Froma Harrop / Syndicated columnist
Foes of stem-cell research create their own scientific reality
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_email.gif" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="156"> <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/EMailStory.pl?document_id=2002043479&zsection_id=268883724&slug=harrop23&date=20040923">E-mail this article</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_print.gif" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="195"> <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002043479&zsection_id=268883724&slug=harrop23&date=20040923">Print this article</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_search.gif" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="156"> <A HREF="http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/web/">Search archive</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_mostread.gif" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="12" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="107"> <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/mostread/">Most read articles</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_mostemailed.gif" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="12" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="110"> <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/mostemailed/">Most e-mailed articles</A>
The Stowers Institute for Medical Research has spoken. If Missouri bans
embryonic stem-cell research, as some legislators want, the institute will not
build a second facility in Kansas City. Is that understood? California needs no
such warnings. Not only does the state allow this research, but it may soon
raise $3 billion of its own money to pay for it. New Jersey, meanwhile, plans to
spend $6.5 million on a stem-cell-research facility. All these things are
happening at the state level because President Bush has refused to commit the
federal government to advancing the study of embryonic stem cells. The research
could find cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes and other diseases. Polls
show a public solidly for it. But anti-abortion groups object to the research
because it destroys embryos, and Bush wants the groups' support. So rather
than ban embryonic stem-cell research in an honest and straightforward manner,
Bush has created confusion and a pretend compromise. His famous executive order
of three years ago allowed funding for research only on the 79 embryonic
stem-cell lines existing on Aug. 9, 2001 — 58 of which were useless. And he was
willing to spend a big $25 million a year on it. That number must have
Californians rolling with laughter as they prepare to approve a bond issue allocating
eight times as much each year for 10 years. If Bush believes destroying embryos
is immoral, why does he support any research on embryonic stem cells at all?
And why doesn't he ban the practice of in vitro fertilization, which creates
embryos that get thrown out? And, finally, what's so magical about the date
Aug. 9, 2001? Opponents of embryonic stem-cell research must contend with polls
showing that 73 percent of the public supports it. So they have created their
own scientific reality. They drag in scientists who claim that adult stem
cells, taken from bone marrow or umbilical cords, can also produce cures — no need
to destroy embryos. Serious biologists say that's nonsense. Adult stem cells
may have their uses, but only the embryonic stem cells can divide and produce
new cells for replacing tissue. Really, if the nation's biotech centers thought
adult stem cells would do the trick, would they be out fighting the religious
right over the use of embryos? Meanwhile, first lady Laura Bush has been sent
out to throw cold water on the hopes for embryonic stem-cell research — and
also drum up some resentment against its backers. "My dad died of Alzheimer's,"
she said recently. "And to hear people say that cures are right at our
fingertips — it's just not right." What's not right is to deprive Americans of
reasonable hope for a medical breakthrough, even if it takes 10 or 20 years.
There's something else Laura Bush doesn't get: For people who have lost a loved one
to an awful disease, the fight is not over. Many dedicate themselves to
helping find a cure for the disease that caused such suffering — often as a tribute
to the one who died. Laura Bush needs a long talk with former first lady Nancy
Reagan, who is pushing for embryonic stem-cell research. The death of Nancy's
husband, Ronald Reagan, from the ravages of Alzheimer's has not dimmed her
desire for a cure. Of course, the Californians supporting the bond issue expect
rewards beyond the joy of finding miracle cures. The $3 billion would stay in
the state as a giant welcome mat for biotech companies. If you were a big
company looking for a place to put your biotech research park, where would you
rather go: to Missouri, where lawmakers want to make your life's work into a
felony? Or to California, where the state is strewing dollars in your path? While
a few states struggle to move forward, Bush seems content to let American
medical research fall into decline. John Kerry says he would not stand by as the
states and private philanthropy go it alone against Britain, South Korea and
other biotech powers. But even if Bush wins in November, the more enlightened
states have their Plan B: to groom themselves as American refuges for
21st-century science. The others will become backwaters. And it will be up to Missouri
to decide what kind of state it wants to be. Providence Journal columnist Froma
Harrop's column appears regularly on editorial pages of The Times. Her e-mail
address is <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A>
Copyright 2004, The Providence Journal Co.
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_email.gif" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="156"> <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/EMailStory.pl?document_id=2002043479&zsection_id=268883724&slug=harrop23&date=20040923">E-mail this article</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_print.gif" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="195"> <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2002043479&zsection_id=268883724&slug=harrop23&date=20040923">Print this article</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/article_search.gif" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="156"> <A HREF="http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/web/">Search archive</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dots_441.gif" WIDTH="441" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="75">
<A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/">More opinion headlines...</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="6" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="2" HEIGHT="13" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <A HREF="http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/web/">EDITORIALS & OPINION
SEARCH</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="153" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43">
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="5" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43">
Today Archive
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="2" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43">
<A HREF="http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/web/">Advanced search</A>
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43">
<IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="120" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="6" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="441" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="6" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43"> <IMG SRC="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/dot_clear.gif" WIDTH="160" HEIGHT="1" BORDER="0" DATASIZE="43">
<A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/home/">seattletimes.com home</A>
<A HREF="http://www.seattletimescompany.com/subscribe/">Home delivery</A> | <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/contactus/">Contact us</A> | <A HREF="http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/web/">Search archive</A> | <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/tableofcontents/">Site map</A> | <A HREF="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/text/">Low-graphic</A>
<A HREF="http://classifieds.nwsource.com/classified/">NWclassifieds</A> | <A HREF="http://www.nwsource.com/">NWsource</A> | <A HREF="http://www.seattletimescompany.com/advertise/">Advertising info</A> | <A HREF="http://www.seattletimescompany.com/">The Seattle Times Company</A>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
