Kerry Talks Stem Cells in Radio Address
story.news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry said he would
reverse President Bush 's restrictions on embryonic
stem cell research as he remembered the late actor Christopher Reeve,
a quadriplegic, as a hero and a friend in the Democrats' radio address
Saturday.
"We're going to make funding for this
research a top priority in our government
agencies, our universities and our medical
community, and we'll continue to lead the
world in great discoveries - all while
upholding the highest ethical standards,"
the Democratic presidential candidate said.
Kerry called Bush's restrictions on federal
funding for embryonic stem cell research "a
ban that's tied the hands of our scientists
and shut down some of our most promising
work on spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's,
diabetes, Parkinson's and other
life-threatening diseases."
"I know that when we put our best minds to
work studying our worst diseases, time and
time again we find treatments and cures and
vaccines," Kerry said. "But when we don't,
when we have a president who dismisses
our scientists and turns his back on
science, then we say no to discovery, no to
innovation and no to hope for so many
Americans."
Bush restricted federal funding for
embryonic stem cell research to lines
created before Aug. 9, 2001. His re-election
campaign said the decision represents a federal commitment to using
the promise of stem cell research in an ethical way.
The Bush-Cheney campaign said Kerry is distorting the situation for
partisan advantage. "Voters will not trust a candidate who refuses to let
the facts get in the way of his attempt to play politics with every issue,"
said spokesman Steve Schmidt.
Reeve, paralyzed in a horseback riding accident, died from an infection
last week. Kerry knew the "Superman" actor for about 15 years through
family and activism, and he said Reeve left him a telephone message the
day before he died thanking him for campaigning on the possibilities for
cures found through stem cell research.
___
|
