What Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) doing is ingenious. One day after President Bush vetoed a bill that would have opened federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, the two staunch opponents of Bush's closed-door policy fought back. They introduced a new bill that would likely override a Bush veto. And yesterday, a Senate panel passed it by a vote.
They intend to pass the stem cell package by to a larger budget bill. Here is the lowdown:
The Senate Appropriations Committee, ona 26-3 vote, approved the $152 billion legislation, which funds federalhealth, labor and education departments.
The stem-cell provision in the bill would allow federally funded research on stem-cell lines created before June 15, 2007.
President Bush by executive order has limited funding to research on lines created on or before Aug. 9, 2001.
Sen.Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said the new date would give scientists more than400 new cell lines eligible for federally funded research, comparedwith the 20 now available.
Those new lines available would include embryonic stem cells.
Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow -- the kind that actor Michael J. Fox candidates to take a stand on last campaign cycle. President Bush is promising a if it passes the Senate. In order to override the Bush veto, it will need to pass the House and Senate by a two-thirds majority.
Congressional sources have indicated to me that Senate Democrats need just one vote to override the veto and pass the stem cell legislation.
The Democrats also have another option. With the temporary vacancy of the Wyoming Senate seat, following the unfortunate , the Democrats are now in a position to pass it by two-thirds majority. Senator Thomas was a strong opponent of stem cell research, which means Republicans might raise a fuss if Harry Reid tries to force a vote.
We can debate the ethics of using stem cells that will be until we are blue in the face. Though, strategically speaking, as political analyst points out, Democrats only gain from bills like this. So they may ultimately try to push this through:
In particular, the Democrats have a chance to peel away a critical blocof independents and moderate Republicans who are growing more and moreuncomfortable with the anti-science, anti-tolerance, borderlineantediluvian agenda of today's conservative movement.
Look for this to be a hot topic in the coming weeks.
In response to the embryonic stem cell research bill, which was passed in the Senate by a vote, today that it destroys life:
"In our day there is a temptation to manipulate life in ways that donot respect the humanity of the person," Bush said Friday. "When thathappens, the most vulnerable among us can be valued for their utilityto others instead of their own inherent worth."
But according to the , all of the embryos would be discarded anyway:
"Prior to the consideration of embryo donation and through consultationwith the individuals seeking fertility treatment, it was determinedthat the embryos would never be implanted in a woman and wouldotherwise be discarded."
So much for Bush's utilitarian argument. Although, he is expected to veto the legislation once it hits his desk.
According to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll, Americans are more optimistic this year about the Democratic-controlled Congress than they are of the Bush presidency:
A new goes even further. A majority of Americans favor the items that are on the Democrats' agenda in the first 100 hours:
Minimum Wage Favor - 80% Oppose - 18%
Embryonic Stem Cell Funding Yes - 56% No - 41%
Allowing people to buy prescription medication from other countries Favor - 69% Oppose - 28%
The Republicans will have to wait until a more controversial topic arises, such as gun control, before they can attack without appearing so far outside the mainstream.
After his ads struck a chord in numerous races all over the country, especially in Missouri, former actor turned stem cell activist Michael J. Fox that he will be campaigning with Virginia Senate challenger James Webb on Tuesday:
Fox has agreed to appear at an Arlington fundraising rally Nov. 2with Democrat James Webb, Webb's campaign said Wednesday. Fox, who hasParkinson's disease, has appeared in gripping television ads forDemocratic Senate candidates in Maryland and Missouri. In each spot,Fox criticizes Republican candidates for opposing the expansion offederal funding for embryonic stem cell research and asks viewers toback Democrats who support such funding. His body shakes and rocks ashe speaks, providing graphic evidence of the disease's effects.
Allen campaign manager Dick Wadhams dismissed the significance ofthe planned Fox event, saying "It's not surprising that a Hollywoodmovie producer like James Webb would have a Hollywood actor campaignfor him."
No comment yet about this scheduled campaign stop from conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who Michael J. Fox of acting out the effects of his Parkinson's disease. With Michael J. Fox expected to make an ad for Webb, you can bet that the GOP-friendly host will have something to say. Strategically speaking, Democrats want him to vent about it because the over-the-top rhetoric would hurt the GOP.
The verdict is in on Bush's stem cell veto. Here it is from the :
"As you may know, earlier this week, President Bush vetoed a bill that would have expanded federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Do you approve or disapprove of his decision to veto this bill?"
Approve - 36% Disapprove - 58% Unsure - 6%
As you can see, most Americans prefer science over one man using Executive power to institute his moral authority over a nuanced majority.
