Nancy Reagan calls for stem cell research

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N09386802.htm

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 9 (Reuters) - Former First Lady Nancy Reagan made an impassioned call for taking controversial stem cell research out of the political arena, saying it could help cure illnesses like Alzheimer's which so sorely afflicts her husband.

With the Bush administration and anti-abortion groups strongly opposing stem cell research, Mrs. Reagan at a celebrity-packed dinner in Beverly on Saturday night lent a powerful conservative Republican voice to the debate.

Speaking to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mrs. Reagan noted that Alzheimer's had taken her husband Ronald Reagan "to a distant place where I can no longer reach him and share our 52 years."

She added after accepting the group's "Care Giver's Award," "Science has presented us with a hope called stem cell research, which may provide our scientists with many answers that for so long have been beyond our grasp. I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this.

more

[historian]

1. isnt that typical

When reagan was still semi senile he denied any funds for aids research and only when his friend rock hudson died of it did he finally do something. Now when it strikes home its time to start something scientists have wanted to do for a long time.

[Stockholm]

2. Sorry Nancy...

But Stem cells does not seem to work on adults :(

Good call policy-wise though.

[Crunchy Frog]

10. The research is only in it's infancy

We have no idea what might eventually be accomplished with it.

I never thought I would live to see the day when I would think that Nancy looked classy, but compared with Babs and Pickles, I'd say she stacks up pretty well.

[fishnfla]

3. The irony is palpable

before 9/11, this was shrubs big issue, he was agonizing over it so much he had to take a month at crawford to debate his fricking soul.

Now its coming back to haunt him again, and while I think the issue is importaant and a no-brainer, its small potatoes compared to whats going on now. He'll have to hang on to it though, otherwise all his days of pandering to conservative christians will ahve been for naught.

[calimary]

4. Yes, I do SO fondly remember that.

Sad irony, too, that it was Nancy's husband whose rise to power helped bring along the fundamentalist whackos who've gained such traction, power, and influence in this country and who are primarily responsible for thwarting this very research. It's because of Ronnie that the entire pro-choice/anti-choice debate has reached such a screaming fever pitch, and allowed the 13th century minds of our time to take the lead. They're so dominant because they rode in on his shoulders. And HE lifted them ONTO his shoulders to begin with. Now it comes back to bite him.

And it'll probably bite her, now, as well. Expect the fundies and ayatollas of America to start condemning her, too. And why not? They're particularly skilled at kicking somebody when they're down. And it's a shame. Now that she can finally do something REALLY good, positive, generous, far-sighted, and really helpful - on behalf of WAY more people than just him - they're going to make her their new punching bag. I feel bad for her. All his fair-weather friends in the "christian" right will show her what they're really made of, and he's, in effect, not even around to protect her anymore. What a slap in the face. The Reagans are directly and chiefly responsible for the "christian" right being in the position of power, wealth, and influence that they've achieved now. They owe it all to Ronnie. They wouldn't be where they are now if it hadn't been for the rise of the Reagan era.

In fact, now that I think about it, ALL of the shit we're in now can be traced back to the Reagans. In 1980, when they came into power, it all began. That's when you started to see the rise of the radical right as a powerful movement. It was born of his loins, and he was its champion and its ticket to the big leagues. Reagan brought in the Newt Gingriches of the world with the ruthless "back bench bomber," search-and-destroy, win-at-all-costs, take-no-prisoners mentality - which, in turn, fostered a great polarization in government, name-calling, demonizing, and public character assassination of those who didn't agree with them. Reagan brought in a republi-CON revolution that gave republi-CONS and even more radical conservatives a voice, big-time credibility, and a majority, plus a much clearer road to the top, and all the access to power they needed to accomplish their dreams. That led to the "Contract on America," GOPAC, the dismantling of the social safety net and the middle class, the dismantling of the Fairness Doctrine and Equal Time provisions that had regulated broadcasters and had forced them to be responsible custodians of the public airwaves. It led to the dismantling of the church-state separation and the idea that big government should stay out of people's private lives. It led to a more powerful executive branch that soon felt it knew better about a lot of things than the people who put it in power and to whom it was accountable - PLUS their elected representatives. It led to an executive branch that felt it didn't have to report to Congress on foreign policy shenanigans, manipulations, aggressions and dirty tricks that it got into. And thus, it led to ALL of this. This is just the fruit finally becoming ripe on the tree, which grew from the seed Ronald Reagan planted.

Irony indeed. More like KARMA.

And funny enough, what they say about Karma is what Nancy Reagan's detractors and adversaries used to say about her.

Karma's a bitch.

[historian]

18. 13th century minds of our time to lead wonderful statement

may i quote you?

