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The source of this story is: http://tinyurl.com/3rqw8 Ron Jr. to talk on stem cells Tue Jul 13, 7:45 AM ET Add Local - New York Daily News to My Yahoo! BY KENNETH R. BAZINET, DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON - Ron Reagan says he won his mother Nancy's blessing to speak at the Democratic convention on embryonic stem cell research - and a vow from John Kerry (news - web sites) to reverse Bush administration restrictions on the promising science. "She's okay with it. She supports the issue," Reagan, 46, told MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" yesterday. And now, apparently, the Democratic presidential hopeful has agreed to do for Nancy what President Bush (news - web sites) has steadfastly refused to do. Ron Reagan said Kerry called him to thank the late Republican President's son for agreeing to a prime-time appearance at the Democratic convention. And, Reagan revealed, Kerry said "that his first act as President of the United States should he be elected would be to sign an executive order reversing the Bush administration's policy on embryonic stem cell research." The former President died last month after a decade-long bout with Alzheimer's disease (news - web sites). Nancy Reagan has long hoped stem cell research could lead to a cure forthe mind-wasting disease and other diseases, like diabetes and Parkinson's. The Bush administration opposes the science because it uses tissue from discarded human embryos. Reagan rejected criticism that he has politicized the issue, accusing Republicans of "pandering to their base" by refusing to reverse course. "They have religious reasons for this," he insisted, "but their religious reasons shouldn't impact on the rest of us who don't share those feelings." "This is an issue that transcends politics and should have nothing to do with politics whatsoever," he told "Hardball." Still, Democrats are crowing about Reagan's plan to speak in prime time. "This is a great coup," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn