Michael J. Fox praises Obama for lifting stem cell ban

[babylonsister]

http://www.9wsyr.com/entertainment/story/Fox-praises-Ob...

Fox praises Obama for lifting stem cell ban


Michael J. Fox has heaped praised on President Barack Obama for lifting an eight-year federal funding ban on stem cell research.

Fox has been a strong advocate of embryonic stem cell studies since publicly disclosing his battle with Parkinson's disease in 1998, seven years after his diagnosis.

He founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000, which has since become the largest private funder in the U.S. of medical research into the disease.

And he's given a nod to Obama, who signed an executive order on Monday lifting limits placed by the administration of former President George W. Bush, who blocked the use of any government money to fund research on human embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001.

Fox says, "Today is a new day. I'm thrilled to see President Obama has honored his commitment to get politics out of science. The last few years have been incredibly frustrating for patents and researchers who believe that embryonic stem cell research has the potential to bring better treatment... to many of the patients. I commend the President for recognizing the inherent value of research freedom and creating an environment in which it can flourish."

[polichick]

1. I wonder how he's doing these days - is he on TV?

[ellacott]

3. I've been wondering about him lately also

[babylonsister]

4. I haven't seen him in a long time. nt

[demmiblue]

8. I have seen him on ads on Hulu for the Michael J. Fox Foundation

[polichick]

9. How is he doing?

[Jennicut]

2. Michael has been a real inspiration for a lot of people. And a target of Rush of course.

[Cha]

12. It seems Senator Claire McCaskill won

Missouri because of rush making fun of Michael J Fox.

"Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Rush Limbaugh Disses Michael J. Fox
Via People

Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, appears in a TV ad for a Senate candidate who supports stem-cell research, and the severe shaking and stiffness associated with the disease are evident in his movements. But conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh has accused the actor of exaggerating his symptoms for the camera.

Commenting on Fox's commercial for Missouri Senate challenger Claire McCaskill, Limbaugh said on his syndicated radio program Tuesday, "He is moving around and shaking, and it is purely an act."

Limbaugh later said on the show, "If this was not an act, then I apologize." He also went on to say, however, that Fox is allowing his illness to be exploited."

http://www.hollywoodrag.com/index.php?/weblog/comments2...

[GTO_fan]

20. Agreed.

Rush's comments were pretty disgusting.

[texas1928]

5. Texas1928 praises President Obama for lifting Stem Cell ban.

[Hieronymus]

6. Nancy Reagan announced her approval, as well.

[iamthebandfanman]

7. first person i thought of

when i heard about the reversal..
been wondering if he had made any comments...

[jesus_of_suburbia]

10. I'm sure Christopher Reeve would have too (R.I.P)

[Cha]

11. This makes me verklempt..

I think of Chris Reeves, too.

[Political Tiger]

13. Mary Tyler Moore was MSNBC and was very excited

She's been a long time activist for diabetes causes and said this will be a big help in hopefully finding a cure for diabetes, and she also debunked the right-wing lies that this would be "killing babies" by pointing out that embryonic stem cells are discarded by the thousands everyday.

[Hope And Change]

14. K & R!

[DesertRat]

15. He's on the cover of the April issue of Good Housekeeping

He has a new book coming out called "Always Looking Up."


http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/celebrity/michae...

[Cha]

16. "And the stocks soared"

<snips>

"WASHINGTON, March 9 (Reuters) - Shares in stem cell companies soared, scientists gushed and activists cheered on Monday as President Barack Obama signed an order lifting eight years of restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research.

Obama's executive order reversed and repudiated restrictions placed on the research by his predecessor George W. Bush, freeing labs across the country to start working with the valued cells, which give birth to all cells and tissues in the body.

"By doing this, we will ensure America's continued global leadership in scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs," Obama told a packed White House ceremony.

Shares of stem cell leader Geron Inc.(GERN.O), which won government permission in January to test embryonic stem cells in human patients, were up 16 percent at $4.50 a share soon after the signing. ."


http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/id...

Another related good news article on Stem Cell Research..

<snip>

"Obama has already appointed Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu as his energy secretary, a vital position to make key decisions about where to channel many billions of dollars into urgently needed alternative-energy research. Bush and his officials were widely criticized for, among other things, allowing up to 20 percent of the annual U.S. corn crop to be diverted for ethanol production. This proved a bad investment as grain -- especially corn -- prices soared, and then when the current economic crisis depressed previously record oil prices, corn ethanol -- already widely criticized by chemists for its poor energy yields -- was temporarily priced out of the market.

There doesn't appear to be a political downside to Obama's decision on stem cell research. His fiercest critics on the issue were already his implacable foes anyway. The boost that stem cell research companies have received from his decision is a rare and welcome piece of good economic news. And any scientific progress that emerges during the next four years on the issue will redound to the president's credit, too. From the White House's point of view, what's not to like?"

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=stem+cell+stocks+so...

[Brother Buzz]

17. Maybe, just maybe my friend, a stem cell researcher, can return home

He's been in Singapore for the last eight years because ALL the jobs in his industry dried up almost overnight when Bush effectively shut down research in the US.

[Cha]

18. Here's to your friend,

Brother Buzz!

[Laelth]

19. And the Republican Georgia Legislature immediately moves to ban such research here.

Mercifully, it looks like the Republicans' insane bill won't pass this year.

http://www.macon.com/198/story/644808.html



-Laelth


Edit:Laelth--Sorry. Can't find a good link.