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1.: The National Republic Online-Change of One Word Effects Stem Cell Re From: Stephen Meyer

2.: The 2008 Republican Platform Committee has finally reached the finis From: Stephen Meyer

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1.: The National Republic Online-Change of One Word Effects Stem Cell Re

Posted by: "Stephen Meyer" Stephen276@comcast.net stephen_meyer_stemcells

Sun Oct 26, 2008 3:48 pm (PDT)

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjM0MGNmZjY2NGIyYzYzMjhmMzI0MGR\
mODZlZmM5ZDA
<http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjM0MGNmZjY2NGIyYzYzMjhmMzI0MG\
RmODZlZmM5ZDA>

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Going Out With a Bang [Stephen Spruiell
<mailto:sspruiell@nationalreview.com> ]

The 2008 Republican Platform Committee has finally reached the finish
line, but before it crossed it tripped up on the issue of stem-cell
research. When the committee reached the stem-cell language, North
Carolina delegate Mary Summa offered what appeared on the surface to be
a small change. Summa sought to change the sentence:

We call for a ban on human cloning and a ban on the creation of and
experimentation on human embryos for research purposes.

to read:

We call for a ban on human cloning and a ban on the creation of or
experimentation on human embryos for research purposes.

thus severing experimentation on human embryos from their creation for
that purpose. It's just one word, but it has huge implications. It is a
call for a total ban on embryonic stem-cell research, including
privately funded research using frozen embryos from in-vitro
fertilization (IVF) clinics. By contrast, the 2004 platform was in
accord with President Bush's policy at the time, which made limited
federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research available for the first
time.

In introducing her amendment, Summa gave an emotional speech in which
she said, "I want my five children to live in a world where the weak are
protected from the strong. I want them to live in a world where all life
is protected."

The amendment drew opposition from Indiana delegate and pro-life
activist James Bopp Jr. "The sentence now in the draft, which ties the
creation to the experimentation, is exactly right," Bopp said. He argued
that the amendment would declare off-limits certain types of life-saving
therapeutic research he supports.

Bopp's objection was itself objected to by several delegates who
supported the amendment. Then Summa asked Bopp point-blank, "Under the
current language in this document, does this mean that you can
experiment on human embryos that are frozen in IVF clinics?"

Bopp answered, "The way I read this sentence is that it does have
limited application. It does not call for a ban on everything that I
might support. The amendment that has been put forward would ban not
only the type of research that I oppose, but also the types of
therapeutic research I have described."

He added, "We should not be in the business of prohibiting therapeutic
research."

At this point, Kansas delegate Kris Kobach offered an amendment to
Summa's amendment that would have replaced the words "experimentation
on" with "destruction of." Committee co-chairman Sen. Richard Burr asked
Summa if she would accept the change. She replied, "I certainly would
accept the amendment, but the former prosecutor in me would like Mr.
Bopp to answer my question."

Bopp quipped, "The defense attorney in me would say I have answered her
question."

Bopp then offered his own amendment to Summa's amendment. At this point
Burr broke it up. He instructed Summa, Bopp and Kobach to confer until
they had come up with a single amendment on stem-cells. The committee
then moved on to other matters.

When the three of them returned, Summa's eyes were red and swollen. She
re-submitted her original amendment, without modification. Burr called
for a vote, and the motion passed.

The 2008 Republican Platform calls for a ban on all embryonic stem-cell
research, public or private.

08/27 08:40 PM
<http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjM0MGNmZjY2NGIyYzYzMjhmMzI0MG\
RmODZlZmM5ZDA=>

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2.: The 2008 Republican Platform Committee has finally reached the finis

Posted by: "Stephen Meyer" Stephen276@comcast.net stephen_meyer_stemcells

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:18 am (PDT)

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjM0MGNmZjY2NGIyYzYzMjhmMzI0MGR\
mODZlZmM5ZDA
<http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjM0MGNmZjY2NGIyYzYzMjhmMzI0MG\
RmODZlZmM5ZDA>

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Going Out With a Bang [Stephen Spruiell
<mailto:sspruiell@nationalreview.com> ]

The 2008 Republican Platform Committee has finally reached the finish
line, but before it crossed it tripped up on the issue of stem-cell
research. When the committee reached the stem-cell language, North
Carolina delegate Mary Summa offered what appeared on the surface to be
a small change. Summa sought to change the sentence:

We call for a ban on human cloning and a ban on the creation of and
experimentation on human embryos for research purposes.

to read:

We call for a ban on human cloning and a ban on the creation of or
experimentation on human embryos for research purposes.

thus severing experimentation on human embryos from their creation for
that purpose. It's just one word, but it has huge implications. It is a
call for a total ban on embryonic stem-cell research, including
privately funded research using frozen embryos from in-vitro
fertilization (IVF) clinics. By contrast, the 2004 platform was in
accord with President Bush's policy at the time, which made limited
federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research available for the first
time.

In introducing her amendment, Summa gave an emotional speech in which
she said, "I want my five children to live in a world where the weak are
protected from the strong. I want them to live in a world where all life
is protected."

The amendment drew opposition from Indiana delegate and pro-life
activist James Bopp Jr. "The sentence now in the draft, which ties the
creation to the experimentation, is exactly right," Bopp said. He argued
that the amendment would declare off-limits certain types of life-saving
therapeutic research he supports.

Bopp's objection was itself objected to by several delegates who
supported the amendment. Then Summa asked Bopp point-blank, "Under the
current language in this document, does this mean that you can
experiment on human embryos that are frozen in IVF clinics?"

Bopp answered, "The way I read this sentence is that it does have
limited application. It does not call for a ban on everything that I
might support. The amendment that has been put forward would ban not
only the type of research that I oppose, but also the types of
therapeutic research I have described."

He added, "We should not be in the business of prohibiting therapeutic
research."

At this point, Kansas delegate Kris Kobach offered an amendment to
Summa's amendment that would have replaced the words "experimentation
on" with "destruction of." Committee co-chairman Sen. Richard Burr asked
Summa if she would accept the change. She replied, "I certainly would
accept the amendment, but the former prosecutor in me would like Mr.
Bopp to answer my question."

Bopp quipped, "The defense attorney in me would say I have answered her
question."

Bopp then offered his own amendment to Summa's amendment. At this point
Burr broke it up. He instructed Summa, Bopp and Kobach to confer until
they had come up with a single amendment on stem-cells. The committee
then moved on to other matters.

When the three of them returned, Summa's eyes were red and swollen. She
re-submitted her original amendment, without modification. Burr called
for a vote, and the motion passed.

The 2008 Republican Platform calls for a ban on all embryonic stem-cell
research, public or private.

08/27 08:40 PM
<http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YjM0MGNmZjY2NGIyYzYzMjhmMzI0MG\
RmODZlZmM5ZDA=>

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