Watch Pete Stark's floor speech on HR 810 - I almost spat tea on my PC!

[paineinthearse]

http://www.house.gov/stark/



On H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act -

"Our research policy should be set by scientists and doctors at the National Institutes of Health, not by Karl Rove and self-appointed religious gurus..."

"Don't tell my constituents that we can't relieve their sufferings because it might offend modern day pharasies..."

"Many in government think already they have the right to tell you how to marry, what kind of birth control you can use, and how you can die. Now they think their moral superiority extends to the single cell level..."

"The flat earth society says the US has to show moral leadership, and just because the overwhelming majority of the world scientific community supports stem cell research, it is not the right thing to do. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I don't need a lecture from the Majority Leader on moral and ethical leadership..."

I'll post the full transcript as soon as it is available, but for now go to the site above and watch the streaming video.

[democrat_patriot]

1. Thank you sir.

For saying what needed to be said.

Stand up to these right wing fanatics.

[wryter2000]

2. He's a good one

We're so blessed in Oaktown with him and Barbara Lee.

[roguevalley]

3. Pharisees is right. Use that word often and loud.

[blondeatlast]

8. Precisely. Jesus nailed them in Matthew, which is

probably why they seem blissfully unaware of that gospel...

[spooky3]

24. Dr. Dean used it Sunday.

[iwantmycountryback]

4. Great speech.

I couldn't see the video feed but I could hear the speech for whatever reason, and he did a great job.

[xxqqqzme]

5. I saw it - it was amazing

"I don't need a lecture from the Majority Leader on moral and ethical leadership..."

did U hear me yell? It was thrilling to hear. I am so glad I was surfing when I found Stark on CSPAN.

[blondeatlast]

6. DAMN! He's a keeper!

"Don't tell my constituents that we can't relieve their sufferings because it might offend modern day Pharisees..."

Amen. Brother Stark, amen.

[whistle]

7. I like that, as I read it I could actually hear Pete Stark's voice

...saying, "...<f>rankly Mr. Speaker, I don't need a lecture from the Majority Leader on moral and ethical leadership." Thank you very much!

[flpoljunkie]

9. What a contrast to who Henry Hyde who said he was a 992 month old fetus!

I kid you not! This from a man whose was forced to admit a "youthful indescretion"--how he described the affair he had in his 40's!

[blondeatlast]

10. Logic would dictate that you are pulling our collective leg,

but logic has no place when Henry Hyde is in the room.

There are no words to describe that horrendous comment, just no words.

[flpoljunkie]

21. Actually, he said he was a" 992 month old embryo"--not a fetus.

I realized on my way out the door I'd typed fetus and not embryo, and I am not pulling your leg.

[tavalon]

39. Is that why he's so infantile? n/t

[baron j]

11. i saw this!

Did I just enter Bizarro World, where politicians speak plainly? Is he always so honest? Stark has made my day!

[punpirate]

14. Years from now...

... pundits will be referring to this as "The Galloway Effect." :)

I hope.

[Boo Boo]

25. Stark is always like this, no "Galloway Effect" here

He got up one day and gave a great speech wherein he informed the House Republicans that they were Fascists. So then an outraged Republican gets up and says, "Are you calling The President of the United States(tm) a Fascist?!!!

Pete says, "No, I'm calling you a Fascist!"

Then there's the time he referred to one of his Republican colleagues as a "fruitcake," as in "nuttier than a fruitcake."

He's a real throwback, that Pete, definitely an Old American Century kind of guy.

:patriot:

[NightOwwl]

12. I remember when Jon Stewart played a clip of him

calling Bush a liar. Jon was all, "Waaa?" "This guy must be new, he doesn't know the rules yet!"

[powergirl]

13. WHY CAN'T HE BE MY REP??

I live in TEXAS - yes please pray for me. How eloquent and how true. God bless that man. :patriot:

[paineinthearse]

15. Let's do a 3-way trade

I'll trade Marty Meehan to Fremont, Fremont will trade Pete Stark to Texas for DeLay, and Delay will come to Massachusetts, where he can be properly "re-educated"! :spank:

[ebayfool]

34. Can I watch?

I'll pay! LOL!

...Delay will come to Massachusetts, where he can be properly "re-educated"!

[tavalon]

40. YESSSSSSSS!

[paineinthearse]

16. Transcript

http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/05-24_stemcell.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 20, 2005
Contact: Drew Nannis [phone]


STARK SPEAKS OUT FOR EXPANDED STEM CELL RESEARCH
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Fremont) voted for the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, a bill authorizing expanded federal funding for stem cell research and increasing the number of stem cell lines eligible for research. The bill continues the current ban on federal funding for any form of cloning and requires the informed consent of donors. It passed the House by a vote of 238-194.

The text of Stark’s statement follows; to watch the speech online, click here: http://www.house.gov/stark/video/stemcellspeech.mov

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, because I believe that our research policies should be decided by scientists and doctors at the National Institutes of Health -- not by Karl Rove and the Christian Coalition.

