Stem-cell vote nears in Massachusetts; Republican gov vows veto

[Bluebear]

Well, as Mitt said recently on his pandering Pre-Presidential gala tour of the South "There are more Republicans in this room than in my own state!"


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Tuesday, March 29, 2005


Gov. Mitt Romney-(R) voews veto of bill allowing stem cell research in Massachusetts

All eyes on Massachusetts House as stem cell vote nears

BOSTON— House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi said Monday there is an "atmosphere of support" among House lawmakers for a bill giving greater leeway to scientists to conduct stem cell research.

But DiMasi said he doesn't know if he has the two-thirds majority needed to override an expected veto by Gov. Mitt Romney....

Romney said he will veto any bill that allows scientists to take the nucleus from a human cell and transplant it into a human egg as part of their research. Romney said the bill would allow for the creation and destruction of human embryos. Supporters say an embryo is only formed when there is a sperm and egg.

"I continue to be disappointed that some people aren't honest about the matters involved and are trying to redefine terms to pretend something is not an embryo," Romney said. "Let's be honest about the debate and decide it on its merits."

[Arkana]

1. Can they override the veto with a two-thirds majority?

Because they definitely have it.

[Bluebear]

3. The article says DiMasi isn't sure if he has the necessary 2/3

I surely hope so.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. What a maroon

[ninkasi]

4. So, since I'm not a doctor or in the medical field...

What this means is that people who are suffering from conditions which can cause death and terrible pain, are not as important as a clump of cells in a petri dish?

Regarding the ones who say they are pro-life, and their values include claiming that each life is sacred, but have no qualms about killing Iraqis; how can you live with such inconsistence? Which life carries more weight; the one who is aware of his/her own being, and has family and friends who love them, or the cells needed for research. As far as I know, there has never been a claim made that these cells, which are potential humans, have self-awareness.

Surely, more weight should be given to those who have a sense of self, and who has interacted with other humans, who think, and feel emotions, than these cells, which can neither think, or know they are a potential person.

It's a screwed up world we live in, and a lot of it stems from religious extremists from different faiths. When I was young, I always thought I would dread getting old. Now that I'm in my 60's,I'm being pulled by wanting to live another 30 years on one hand, and dying sooner because of what the neocons have done to our country.

I can only hope that, true to form, the rabid right will always overplay it's hand, and the pendulum will swing us into true Representative in governmet.