[Cheswick2.0]

5. I don't know whether to feel sorry for her or tell her "you reap what.....

you sow". Isn't it Ronnie Reagan who gave the christian conservative movement it's first toe hold in our political system?

[calimary]

6. Yep, you nailed it.

That's what gave them their jump-start. And they've never looked back. All roads lead back to Ronnie. Reap what you sow.

[0007]

7. Go Nancy go hit that junior guy with Ronnies 'dead fish stink'

"Letters from former presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton supporting Mrs. Reagan's efforts on embryonic stem cell research were read to the dinner by actors Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart. Absent was any comment from the Bush administration which has placed severe restrictions on stem cell research because it can involve using cells from human embryos."

'Ya know what Nancy, you're just a little too late, you could have done so much more two years ago.

[BiggJawn]

8. Karmic. Sorry you had to learn this lesson, Nancy.

This is what the people who puppet-mastered your husband wanted to bring about. If they're treating the Neo-Con's version of Haillie Selasi like this, can you imagine what us smelly little people have to deal with?

As ye Sow, so shall ye Reap, dear. Now go change Ronnie's die-dee.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. Yes Nancy, go change Ronnie's diper. What kind of "man"....

needs a diper anyways??? A FAKE MAN like Ronnie Reagan!

:eyes:

[Lalena]

11. Stem cell research is important - take whatever support we can get.

Our neighbor's child has juvenile diabetes and stem cell research offers her hope. Of course I am not a fan of Nancy but we should gladly accept whatever support we can get. Her influence might help.

[Dulcinea]

23. Is that the same as Type 1 diabetes?

My sister has that, plus a friend from work.

Also, my MIL has Alzheimer's.

I am a very strong supporter of this type of research & am happy to hear Nancy Reagan supports it, though I didn't much care for her in the '80s!

[Lalena]

24. Type 1 and juvenile onset is the same.

My father died of Alzheimer's a couple of years ago. As you must know from the experiences you are having with your MIL, it is an awful way to die.

Stem cell research is being done in other countries. You might find the following link interesting.

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/News_and_Campaigns/Press_Releases/m_040420Stemcell.htm

[flaminbats]

12. Too many people have had their lives destroyed for Bush's games..

Actor Michael J. Fox, a supporter of stem cell research because it could help lead to a cure for Parkinson's disease from which he suffers, told reporters that Mrs. Reagan was taking the issue out of politics.

"For someone like Mrs. Reagan to step outside of political or ideological groupings and just speak to what she believes ... can help people is tremendously valuable," he said.

Hopefully Michael J. Fox and Nancy Reagan will succeed in this battle for the sake of all who can be helped by stem cell research. This should not even be a political issue just as Roe vs. Wade, healthcare reform, and the humane treatment of prisoners of war should not. But in this unfortunate reality we must fight for every inch of ground that we stand on and bleed for every inch that we lose.

Politics was once considered to be the art of the possible. But thanks to neoconservatives it becomes a zone of destruction.

[sweetladybug]

14. I might not agree with Nancy Reagan on various issues but

I agree with her now on stem cell research, so let the women speak. She agrees with most of us and this research could help alot of people. And look at her son, Ron, he's a Democrat. I think he'll do all he can to try and get Bush out of office. Hell maybe Nancy will too (maybe, just maybe she has finally opened her eyes and can seen these disgraceful Republicans running our country.
ELECT KERRY 2004!!!!

[Bozita]

13. Nancy's dislike for the Bushies is well known. This just adds to it.

[worldgonekrazy]

15. Oh, when it affects HER she is suddenly concerned

To Nancy: Fuck off, bitch.

[genius]

16. Her husband opposed it and too many are dead because of his opposition

I guess it's okay for her if others die - but not her husband.

[goclark]

17. It's never too late

to right a wrong. Maybe she is finally coming to her senses.

Who knows, maybe she will one day realize that she has been on the wrong side of many issues that involved this country.

[jdj]

19. The wrongs committed by Reagan by refusing to even

say the word "AIDS" publicly until over 25,000 people in this country had died of it (about six years after the scare began if I remember this correctly) can never be righted. If this is his karma now then there must be a special wing in hell for him in the afterlife.

[goclark]

20. They reaped what they sewed

[Skittles]

21. that would be "sowed"

and I agree

[mike1963]

22. I think (or hope) you're correct...Arianna H and David Brock are a couple

of examples. I've heard you can get a mule's attention with a 2 x 4,
(not that I'd ever try it), but perhaps the sociological equivalent works if the patient isn't too far gone...
:eyes:

[Tellurian]

25. Nancy is ready to support Kerry.. someone should ask her...