NYT/AP: Ali Endorses Michigan Gov. Granholm for Re-Election

[DeepModem Mom]

Ali Endorses Mich. Gov. for Re-Election
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 4, 2006

DETROIT (AP) -- Boxing legend Muhammad Ali endorsed Michigan's Democratic governor for re-election on Wednesday, saying he backed Jennifer Granholm's efforts to overturn the state's ban on embryonic stem cell research.

Ali has Parkinson's disease, a condition that stem cell research advocates say might be treated or cured through such research.

''She wants talented researchers and businesses around the world -- who are working on cures for devastating and gut-wrenching diseases right now -- to relocate here ... but she's been hindered in her efforts to attract them because our laws are too restrictive,'' Ali and his wife, Lonnie, said in a statement released by the Granholm campaign.

State law does not permit Michigan researchers to get embryos left over from fertility treatments in the state. State scientists can use embryonic stem cell lines from California, Illinois or other states with less restrictive laws, but those lines sometimes are patented by other researchers....

***

Granholm supports state legislation that would allow more embryonic stem cell research in Michigan. Her Republican challenger, Dick DeVos, said he opposed embryonic stem cell research but supported research using adult stem cells....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Michigan-Governors-Race.html

[KingFlorez]

1. Good for him

It's nice to see common sense from people

[Greeby]

2. kick for a true patriot

:patriot:

A reminder of how he embarassed the Shrub :D
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/11/10.html#a5800

[rodeodance]

3. Go Ali. the last time I saw him -prob a year ago-He was in bad shape.

[stevietheman]

4. Another reason to be proud of my hometown hero.

By the way, the Muhammad Ali Center opened in downtown Louisville late last year. Just went to it a few days ago -- the place is spectacularly well done, and HUGE!

[Old and In the Way]

5. Start an elective war and kill 100,000 innocents? No problem.

Conduct research on cells a fraction of the size of the period under the question mark? Crime against humanity. What a bunch of whack-jobs.

[JanusAscending]

7. Did anyone out there catch the debate between Jennifer and

Dick DeVos?? He was a blithering idiot! If he beats her, (my feminine political Idol), ya know the fix is in! She is the most gracious, well spoken woman I've heard in a long time!! DC

[1932]

6. America HATED this man during Vietnam. The fact that he is a hero today

gives me hope.

Everyone should read "What's My Name, Fool" -- it's a great book about progressive politics and sports. The stuff about Ali is incredibly interesting.

[Old and In the Way]

8. Actually, I think a majority liked him.

Yeah, the military industrial complex wasn't happy when a hi-profile black guy told them he wasn't going to "Nam to kill babies for corporate profits....but he was admired by most in this society, I think.

[1932]

10. According to David Z., the author of What's My Name, Fool?,

American lined up left vs right over whether they'd call Ali by his legal name -- the left called him Ali and the right called him Cassius Clay.

He said that the NY Times referred to him as Cassius Clay for a long long time (something like 5 or 8 years after he changed his name).

I bet if DU had been around then, you'd see a lot of DU'ers influenced by media like the NY Times calling him Cassius Clay and criticizing him for not going to Vietnam. Cynthia McKinney comes to mind as a model.

[sandnsea]

11. Not that I saw

I saw a pretty big split between adults who didn't like his attitude about his medal, his "uppity attitude" in general; and younger boys who idolized him. I always remember old guys rooting for anybody to kick his ass. Joe Frazier, he was a gentlemen (knew his place), but that Cassius Clay was ungrateful, unpatriotic, bla bla. I think that changed when he got sick and when it was clear in his older age that he was really a spiritual and gracious human being. But in the 60's, I remember a lot of animosity towards him.

[Old and In the Way]

13. Thinking about it some more, I think you may be right.

Certainly in the mid-60's he was persona non-grata. But Howard Cosell helped to rehabilitate his image and by the time the early 70's rolled around, I think he was pretty popular. But, hey, it's probably a biased opinion...I liked the guy.

[goclark]

19. Part of America may have hated him

but not BLACK AMERICA!

We were with him all the way and we still are with him.
Delighted that he came out swinging for stem cell research and for Jennifer!

[Kolesar]

20. I thought he was kind of mean

All those preteenage kids imitating his trash talk was not a pretty scene. (all irrespective of the War on Vietnam).

[1932]

21. Now, that's the kind of stuff I'm talking about!

[zonkers]

9. Kick for the worlds greatest.

[longship]

12. Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee!!!

Way to go, Ali!

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

17. Cause the hand can't hit what the eye can't see

Rumble, young man, rumble.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Glad to hear about this! He has a lot of admirers.

So does Gov. Granholm.

Best wishes to both of them.

[NOLADEM]

15. Much better than Chemical Ali's endorsement of her opponent

[Nimrod2005]

16. YEAH - Sting them bastards...nt

[bif]

18. Does he still live in Michigan?

I know he lived here for a long time. Just curious.