Congressmen dare Bush to veto expansion of stem cell study

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/225388_stemcell23.html

Congressmen dare Bush to veto expansion of stem cell study

By JESSICA BLANCHARD
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Two local Democratic congressmen yesterday challenged President Bush to go ahead and veto an expansion of federally funded embryonic stem cell research, as he has threatened.

"Bring it on" and face the fallout of public opinion, said U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, who joined Rep. Jay Inslee and several transplant surgeons, doctors and researchers to publicly press for passage of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005.

The bill, which would lift Bush's 2001 ban on federal funding for research of new embryonic stem cell lines, is scheduled for a House vote this week.

"The White House policy has proven to have been a failure," Inslee said yesterday while at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center for the annual meeting of the American Transplant Congress, a surgeons group. "It has put handcuffs on our researchers."

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[Toots]

1. "The White House policy has proven to have been a failure,"

That my friend in one concise statement is the Bush*/Cheney legacy.

[fishnfla]

10. Bush's legacy on this will be the laughing stock of history

In 30 years or so, all sorts of previously uncurable diseases will be fixed as the result of stem celll research. People will be like: can you believe those Cro Magnons in the 00's tried to prevent this?

This is a nobrainer, and Bush needs to be bashed over the head with this every chance we get.

[Guckert]

2. I love how the FIRST bill Dumbya is going to veto is for stem cell research

he is really trying to make it hard for the next Redumblican to win in 08.

[Hobarticus]

4. Or '06, for that matter....

I'm sure his cronies in Congress are pretty nervous right about now.

[renaissanceguy]

5. Finally a catch-22 for the chimp.

He's screwed if he doesn't veto it, because the fundies will be pissed. And he's screwed if he does, because mainstream America will be pissed.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.21326152

[blondeatlast]

6. We have to stop saying "Bush," and substitute Republicans instead.

Doesn't matter if they were personally involved--this is a propaganda war.

[still_one]

3. I agree, in fact we should do it with everything

no more dragging things out. Let the country see just exactly where the repukes and the administration stand, then bring on 2006

[AirAmFan]

7. Let's see Rove try to spin his way out of this one

This is a REAL issue that most people understand. When Dubya stands with the ultra-right against medical research, for superstitious reasons, he unavoidably splits the Republican Party, losing just about everybody with any sense, unless they are induced to forget about this issue. Democrats need to see to it that this is never forgotten: the White House is against progress in medical research!

[bunkerbuster1]

12. They've got this covered... they think.

I suspect that Bugman's BS alternative will be seen for what it is by the electorate.

[laheina]

13. If he can't spin it...

...then he'll prolly just run a distraction and/or bully the press into not covering it. I agree that this issue is important to a lot of people, but I'm starting to get kind of defeatist about everything.

That, and I've begun to theorize that somebody in that administration has sold their soul to the devil.

[SKKY]

8. Well, look who just got his "Bitch Card" pulled. I like it!

[undeterred]

9. Bush pledges to veto stem cell bill

By Lester Haines
Published Monday 23rd May 2005 14:38 GMT

President Bush has threatened to veto legislation aimed at loosening US goverment restrictions on stem cell research. Supporters of the offending bill - which is due to come before both the House of Representatives and the Senate shortly - believe that the vote will be close. If both approve it, then only a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate could override a presidential veto - an outcome thought unlikely by Republicans.

According to Reuters, Bush told reporters last Friday: "I've made it very clear to the Congress that the use of federal money, taxpayers' money, to promote science which destroys life in order to save life - I'm against that. And therefore if the bill does that, I will veto it."

While this stance find favour among Christian and other groups opposed to all forms of stem cell research, the bill's supporters are dismayed by Bush's pronouncement. Republican Representative Mike Castle of Delaware - who together with Democratic Representative Diane DeGette of Colorado are sponsoring the bill in the House of Representatives - stressed: "Under no circumstances does this legislation allow for the creation of embryos for research nor does it fund the destruction of embryos."

DeGette added that she was "disappointed at Bush's veto threat against a bill that holds promise for cures to diseases that affect millions of Americans," a lament echoed by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada who said: "President Bush has made the wrong choice, putting politics ahead of safe, responsible science."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/05/23/bush_bill_veto/

[bunkerbuster1]

11. Well, this story makes it seem like the moderates have been out-

manuevered by the Bugman (emphasis mine):

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-nws-sweet23.html

<...>

Before signing off on the Castle-DeGette vote deal, Hastert negotiated some ground rules with Kirk and the moderates. The moderates will get their up-or-down vote. In return, if they fail, they will not engage in parliamentary maneuvers to lead to more debate and will not back Democratic attempts to attach Castle-DeGette as riders on other bills.

With the pledge of a vote, Kirk and the Main Street partnership geared up a million-dollar media campaign, in part to pressure or persuade Republican lawmakers for their vote. A Main Street print ad featured Nancy Reagan, a staunch backer of using federal dollars for stem cell research.

While Castle-DeGette has about 200 co-sponsors, only about two dozen are Republicans, including Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.), a senior member of the Science Committee. As part of the moderates' drive to pass the Castle bill, Kirk, of Highland Park, and Biggert, of Hinsdale, a week ago held a Chicago hearing on the need for federal dollars to underwrite stem cell research.

<...>

As for DeLay, the master strategist was working last week on a surprise that could lure votes away from Kirk's cause. DeLay and his sidekicks are coming up with a bill for more adult stem cell research, not as critical as embryonic funding. Having an alternative stem cell bill will make it easier for undecided members to vote no on the more important Castle-DeGette legislation. Too bad Kirk could not make a public assault against this clever maneuver.