Obama to lift ban on stem cell research soon: aide

[IDemo]

Source: Reuters

Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:01am EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will soon issue an executive order lifting an eight-year ban embryonic stem cell research imposed by his predecessor, President George W. Bush, a senior adviser said on Sunday.

"We're going to be doing something on that soon, I think. The president is considering that right now," Obama adviser David Axelrod said on "Fox News Sunday."

In 2001, Bush limited federal funding for stem cell research only to human embryonic stem cell lines that already existed. It was a gesture to his conservative Christian supporters who regard embryonic stem cell research as destroying potential life, because the cells must be extracted from human embryos.

Embryonic stem cells are the most basic human cells which can develop into any type of cell in the body.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE51E12220090215

[Barack_America]

1. Good. It's time. nt

[derby378]

2. So what's stopping Obama from just doing it?

The ban was imposed purely for religious reasons - no scientific basis for it whatsoever. And Americans are still developing ailments that currently have no cure.

[tekisui]

3. I think they have a timeline that they are working from.

Stem cell research has restarted with a nod from Obama. He will officially lift the funding ban soon. They are being smart with the timing of their actions.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

17. It hasn't stopped since Bushes executive order in 2001.

[IDemo]

4. Remember the "snowflake babies"?

Chimp seen pictured attempting to eat snowflake baby

[jjonesjr]

16. Snowflake Babies

Seems like numbers three and four at DU are loosely followed. I happened to see the link googling snowflake babies. You might find it interesting to know that I have two sons that are the snowflake babies you mock. I am probably not going to change your mind on the subject of taxpayer funded Embryonic Stem Cell Research and you may some humor in referring to President Bush as a chimp eating my son. You might consider toning down the name calling and crude references in exchange for an actual discussion/debate on an issue like taxpayer funded ESCR.

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[Aristus]

21. Spare us your carefully crafted prime-time ready indignation.

"Snow-flake" babies aren't babies who get implanted and then born; they're the ones that remain frozen embryos that someone feels the need to "adopt" in order to improve their "pro-life" cred.

My concern is reserved for living human beings who might benefit from research into treatments for neurological trauma, diabetes, lupus, Parkinson's, ALS, cancers, etc. Why does being born automatically get one less consideration than being unborn?

[TheWraith]

7. Only so many hours in a day.

And I'm sure stem cell research falls a little below the war and the economy in terms of priorities.

[Massacure]

12. It takes time to write executive orders.

If you are going to lift a ban on funding, you had better have a plan on how to start spending once the ban is lifted.

[WePurrsevere]

5. The sooner the better. The potential that this has to help & cure

so many is amazing but we need to act quickly. Those of us who need the hope and help that may come from this aren't getting any better or younger. :)

[scytherius]

6. Awesome. And the hits just keep on comin' =) /nt

nt

[fascisthunter]

8. good! (nt)

[OhioChick]

9. Good. n/t

[Hope And Change]

10. K & R!Thanks for posting!

[medeak]

11. am tired of the teases every week

edited to say...have google alert and it's maddening getting daily tease in email

[goclark]

13. Great News!

[and-justice-for-all]

14. That rocks!!! nt

[sutz12]

15. Great to hear...

While I understand the priorities and the scheduling, this needs to be done.

We continue to fall behind in Medical and scientific research due to the mis-application of "pro life" stances.

Last I heard, pro-life included curing diseases and helping the lame to walk and stuff. But that's just me.

:shrug:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

18. Almost a month later and where are we?

[SpartanDem]

19. ummm getting the order signed tommorow?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

20. I suppose somewhere that could be construed as soon.

[LanternWaste]

22. In the world of politics, seems like a rather quick pace to me

"I suppose somewhere that could be construed as soon"


In the world of politics, seems like a rather quick pace to me. But I imagine many people use only their own personal timeliness as a dogmatic and absolute baseline in regards to the pacing and scheduling of things getting done.

But since it did happen, I imagine we should all be a little bit more relived...

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

24. They said today it would take another year for research to begin.

[Posteritatis]

23. Three weeks is an eyeblink in federal politics. (nt)