John McCain Hopes You're Stupid
by DarkSyde
Sun Sep 21, 2008 at 10:30:21 AM PDT

The McCain campaign released more newspeak recently, created in part to 
reassure moderates he hasn't compromised his past promises on embryonic stem 
cell research. One impression campaign strategists hope to convey is that 
McCain's controversial running mate, hard-line fundamentalist Governor Sarah 
Palin, will have to go his way or the highway.

John McCain's campaign released a radio ad Friday that calls he and Palin 
"mavericks" who will, if elected, back stem cell research "to help free 
families from the fear and devastation of illness."

Embryonic Stem Cells are cellular 'blanks' which can grow into entirely 
different and new tissue types. They're the Rosetta Stone of regenerative 
medicine. By studying ESC, researchers hope to learn how to reprogram other 
cells to mimic them and, in the process, create new, revolutionary 
treatments for every disease and injury known to mankind, from diabetes to 
spinal cord injury. In 2001, in a pander to social conservatives who feel 
entitled to demand respect for their reproductive choice while working their 
asses off to deny it to everyone else, President George Bush crippled 
regenerative medicine with harsh federal restrictions for embryonic stem 
cell research.

Aside from being based more on science fiction than science, Bush's policy 
did nothing to prevent the destruction of human blastocysts regardless if 
they were used for stem cell research. The cell cultures are derived from 
leftover material produced by IVF clinics and slated for disposal. Unswayed 
by science or logic, Bush went on to veto several bipartisan bills that 
would have eased those restrictions. John McCain wisely joined the 
super-majority of the American people who disagree with the rationale and 
wisdom of the President's policy.

But over the last year, starting well before McCain formerly married his 
presidential bid to fringe conservative extremists, advocates for 
regenerative medicine have become more and more suspicious of the subtle 
changes in language and fringe ideological portent brewing in the McCain 
campaign. From USA Today:

This week, campaign spokesman Ben Porritt cited McCain's Senate voting 
record but would not specify whether a McCain-Palin administration would 
support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. He said only that 
they would "support stem cell research," which could refer to amniotic or 
reprogrammed adult stem cells. ... McCain's presidential campaign website 
states that he would "strongly support" funding for amniotic fluid and adult 
stem cell research and other scientific studies "that do not involve the use 
of human embryos."

A recently rewritten amendment in the official 2008 Republican platform 
reveals the party's true intent of enacting even more drastic restrictions 
up to and including a totalitarian ban on any federal, state, or commercial 
research involving embryonic stem cell lines. Change some terms, cross your 
fingers, quietly drop the word 'embryonic' and hope no one notices. John 
McCain doesn't just hope you're stupid, he's counting on it to win.

Source:  Daily Kos

Rayilyn Brown
Director AZNPF
Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
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