This poll mirrors President Bush's job performance numbers. In that same Gallup Poll, stands at 37%.
Don't let anyone tell you that a majority of Americans oppose embryonic stem cell research. Ever since 2002, as time has gone on and the scientific possibilities have expanded, more and more Americans are embracing the idea that we need to protect the living. Look at :
Everyone can understand that embryonic stem cell research is a very sensitive issue. But in this week's debate over a bill that would have lifted the 2001 ban on funding for that kind of research, Republican Sam Brownback went over the top and tried to play on people's emotions. Jon Stewart explains:
Some of the analogies that Brownback tried to draw would be better suited in front of an audience at an insane asylum and not the floor of the U.S. Senate. How can any person take this guy seriously?
Today, as expected, President Bush vetoed a bill that would have granted funding for embryonic stem cell research. Because Karl Rove is betting that are more likely than affluent conservatives to show up on election day, the President reached a calculated election year conclusion that it was more convenient under these circumstances to pander to the far-right.
During his news conference where he officially issued the , Bush recited the usual conservative talking points, such as :
"My administration has made available more than $90 million for research on these lines."
This is the rhetorical equivalent of . The Republicans say that this Administration has given more money to stem cell research than any other presidency in American history. If you hear any of your Republicans friends say that, don't let them get away with it! Of course Bush has funded the most. Why? This technology was not available during the Clinton years. Bush is really the first President to face any sizable amount of pressure to fund stem cell research. It's like John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson saying that they funded the space program more than any of their predecessors. Of course they did! Do you think Theodore Roosevelt made a campaign promise to fly someone to the moon? I don't think so. The science wasn't there. Anytime you hear a president or governor claim to fund a certain kind of scientific research more than any of their predecessors, you first have to look at whether that type of science was even available before. If it wasn't, then credit cannot be claimed.
But what got me the most from this press conference was :
"Under this policy, 21 human embryonic stem cell lines are currently in use in research that is eligible for federal funding."
I am sorry, but that was the worst excuse ever. In other words, we're doing "x" much, and that's good enough. Well tell that to all the patients that could possibly gain from embryonic stem cell funding. Republicans say it's false hope. I say that some hope is a whole lot better than no hope coupled with restraint.
Back again to this quote, because this is really important. It reminds me of what the about Iraq last year:
"Overall, 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces are relatively peaceful and stable, and more than 30,000 new businesses have set up shop."
On the outside, from this quote you might think that we're moving in the right direction. But when you really cut through all the spin, you find out that the four provinces that aren't stable hold more than 70% of the Iraqi population.
So once again, on the stem cell issue, like on Iraq, the Administration clearly believes that throwing a bunch of deceptive numbers around to confuse people is sound leadership. ------------------------------------------------------------- Other blogs writing about this issue: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
The embryonic stem cell bill, which passed the House last year and cleared the Senate yesterday, by President Bush. To this day, the President has . Many ask why the first veto of the Bush Administration has to be one against science? in the scientific community, it is like a slap in their face and a rejection of the hope that lives could be saved by embryonic stem cell treatment.
In my view, Bush's stance has even more to do with politics. Ever since 2004, the year Bush heavily pandered to the Evangelical community, I have said that Bush is a Rovean first, a supply-side big-business conservative second, and a religious man third. Try telling me that I'm wrong about that now! You find out that I am right by contrasting his policy decisions every even election year with policy decisions every odd election year. This guy must think of religious conservatives as short-term thinkers, who allow themselves to be betrayed until an election is right around the corner, and then take the President at his word when he panders to them for five straight month months. This election season, Evangelical Christians have a great opportunity to show this President that they know he is not one of them, and that one veto will not win their votes.
But honestly, I think Bush's tactic may work. The Democrats have done much more of a poor job exposing the Republicans this week on the stem cell issue than they did one month ago when they were at the top of their game on issues like gay marriage, flag burning and the estate tax. Maybe it has something to do with all the Middle East coverage.
In any event, for almost every Republican leader, it is political. Bill Frist probably thinks that by this embryonic stem cell bill all of us will forget when he runs for president about his back in 2005.
President Bush is vetoing the bill because Karl Rove is betting on more showing up to vote on election day than affluent conservatives who support embryonic stem cell research.
Rick Santorum is probably the most political of them all. by a long shot, Santorum voted against the embryonic bill, but wrote his own bill, which passed, that allows basically every other kind of stem cell funding. In other words, he is now able to take credit for authoring a stem cell bill even though he voted against the one that really mattered.
It's all politics with these guys, and no solutions for tomorrow. Is this the party you want running Congress?
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