Monday, January 08, 2007
Trouble for the Abortion Lobby...
Maybe. First, MSNBC is reporting that scientists have found that amniotic fluid can provide stem cells that hold "much the same promise" as embryonic stem cells - the difference being that amniotic stem cells don't require the destruction of the embryo in order to collect them.
And right now approximately 70% of the people support Embryonic Stem Cell Research. So it's a winning issue at this point for the abortion lobby. Therefore, this development is trouble because if it turns out that you don't have to destroy embryos to gain the same benefit you'd get by destroying embryos, there's no longer a reason to destroy them. And whoosh goes the political side benefit of Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
And by "side benefit" I don't mean "lesser" benefit. Embryonic Stem Cell Research would not be such a hot-button issue if it didn't require the destruction of embryos. How many other medical issues have received such strenuous support form the Left, Democrats, the MSM and Hollywood?
"Ahhh!" you might say, "what about HIV/AIDS?" - my response would be, "exactly." If anybody holds any illusions that the HIV/AIDS political battle had nothing to do with social engineering then I'd suggest you ramp up your sense of political cynicism.
Now, I'm a strong supporter of what's commonly referred to as "gay rights" (my beef with that term is that I feel it's just "human rights") - and I believe the government is uniquely suited to spearhead the fight against HIV/AIDS - but that doesn't mean I'm not of the opinion that politics hasn't played a major role in the battles over the subject. I can be on the same side of a political debate, and still not be all misty-eyed about the motivations of some who agree with me.
It's a lonely road for those of us rare beasts who are generally conservative, but are social liberals on many issues.
But back to my point. This Amniotic Stem Cell issue threatens the "side" (though just as important to the abortion lobby) benefits gleaned from Embryonic Stem Cell Research. So, one tends to wonder how this is going to play out.
My guess? Well, the abortion lobby has been extremely hostile to any science that has demonstrated negative aftereffects of abortion on the women who acquire the procedure. Also, the abortion lobby has been energetically antagonistic towards "informed consent" laws that require women to be, prior to an abortion, informed of the possible side effects and dangers associated with the medical procedure. Now, this would seem to run contrary to the abortion lobby's purported support for women's rights and dignity. But that misses the point.
Or rather, it misses the abortion lobby's point. The abortion lobby views abortion, in-and-of-itself, as the goal of their political efforts. Women's rights are merely a means to that end. Where there have been conflicts between women's health concerns and the availability of abortion-on-demand, abortion wins with the abortion lobby. Ideology and massive profits make very willing and dedicated bedfellows. No pun intended.
So, my guess: two possibilities as I see it. Either this news of Amniotic Stem Cell Research's potential benefits gets buried by the MSM, or a massive discrediting effort will ensue. Obviously this news will be picked up by the anti-abortion people - it's as natural as it's inevitable. That will draw the bright dividing line, assuming the pro-abortion folks don't conduct a preemptive strike of their own. And once that happens the political war is on. So, through I may not be sure which tactic the pro-abortion people will use to stifle Amniotic Stem Cell Research (even trying to cut off funding?), that they will try to put the kibosh on it is without question.
What will also be interesting to see is where the "true" Embryonic Stem Cell Research people (meaning those who honestly believe it's necessary for the health of people) will come down on this. If they battle against a less socially troublesome method that has the same benefits of ESCR, then I guess my own cynicism will have to be ramped up some. If they welcome Amniotic Stem Cell Research, and perhaps welcome the removal of the political acrimony which has been a stumbling block for them, then I will applaud their dedication to their core concerns - and offer my respect for them.
I shall wait to see whether Michael J. Fox stops taking his medication again, and cuts a commercial supporting Amniotic Stem Cell Research.
But I won't be holding my breath.
Maybe. First, MSNBC is reporting that scientists have found that amniotic fluid can provide stem cells that hold "much the same promise" as embryonic stem cells - the difference being that amniotic stem cells don't require the destruction of the embryo in order to collect them.
