Get a load of what John Edwards said, via Drudge:
"When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk. Get up out of that wheelchair and walk again..."No permalink yet, sorry, so if you don't click on Drudge right away I can't promise the headline and photo will still be there.
This actually is offensive on several levels. First, is he comparing Kerry to Jesus Christ? The language is Biblical enough to make me think so, and I really, really don't like that.
Second, if he's making that outrageous promise on the basis of fetal stem-cell research (which I'm assuming is the case), it's offensive because the use of human embryos for spare parts is morally reprehensible.
Third, it's offensive because it takes pandering to a new low. It's insulting that he thinks we're stupid enough to believe him, first of all, and it's sickening that he would make such a patently ludicrous statement to raise false hopes in those stricken with paralysis. And how outrageous is this, that he would capitalize on the death of Christopher Reeve and our natural sympathy for him and his family, just to shake out a few more votes?
Finally, it's offensive because it's so false. The science so far on fetal stem cells shows absolutely no progress whatsoever, while research into adult stem cells is much more encouraging.
Unbelievable. And yet, not really. I'm starting to expect this kind of demagoguery from the Kerry/Edwards camp.
UPDATE: Still no permalink, but Drudge has had this up all day so I'm convinced it's a legit quote. Here's what he's got at the top of the screen right now:
Edwards Stem Cell Vision: 'We will stop juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases... When John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going get up out of that wheelchair and walk again.' Edwards made the unprecedented campaign promises during 30-minute speech at Newton High School gym in Newton, Iowa...This kind of rhetoric is appalling, especially since the reality is that embryonic stem cell research has been fruitless and in some cases harmful: "In one of the most well-known human clinical trials using fetal stem cells, the cells were inserted into the brains of Parkinson’s patients. Unfortunately, the unpredictable young cells created terratomas (masses of tissue with hair and teeth) and tumors, and the majority of patients experienced increased symptoms." (Source) And this is what the Kerry/Edwards team is pushing.
2 comments:
OK...Pardon the rant...but it's been one of those righteously indignant days for me. It's SOOOOO WRONG! Is there nothing they will not say for the sake of a vote or two? Did you hear what was said on the floor of the Senate this morning? Did you hear Sen Durban equate a lifeless dot of ink on a piece of paper to a human embrio?
...And...about your post...Like Bush is holding people down in their wheel chairs by not supporting the 'science' that has yet to do anything besides giving rats tumors. Wow! What a brilliant man, Edwards. You know what? I think he might be right about one thing. If Kerry is elected, God just might grant the lame enough strength to leap from their beds and catch the next plane to--Afghanistan, say--where elections have dignity.
Later,
Sas, (looking for a fire extinguisher)
Such is the pull of power - people (read politicians) will say or promise anything to get the power they crave - maybe thats why in recent local body elections in New Zealand, voter turn out was the lowest ever - averaging around 40% - who can really be bothered voting if you can't trust the people trying to get elected.....
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