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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PROLIFE who wrote (694464)	7/29/2005 10:32:01 AM
From: paret	Respond to of 769670

No. Dr. Ruth is not tall enough to kill herself.

To: PROLIFE who wrote (694464)	7/29/2005 10:57:20 AM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Respond to of 769670

Key Senate ally breaks with Bush on stem cells news.yahoo.com In a rare break with President Bush, the most powerful Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Bill Frist, threw his support behind legislation to expand embryonic stem cell research on Friday. Frist -- a heart-lung transplant surgeon, a close Bush ally and a possible 2008 presidential candidate -- said he would formally announce his decision and "outline my convictions as a physician, as a healer as well as a policymaker" in a Senate speech. "This research is promising, embryonic stem cell research as well as adult stem cell research, ... and now is the time to expand the president's policies because it's promising research but it must be done in a way that is ethically considerate," Frist told ABC's "Good Morning America" program. "One of the bills before us allows that to be done in that human embryonic stem cells will be derived only, only from those embryos that are not going to be adopted, that are not going to be implanted but that will otherwise be discarded," said the Tennessee Republican. Embryonic stem cells can be transformed into many other types of cells. They offer the potential for regenerating damaged organs or tissues, with the possibility of treating diseases such as Parkinson's or juvenile diabetes. According to the New York Times, which obtained an advance copy of his speech, Frist will say that while he has reservations about altering Bush's policy, which placed strict limits on taxpayer financing for the embryonic stem cell research, he supports a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May with a bipartisan margin. That bill would lift the research limits Bush imposed in August 2001 and allow research using the 400,000 frozen embryos left over from in vitro fertilization treatments. Most of those embryos would otherwise be destroyed. Advocates of the legislation say they believe it would be more ethical to use them to try to cure disease. LEVERAGE AGAINST BUSH Bush has vowed to veto the measure citing ethical and moral concerns over the destruction of embryos in obtaining the stem cells. However, Frist said in the speech text that he could reconcile his support for the research with his Christian faith and views that life begins at conception, the Times said. Congressional aides said First's support should give a huge boost to an already popular bill and give them leverage in negotiations with the White House to avoid a veto. "Cure today may be just a theory, a hope, a dream," Frist will say in the speech. "But the promise is powerful enough that I believe this research deserves our increased energy and focus. Embryonic stem cell research must be supported." In the Senate, expanding embryonic stem cell research is supported by an ideologically, religiously and geographically diverse group, including liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, Catholics, Mormons and Jews. It includes Republicans Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Orrin Hatch of Utah and Gordon Smith of Oregon, and Democrats Tom Harkin of Iowa, Dianne Feinstein of California and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

To: PROLIFE who wrote (694464)	7/29/2005 12:07:34 PM
From: DuckTapeSunroof	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Frist Explains Stem Cell Decision Senate Majority Leader Says 'Ethically Considerate' Research Is Acceptable abcnews.go.com Jul. 29, 2005 - In exclusive interview with "GMA," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist explained his plans to break with President Bush for the first time today when he announces his support of legislation to expand federal financing for embryonic stem cell research. Stem cell research has fueled fierce debate between those who say the cells are the best way to find treatments for diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cancer, and opponents who say using embryos is unethical, even if they could eventually save lives. Last month Frist, a prominent heart and lung surgeon, said he did not support expanded federal financing of stem cell research. He says he now believes the research is promising and deserves federal funding, if the embryos are collected in an "ethically considerate" way. "I'm doing this as somebody who has convictions," Frist told "GMA." "This is not about politics. It is about policy. It is about principle. It is about human life." Frist said he remains firm on his pro-life stance, and his support of stem cell research does not contradict his views on abortion. "I give huge moral significance to the human embryo. It is nascent human life," he said. "What that means is that as we advance science, we treat that embryo with dignity, with respect." Frist said only embryos that would otherwise be discarded should be used for the research. Those that could be adopted or implanted would not be used. In 2001, Bush announced that the government should pay only for research of stem cell colonies, or lines, that were created by that date where the "life or death" decision already had been made. At the time there were 78 lines available, but genetic problems and other difficulties currently leave just 22 available for research. Frist said even the remaining 22 lines were not fit for "human therapy," and therefore Bush's policy should be revised. He will support a bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, a version of which the House has already passed, which allows federal research on stem cell lines created after 2001. "While human embryonic stem cell research is still at a very early stage, the limitations put in place in 2001 will, over time, slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases," Frist said in a copy of today's speech provided to "GMA." "Therefore, I believe the president's policy should be modified." Bush has said he will veto the bill. Some speculate Frist's announcement is a political move to position him for the 2008 presidential race. Frist said that others would say this is exactly what he shouldn't do if he wants the Republican nomination. According to a June 3 ABC poll, 59 percent of the public supports stem cell research. However, while 57 percent of Republicans favor limited funding, only 39 percent support broader funding. "I spelled them [my convictions] out five years ago," Frist said. "People will say I am consistent." Frist is not the first Republican to support stem cell research. Republican Sen. Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania, who suffers from advanced stage Hodgkins lymphoma, supports the research, as does former first lady Nancy Reagan. First will give his speech on the Senate floor further detailing his reason for stem cell research funding later today. Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures