Ailing (Sen. Arlen) Specter Now Pushes Stem Cell Research

[Kadie]

Ailing Specter Now Pushes Stem Cell Research

Thu Apr 21, 7:56 PM ET Health - AP


By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record) is pushing legislation to expand stem cell research with the perspective of a man fighting a deadly illness.


The Pennsylvania Republican has Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph system, and is being treated with chemotherapy. He and two colleagues introduced a bill Thursday that would allow for what is often referred to as therapeutic cloning.


"I've got a new hairdo, which you can all observe, and that is indicative of a problem which may well be helped by stem cell research if it were to go forward," said Specter, referring to the loss of most of his hair.


Specter was joined at a news conference by Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a conservative Republican, and Dianne Feinstein of California, a moderate Democrat. The three said their bill would make reproductive cloning, to produce a baby, a crime punishable by up to 10 years.

more...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&ncid=703&e=4&u=/ap/20050421/ap_on_he_me/specter_stem_cells

[Dave Reynolds]

1. Ain't karma a bitch?

Say hi to Superman when you go, pal.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. Just like Al Franken said in Lying Liars.

They come around when they get sick.

[ailsagirl]

2. Oh, I see-- it's different when it's your life that could be saved

It's crazy-making, I tell you!!!!!!!!!!

:silly: :crazy: :freak:

[AlCzervik]

3. I never thought he was an opponent of stem cell

maybe i'm wrong.

[noamnety]

4. He's been a supporter of stem cell research for years

Here's a 2001 interview with him on the subject - he's quite critical of Bush's statements on stem cell lines.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/congress/july-dec01/senators_9-5.html

[AlCzervik]

5. thanks, i thought i was losing my memory there for a moment.

[delete_bush]

6. which is another good reason for supporting the research!

[Tempest]

7. Correct, Specter has always championed research

Senator Specter introduced S. 723, the Stem Cell Research Act of 2001, which would amend current law and authorize NIH to fund the derivation of stem cells from surplus IVF embryos.

http://www.policyalmanac.org/health/archive/crs_stem_cell.shtml

[Straight Shooter]

11. I can just hear the freepers thinking this is Gawd's payback

I believe that some nutcase fundies will think that this is cosmic retribution for daring to support anything as heretical as stem cell research.

Blessings to you, Senator Specter, and may you prevail. I would not wish your disease on my worst enemy.

[Mend]

14. He has been sick before that with a brain tumor....I am not

impressed. If you are human, you are a Democrat or an Independent or a Green. If you are a repuke, hopefully you get life lessons like the rest of us....see Lee Atwater. They want to deprive humanity of science to relieve suffering until it is their own suffering.

[Demit]

10. Thanks for setting the record straight. Here's hoping folks who comment

without knowing their facts will take heed next time.

[bling bling]

13. Agreed. But in their defense the headline is a little misleading.

The word "now" in the headline makes it look like he didn't before.

[redqueen]

16. Not a litte, very. The "now" definitely implies it's something new.

Editors... ptui.

[Wabbajack]

9. Yeah he's for it.

He's a million times better than sh1t like Santorum.

You know who else is for it? EVERY SINGLE Repub I know (and thats more than a few) even the anti-choice ones and even the very religious ones.

[Hekate]

12. Hatch stands with him? Now I'm impressed

Orrin Hatch is famously anti-choice, so if it is possible for him to make the intellectual leap to understanding that therapeutic stem cell cloning has nothing to do with abortion, then there just might be hope for his pandering colleagues.

Now if only Hatch could maybe experience a desired but completely disastrous pregnancy in his family, maybe then he could begin to understand the agony of women seeking a late-term abortion....

Hekate

[Arugula Latte]

15. That's probably different because

pregnancy can never happen to HIM directly, so what does he care? It's just the walking vessels that get knocked up, right? :eyes:

[goodboy]

17. how funny...wanna know how to cure all the world's diseases?

infect the richest, slimey, freeper types with them, and watch them spend all their money using all methods to cure it.

[ChickMagic]

18. Sure, it's all abstract

until it hits home. Suck it, Specter!