Sep 28 2008
N.C. Politicians Have Varying Opinions on Stem Cell Research
Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Democratic candidate, recently deployed a television ad featuring Sarah Witt of Raleigh, a former marathon runner now paralyzed by a neurological disease, who speaks from a wheelchair, with the aid of an electronic voice box. Witt criticizes the Republican nominee, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, for opposing embryonic stem cell research.
McCrory returned fire with an ad featuring his sister, Linda Sebastian, who scolds Perdue for suggesting McCrory is insensitive to suffering and highlights that their parents died of “long illnesses” — Alzheimer’s disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Robert Pittenger, Republican: “I support [non-embryonic] stem cell research. To date, there have been 73 medical findings improving the health of individuals with serious diseases from adult stem cell research. There have been no discoveries after 27 years of research with embryonic stem cell research.
Walter Dalton, Democrat: “I believe that stem cell research, which includes amniotic, embryonic, and adult stem cells, is going to be an important part of saving lives. That’s why I was proud to sponsor legislation to fund research in this vital area through our first class universities.
Elizabeth Dole, Republican: “I do not support embryonic stem cell research, and I do not support state or federal funding for it. However, I support numerous stem cell research methods – such as adult and cord blood stem cell research – that don’t require destruction of life.”
Kay Hagan, Democrat: “I support [embryonic] stem cell research, which could help those suffering with cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, juvenile diabetes and many other diseases.
I realize that for people with diseases that could be cured through embryonic stem cell research, what I’m about to say is highly offensive, but that’s what I’m here for. This issue is a crock. It’s a joke. It’s a fake issue designed to entice your heart into overriding your head.
Robert Pittenger is right: Everyone talks about the “potential” of embryonic stem cell research. Notice how none of its supporters ever talk about the “results” of embryonic stem cell research. That’s because there are no results. Meanwhile, legitimate advances have been made with adult stem cell research.
That Perdue and friends are actually trying to make this an issue shows that they care more about scoring cheap political points than on keeping up to date on actual science news. See, the great thing about competition is that it leads to innovation. And here in America, we like to innovate. That’s how researchers developed a new way to take skin cells and turn them into embryonic-like stem cells. So keep talking Bev. You’re just showing how full of it you are.
thank you Robert Pittenger and Elizabeth Dole for your beliefs. –
I believe in the BIBLE and I and my Family will vote for the two of you . I will talk and tell my friends that do not do research what politicians believe in, but are Christians. We will help you get elected this year. WE WILL VOTE THE BIBLE. My husband and i have always donated money to one of the people running for governor and know him personally. He will not get any more money or our vote. thank you for sticking to your beliefs. donna a.
Donna,
I believe the text in the Bible as well, however it frustrates me to no end that people still combine church and state. Sticking to beliefs is one thing, but regressing politically as a result of it is foolish, in my opinion.
Aaron
you say you believe in the text of the Bible but you think God has no room in politics. As christians we are suppose to involve God in all our decisions. The church is weak because of this theory and belief and our nation is going down because of it.
We as the church have been silent and allowed this thought process to develope. We have turned our backs on God for political correctness and allowed sin to dictate what is right and wrong. Without God in the decisions our elected leaders make, how as christians, can we believe in a Godly end to any area or law addressed by them? How long do you believe God will allow us to kill our children justified under the guise of embryonic stem cell research? Politics, of all places, is where God needs to be in control. I believe you need to go back to the text you say you believe in and read it.