“If you believe that it’s morally superior to discard a single cell in a freezer rather than to use it to help millions of Americans with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, and you ever have the opportunity to donate an embryo, then by all means refuse to do so. But don’t tell my constituents that we can’t alleviate their suffering because it might offend the Christian Right. Don’t tell my constituent Don Reed and his son Roman -- who is paralyzed from a high school football accident -- that the scientists working on stem cell research in California, thanks in large part to his efforts, won’t be able to collaborate with the NIH.

“The extreme right wing, who already think they have the right to tell you who you can marry, what kind of birth control you use, and how you die, now think their moral superiority extends to the single-cell level.

“Beyond my outrage at this wholesale takeover by unenlightened zealots, I am saddened by this country’s precipitous decline in the estimation of the rest of the world. If this bill doesn’t pass, when the scientists of the world meet to discuss this rapidly advancing field, some of our key researchers will be stuck here, working with the few stem cell lines that somehow don’t offend the Republican base.

“The opponents of this bill, many of whom are active members of the Flat Earth Society, will tell you that the U.S. has to show moral leadership, and that just because the overwhelming majority of the scientific community and the rest of the world supports this research doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I don’t need a lecture from Tom DeLay on moral leadership. I don’t look to the party that won’t even acknowledge the existence of global warming for scientific leadership. I don’t think the politicians who so eagerly decided they knew what was best for Terri Schiavo know much at all about life, dignity, suffering, or anything of the sort.

“I stand proudly with millions of Americans and on behalf of this country’s tradition of scientific leadership in voting yes for this bill.”

-30-

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

17. Wow, he's a keeper. So "Galloway-esque"

I'm embarrassed to even say who my rep is in the House...a female toadie for Delay.:puke:

[paineinthearse]

29. Whoever wrote this speech for Pete Stark....

...should be hired by the DNC.

It has the just the right amount of information, biting atack and tongue-in-cheek humor.

[tavalon]

41. I wonder if we can find out who it is that wrote it? n/t

[KitSileya]

38. Wonderful, wonderful!

It's ever so nice to get some indication that the starch hasn't left all elected Democrats every now and again. Wonderfully pointed remarks and eloquently delivered put-downs! Makes my day.

[PurityOfEssence]

18. He's my favorite Congressperson

This is the man who, when voting against the IWR, turned to Hastert and said: "the bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is that I do not trust this President, and I do not trust his advisors."

He is a true American hero, and as he stood alone against the Ways and Means Committee as his brothers were being harrassed by the Capitol Police across the hall, he was brilliant. There are great people in the House today: him, Kucinich, Schakowsky, Frank, Waxman and others; may they not languish in darkness.

[Turn CO Blue]

20. That is a great bumper sticker:

---------------------------------
The Bottom Line:
I do not trust this President
and I do not trust his advisors
---------------------------------

We have to win those teetering Independents over with psychological warfare -- it's far more effective to whisper "there's just something slimy about that man" or "I just don't trust them" than it will ever be to shouts facts from the rooftops.

This is an 8-second-attention-span society, they don't remember facts, but they WILL recall creepy feelings and suspicions.

[hvn_nbr_2]

19. I used to live in his district. He's great. n/t

[katinmn]

22. Excellent. We need more to speak out and directly challenge Bush Co.!

:kick:

[cry baby]

23. Incredibly wonderful, to the point, humane speech.

I haven't heard him before. He's good!

"The flat earth society" :rofl:

[Auntie Bush]

26. Sounds like he took some lessons from George Gallaway.

I hope more Democrats listen carefully.

[paineinthearse]

35. I hope more Democrats listen carefully.

I have sent this to all my "important" connections, so I'm sure it is getting around the hill.

[KingOfLostSouls]

27. HOLY SHIT!!!

[peekaloo]

28. Remember Mr. Stark was the first (and only?) to drop the f-word in

the House a couple of years ago. Fascism.


I wish there were more like him.

[progressoid]

30. I'm having mixed feelings about this

On the one hand, I'm elated by his statements. :applause:

On the other hand, I depressed....my rep is Steve King. :thumbsdown:

[tavalon]

42. Do you mean

the horror writer or just The Horror?

[progressoid]

43. Yes, he's the HORROR

Gaaah, he's a mindless twit.

All he does is spout out WH talking points memos or quote Rush. What a tool.

He never fails to dissapoint me.

[paineinthearse]

31. Read Pete Stark's letter to AG re illegal recruiting techniques.

Subject is illegal and improper military recruiting techniques.

Go to http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1806609&mesg_id=1806609

[caligirl]

32. I use to wonder how this guy kept getting reelected from here,

now I know. Proud to say he is my rep. I called him yesterday about the diabetes legislation which passed tonight.

[stevedeshazer]

33. That was outstanding

Great slap on Tom DeLay.

[LeahD]

36. Gotta love it! n/t

[Rainscents]

37. He is true Leberal hero!!! Standing for we the people!

[seeker4ever]

44. Why is this conduct so rare? (eom)

[paineinthearse]

45. Just got an email from Pete's staffer

in response to a website question. Nice people!

[MuseRider]

46. Very nice.

Refreshing and honest. Now one of my lovely senators is thinking about filibustering this in the senate.

Very nice, I think I will write to him.