Kaine opposes taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research

[ruggerson]

http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7769

"On WTOP's "Ask the Governor" hour, Governor Kaine said that he opposed using taxpayer money for embryonic stem cell research. Kaine said that he believed "there are huge advances that can be made in adult stem cell research" and that "that's the way to go."
As someone with a sister who's lived with Juvenile Diabetes for over 30 years and could really REALLY use a cure, I couldn't disagree more with Governor Kaine on this. The science on this is as clear as can be - it's NOT adult stem cell research that offers the hope for people suffering with Juvenile Diabetes, Parkinsons Disease, Alzheimers, paralysis, etc. It's EMBRYONIC stem cell research. Period. The reason? Pluripotency - the ability to differentiate into all derivatives of the three primary germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm). Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent. Adult stem cells are not, which means they only form a limited number of cell types, severely limiting their potential curative and therapeutic potential.

Now, I realize that Tim Kaine is a religious Catholic, and maybe that's his rationale here. I don't know. But whatever the Governor's rationale on this, opposing state funding for embryonic stem cell research is not right at all - morally, scientifically, or politically.

I urge Tim Kaine to reconsider his position on this issue.

P.S. This issue was one of the factors that led me to strongly oppose George Allen, who voted against federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. It was also a factor in my backing for Jim Webb, who strongly supported public money for this life-saving research and appeared at a rally late in the campaign with embryonic stem cell advocate (and Parkinsons sufferer) Michael J. Fox."