're right, it's not your place to answer for the mistakes of other countries. Stay with your other talking points. Hopefully the number of stem cells lost during invetero fertilization will be there. That's definitely a strong argument against the opposition.

[DanCa]

6. Thanks for the advice.

I am just trying to stay one step ahead of them for a change.

[DanCa]

9. Kick for the night time crew.

:kick: