# 164 Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - THREE STEM CELL RESEARCH GOVERNORS?
When I was a little munchkin, maybe six or ten years old, I saw a perfectly
blue sky.
I was in the front yard, allegedly pulling weeds, when I happened to glance
up.
And was transfixed by beauty.
The sky was so blue, blue, blue: beyond my powers to describe.
I could almost feel myself lifting off the earth, soaring into the
colors-not just blue-but what? Turquoise? Cerulean? Aquamarine? I had no
words for it then, nor have I now.
I just stared and stared, as if I could absorb that hue, and keep it with
me-
"Don-aallllld!" My mother's voice, using my full name, which only happened
when I was in trouble (one reason I changed it officially to Don, instead of
Donald) in the tone which meant negotiations were over, and there were about
to be consequences.
Still I clung to the beauty of the moment.
My mom came outside, wiping her hands on her apron.
"What are you doing?"
I tried to explain, but it sounded lame; the sky was so beautiful, I could
not let it go?
"It'll be up there tomorrow," she said, calling me to dishes.
She was right, of course, but also wrong. I have never seen that exact same
hue again.
So.
What about the other colors of the sky?
Without that single perfect shade of blue, should I not look up, not
appreciate what is there?
Silly question, huh?
In California today, this very morning, June 6, 2006, we face a
not-dissimilar question.
There is no one perfect candidate-rather, we are blessed with three
excellent choices.
The top three candidates for Governor all support stem cell research.
In the Democratic primaries, we have Steve Westley, and Phil Angelides.
There is also a Republican primary, where the choice is basically between
Arnold Schwartzenegger, and Arnold Schwartzenegger.
This is not like Missouri.
In Missouri, Democrat Claire McCaskill is pro-stem cell and Republican Jim
Talent is essentially against. He took six months to come up with some
tortured tiny area of possible stem cell research that he could maybe
support someday under certain circumstances; but McGaskill was clearer-"I'm
for it," she said.
If I lived in Missouri, no question who I would vote for. I would be living
and breathing the vote-for-McCaskill effort. Anyone who cares about stem
cell research would have no choice but to vote and work for the Democrat in
that race. It is absolutely a wedge issue there, and one that will hurt the
GOP.
The anti-research side is of course pouring uncountable gazillions of
dollars into Missouri. The religious right is waging a desperate
war-ultra-conservative preachers and priests are pounding their pulpits-all
to oppose a very modest law: just to allow stem cell research which is legal
in America, to be legal in Missouri.
Keep track of Missouri, between now and November.
Every GOP big gun that can travel will be visiting Missouri so often they
may need special help at the airport. "Attention, please, will all visiting
Republican luminaries please report to Gates A, B, C, and D-your buses are
waiting." The President will speak there so often he may have to change
residency.
So much cash will be poured in, stock in advertising companies will
skyrocket.
Missouri TV watchers will see soooooo many ads!
But stem cell research folks are strong in Missouri.
Will they be able to overcome the power of the TV ads generated by mountains
of money, not to mention the enormous advantage of incumbency?
McCaskill is a whisker behind right now, (40% for her, 43% for Talent) but I
will bet on the power of the stem cell research community.
They-we-are fighting for our loved ones. That is what the religious right
(and their massively supported candidates) cannot understand; we will never
quit.
The opposition wants to kill the research, because they have some major
misconceptions about it; we support it, for the simplest and most
unshakeable reason.
Stem cell research means fighting for our families.
I can see ten thousand ads about a candidate who does NOT support stem cell
research (Jim Talent) and it will not matter to me-the candidate who DOES
support the research (Claire McCaskill) is still going to get my vote.
Am I likely to forget my son is paralyzed and my sister has cancer?
Denying the hopes and dreams of the incurably ill, and their families? What
party or politician would want to be associated with that?
Stem cell research support is like breathing; candidates should not threaten
to cut off people's air.
Of the three contenders for Governor in California, each is a proven
champion: each has a reason to deserve support.
Steve Westley came out first in support of Proposition 71. He is the one I
will personally be voting for, because he took the political risks early,
before polls revealed the Golden State massively supported the research, and
the legislation to make it first in the world.
But I fully understand people voting for Phil Angelides. He vigorously
defended Prop 71 from Senator Ortiz's political attack. He fought for us,
and I trust him.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Republican, which means (given the White House
situation) it took considerable courage for him to step up and support the
California Stem Cells for Research and Cures Act. But he did. He was there
for us, in our hour of need. As I told one of the Governor's legislative
aides, I am proud to be a Democrat, but I have respect for the man in the
Capitol now.
May every state have such outstanding candidates.
P.S. If you live in California, or another state which has a primary, please
don't forget to VOTE TODAY!
By Don Reed, www.stemcellbattles.com Comments or
Questions
URGENT - Help stop the passage of California Senate Bill 401
Please send an e-mail, fax or call
Assemblymember Chu, Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and
Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Nunez.
Judy Chu, Chair PO Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0049(916) 319-2049
Fax: 319-2149 [log in to unmask]
Fabian Nunez, Speaker PO Box 9422849 (916) 319-2046
Sacramento,
[log in to unmask]
CA 94249-0046
Fax: 319-2146
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