Democrat Ghouls or Stem-cell Hypocrisy

Christopher Reeves hasn't been gone a day when the democratic ghouls sweep in to feast on his remains. At a Newton High School in Marshalltown, Iowa John Edwards spoke the following yesterday.

"We will do stem cell research," he vowed. "We will stop juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases. America just lost a great champion for this cause in Christopher Reeve. People like Chris Reeve will get out of their wheelchairs and walk again with stem cell research."

This is obviously meant to imply that Christopher Reeve could have been helped during the last two years by embryonic stem cell research if the government had thrown their whole weight into stem cell research. That implication is patently absurd. To go for the emotional reaction in the wake of the death of Superman is par for liberals. Sean Holliday contrasts liberalism like so.

Conservatism recognizes and governs by principles. Liberalism recognizes problems and reacts, trying to correct the perceived problems---often without a thorough analysis of the principles involved or the effects of short-term solutions on the long-term future.

Such reactionary government is often an emotional response to perceived suffering or injustice. Sympathy for constituents is a virtue that has a place in any good government. (It is certainly better than indifference.) But emotion cannot be the filter through which government operates.

Since the beginning of their debate on this subject they have filled the airwaves with lies and half-truths. John Leo writes:

John Kerry has repeatedly spoken of President Bush's "ban" on stem cell research. Kerry knows very well it isn't a "ban" or that Bush isn't "shutting down" research.

....The fact is that stem cell research is swimming in readily available funds. With luck, the elite press corps will discover this some time in October, and maybe even ask Kerry about it.

John Kerry stated:

"The majority of the American people support stem cell research, and it's high time we had a president of the United States who does, too," Kerry said. "We can't afford any more stubborn refusal to face the facts."

"ideological blinders are preventing Bush from attempting research into treatments for deadly and debilitating diseases."

Let's look at the facts and see who is for repressing research into treatments for deadly diseases. The truth is that private and state funding is available for embryonic stem cell research and there is no restriction on such research.

Based on 2002 data, one study reports that private sector research and development in stem cells was being conducted by approximately 1000 scientists in over 30 firms. Aggregate spending was estimated at $208 million. Geron Corporation alone reported that it spent more than $70 million on stem cell research by September 2003.

Where President Bush gets out of the way of private funding of research into treatments for deadly diseases allowing researchers to participate in privately-funded stem cell research without compromising their ability to receive NIH funding for separate projects. John Kerry decides to get right in the middle of such privately funded research. His plan for government imposed price controls on our drug manufacturers risks severely debilitating the US pharmaceutical industry and curtailing future advancement in a field that has done more to extend life and limit suffering then any other medical field in the last 30 years.

Unlike liberals reactionary emotional response to perceived problems the President always operates from a set of core values. Review the following facts from the HHS.

Decision Based on Ethics: “The President’s policy rests on this significant principle -- no taxpayer funding for embryo destruction -- not an assumption regarding the number of stem cell lines. Even as the science develops, this principle does not change,” as Secretary Thompson said at the time of the 2001 decision, “neither unexpected scientific breakthroughs nor unanticipated research problems would cause the President to reverse this policy.”

Bipartisan Support for Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos: The principle that human embryos merit respect as a form of human life -- and that the Federal government should not fund their destruction -- has been adopted by Congress on a bipartisan basis for a number of years. Annually, since 1996, Congress has adopted legislative language stating that HHS funds may not be used in research involving the destruction of human embryos.

Broad Support Internationally: This principle is also shared by a number of other countries. In fact, some European countries including, Germany, Austria, and Ireland, ban altogether the destruction of human embryos to create stem cell lines.

It looks like our old European Allies share the Presidents view point on the ethics of this topic.

I believe it is clear that John Kerry's pro-science stance is one of convenience when the topic suits him. In regards to stem cell research he is all for expanding the governments role in funding and directing research. In regards to drug research he is all for expanding the governments role in reducing funding through price controls and thus limiting research. The trouble is people don't understand the latter stance because he hides the issue behind the guise of lower drug prices for all. Ignoring the long term consequences.

If Kerry has his way, If his plans were ever to be put into place then not only would the war on terror and our military suffer, but his science policies would be a disaster. Price controls would kill the drug industry and any leaning toward compliance with the Kyoto treaty would be economically foolish and plain bad science.

This election is critical in determining the course of our nation. We all see the national implications of the war on terror, but the danger in Kerry's domestic agenda looms larger than any war.

Update: Wizbang also talked on Edwards speech in Iowa.

Update: Right-Winged & Right Minded posted on the Edwards speech in Iowa also

Update: JustOneMinute weighs in on Edwards speech as follows: Wow! That is going to save a huge amount on health care costs. Kerry-care has just got to be the way to go!

Update: Viking Pundit has Senator Frist's response in a post titled "The difference between a trial lawyer and a doctor"

"I find it opportunistic to use the death of someone like Christopher Reeve -- I think it is shameful -- in order to mislead the American people," Frist said. "We should be offering people hope, but neither physicians, scientists, public servants or trial lawyers like John Edwards should be offering hype.

"It is cruel to people who have disabilities and chronic diseases, and, on top of that, it's dishonest. It's giving false hope to people, and I can tell you as a physician who's treated scores of thousands of patients that you don't give them false hope."

Update: Blame Bush has his own take. He Blinded Me With Science
Update: VodkaPundit brings us this. "Despicable"
Update: Outside The Beltway points out the Charles Krauthammer piece.
Update: The Jawa Report has a great Cartoon to put this perspective.