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."

[Kittycat]

1. That article is over a year old. Has anyone asked him his stance recently?

[ruggerson]

2. wow, a full year old

imagine that.

[Bluebear]

5. Must have been in hieroglyphics

:rofl:

[BlooInBloo]

9. Translated with the help of the Rossetta Stone.

[Skittles]

23. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

STOP SPINNING, YOU'LL MAKE YOURSELF SICK - it's certainly making ME nauseated

[sandnsea]

3. I'm happy as long as it isn't illegal

There's plenty of money out there. Use federal money for adult research and free up the private money to all go to embryonic. Remove the political debate completely. Makes sense to me.

[ruggerson]

4. Completely disagree

too many people waiting to be cured.

[sandnsea]

11. Continue the a political argument

and they'll keep waiting. This is one way to get the funding going.

[ruggerson]

12. Well, California kind of preempted the entire country

with a measure that passed overwhelmingly.

Frankly, I'm tired of politicians using religion to keep people from getting cures.

I want a government that respects science and progress.

Religion is great, as long as it isn't used a civil club to harm people.

[sandnsea]

14. There you go

I'm sick of religion too, but I can see how some of these approaches are ways around the worst of them. It's hard for me to comprehend these people, but we have to figure out how to change them or get around them.

[femrap]

29. Then let Big Pharma control it and charge

astronomical amounts of money for treatment.

I'm sick of these wacko religious people...and now one of them is considered as a VP for the Dem party???

Aren't there any reasonable Southerners available for VP?

[sandnsea]

42. That'll happen anyway

That aspect has nothing to do with religion. I still hope he chooses Richardson, Napolitano, or someone from the west. I'm tired of the religious wackos too.

[femrap]

46. Sadly, it probably doesn't make a

damn bit of difference who it is. This country is in decline and there's nothing that can stop it. I have no faith in 95% of the DC politicians. They've sold out to the Corporations who give them $ to get elected.

It's time to prepare for the poop hitting the fan...no help will be coming from gov't. They'd probably just screw it up anyway...which they are doing right now with bailing out the banksters.

[LostinVA]

6. He is a devout and nonhypocritical RC -- of course he does

I mean that both respectfully and as a caveat for him being VP.

[ruggerson]

7. Yep

I'm fine with that as long as it doesn't affect civil policymaking.

[LostinVA]

10. Yup, but it does (ie VA GLBT rights)

[femrap]

30. RC....roman catholic?

Great. That's just great.

Women are going to suffer. All of a sudden the Dem party is what the Republican Party was a few decades ago.

[Marrah_G]

8. I disagree with him on this one.

[jenmito]

13. As someone with MS, which could one day be cured by ESCR, I have no doubt he'll adopt OBAMA'S

stance on this and all other issues and don't doubt Obama's judgment.

[ruggerson]

16. There is always the chance

that Kaine could end up as President.

Do we want to take that chance?

[jenmito]

19. I don't believe Obama would pick him unless he promised to adopt all of his positions in such

a case.

[Skittles]

24. um, jenmito?

that would make Obama a dictator

[jenmito]

25. OR it would make Kaine someone who changed his positions on those issues.

[femrap]

36. Are you sure you know where obama

stands? I'm seeing a move to the right that doesn't make sense. There has to be another Southerner that is less nutty than this guy for VP.

Don't you remember his Dem Response to the State of the Union Speech? He was absolutely HORRID.

[grantcart]

21. keep up the struggle - its a tough one

I am sure your right about this issue.

[jenmito]

28. Thanks, grantcart...

I have pretty much stayed at the same level of disability for years now, but I have it really bad-paralyzed from the waist down. But at least I have my "Obama '08" bumper sticker on the back of my wheelchair, which I wouldn't have if I could walk. :D

[ruggerson]

37. Keep fighting

I have too many close friends and family dealing with the same. I have faith that both MS and Parkinson's are just a couple of years away from being fully treatable.

Hang in there.

:hug:

[jenmito]

43. Thanks, ruggerson...

I will do my best. Until I got MS, I had no interest in politics and I probably would never have gotten interested in it. But by the time the 2004 election "rolled" around, I was in a wheelchair, and I had a shirt made up saying, "Kerry 2004. Help me walk again." I know it's not fair to play on people's sympathies, but I did just that. And this time around, I have shirts saying, "Barack's how I roll." So everything worked out. :)

[Catherine Vincent]

40. "I roll with Barack"

:)

[jenmito]

44. Thanks for that-I should get a shirt made saying that to add to my other one, "Barack's how I roll."

:)

[flaminbats]

15. thanks for the info..

Kaine is certainly off my shortlist!!!

Do any of the others on Obama's shortlist take that position on embryonic stem cell research..US Senator Joe Biden, US Senator Evan Bayh, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius and former US Senator Sam Nunn?

[grantcart]

22. You would take somebody off your short list for VP on that single issue?

[flaminbats]

35. ok..I confess!

Kaine was never on my shortlist. embryonic stem cell research means life or death to millions suffering with catastrophic illnesses and those who love them! I doubt it means very much to Tim Kaine.

[grantcart]

39. I agree its an important issue for two reasons - its likely to help a lot of people who are sufferin

and it establishes science as being more important than religion in public policy.


But still with hundreds of other issues to look at I think you have to take a broader look.


While I am sorry about this I am delighted to have somebody who actually says " I am against capital punishment"

t

[flaminbats]

41. please don't misunderstand me..

even if Obama picks Kaine, that doesn't mean Obama would lose my vote. the worst that would happen..I wouldn't put an Obama/Kaine sticker on my car ;)

[femrap]

38. Evan Bayh???? On the short list?

Go look at this Republican's voting record. Pathetic excuse of a Democrat.

Women are going to find themselves in dire straits.

[scheming daemons]

17. OMG! Kaine doesn't share 100% of ruggerson's views! OBAMA CANNOT LET THIS HAPPEN!

:eyes:

[grantcart]

20. unlike others ruggerson's points are based on a truthful statement of

Kaine's record.

I have no problem with that kind of search


Let's get an ACCURATE picture of what we have - warts and all.


Better now than latter.

[ruggerson]

31. You are one of the folks

this post is about: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6557919

Maybe I should write it in the original German to make it easier for you.

[scheming daemons]

34. Sorry, I'm one of those people that Obama was talking about that don't know foreign languages...

...English is fine.

[grantcart]

18. That is disappointing

Do you happen to know if he has modified his position at all?

[ruggerson]

33. I'm trying to find out

if you find something, let me know. The only other thing I found was some scientific blog where the researchers were all taking him to task.

[jillan]

26. This is very disappointing.

[Barack_America]

27. As a scientist, I believe he is wrong on this issue.

But, more than anything, Kaine is dedicated to upholding the law. If federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is the law, he will honor it. Nothing during his tenure as Governor has suggested that he is prone to social activism.

[MasonJar]

32. Not good at all, because if he is VP he might push Obama that way.

Very bad!!!! Obama says he wants someone who cna share the work load. Being a Catholic did not help Kerry. I know his election was stolen, but not due to the Catholics.

[Marrah_G]

45. There is no reason to question or discuss. To do so undermines the campaign. GoBama!