Scientists reported Sunday they had found a plentiful source of stem cells in the fluid that cushions babies in the womb and produced a variety of tissue types from these cells —sidestepping the controversy over destroying embryos for research.Christopher Reeve should be looking down at us from The Beyond with satisfaction. Some other Embryonic Stem Cell Research supporters won't, though. That's because Embryonic Stem Cell Research has been at the vanguard recently of the pro-abortion-rights advocates' arguments; the thinking being that any "valid" reason the public believes exists for destroying developing humans bodes well for the abortion lobby's goal of increasing the acceptability of destroying developing humans for any reason.
Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells. They reported they were able to extract the stem cells without harm to mother or fetus and turn their discovery into several different tissue cell types, including brain, liver and bone.
And right now approximately 70% of the people support Embryonic Stem Cell Research. So it's a winning issue at this point for the abortion lobby. Therefore, this development is trouble because if it turns out that you don't have to destroy embryos to gain the same benefit you'd get by destroying embryos, there's no longer a reason to destroy them. And whoosh goes the political side benefit of Embryonic Stem Cell Research.
And by "side benefit" I don't mean "lesser" benefit. Embryonic Stem Cell Research would not be such a hot-button issue if it didn't require the destruction of embryos. How many other medical issues have received such strenuous support form the Left, Democrats, the MSM and Hollywood?
"Ahhh!" you might say, "what about HIV/AIDS?" - my response would be, "exactly." If anybody holds any illusions that the HIV/AIDS political battle had nothing to do with social engineering then I'd suggest you ramp up your sense of political cynicism.
Now, I'm a strong supporter of what's commonly referred to as "gay rights" (my beef with that term is that I feel it's just "human rights") - and I believe the government is uniquely suited to spearhead the fight against HIV/AIDS - but that doesn't mean I'm not of the opinion that politics hasn't played a major role in the battles over the subject. I can be on the same side of a political debate, and still not be all misty-eyed about the motivations of some who agree with me.
It's a lonely road for those of us rare beasts who are generally conservative, but are social liberals on many issues.
But back to my point. This Amniotic Stem Cell issue threatens the "side" (though just as important to the abortion lobby) benefits gleaned from Embryonic Stem Cell Research. So, one tends to wonder how this is going to play out.
My guess? Well, the abortion lobby has been extremely hostile to any science that has demonstrated negative aftereffects of abortion on the women who acquire the procedure. Also, the abortion lobby has been energetically antagonistic towards "informed consent" laws that require women to be, prior to an abortion, informed of the possible side effects and dangers associated with the medical procedure. Now, this would seem to run contrary to the abortion lobby's purported support for women's rights and dignity. But that misses the point.
Or rather, it misses the abortion lobby's point. The abortion lobby views abortion, in-and-of-itself, as the goal of their political efforts. Women's rights are merely a means to that end. Where there have been conflicts between women's health concerns and the availability of abortion-on-demand, abortion wins with the abortion lobby. Ideology and massive profits make very willing and dedicated bedfellows. No pun intended.
So, my guess: two possibilities as I see it. Either this news of Amniotic Stem Cell Research's potential benefits gets buried by the MSM, or a massive discrediting effort will ensue. Obviously this news will be picked up by the anti-abortion people - it's as natural as it's inevitable. That will draw the bright dividing line, assuming the pro-abortion folks don't conduct a preemptive strike of their own. And once that happens the political war is on. So, through I may not be sure which tactic the pro-abortion people will use to stifle Amniotic Stem Cell Research (even trying to cut off funding?), that they will try to put the kibosh on it is without question.
What will also be interesting to see is where the "true" Embryonic Stem Cell Research people (meaning those who honestly believe it's necessary for the health of people) will come down on this. If they battle against a less socially troublesome method that has the same benefits of ESCR, then I guess my own cynicism will have to be ramped up some. If they welcome Amniotic Stem Cell Research, and perhaps welcome the removal of the political acrimony which has been a stumbling block for them, then I will applaud their dedication to their core concerns - and offer my respect for them.
I shall wait to see whether Michael J. Fox stops taking his medication again, and cuts a commercial supporting Amniotic Stem Cell Research.
But I won't be holding my breath.
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