AdvanceUSA Blog

“The President’s Stem-Cell Dollars and the Judge’s Rebuke”

2010-09-07T13:27:45.0212500-04:00

Robert P. George, Yuval Levin, and Matthew J. Franck, explain the recent judicial rebuke of the Obama administration’s policy on taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research. Excerpt:

The Obama administration had claimed that the destruction of the embryos and the research using stem cells derived from them could be “separated,” so that the latter was publicly funded but the former (to honor the Dickey-Wicker Amendment) was not. In other words, the administration interpreted the law as saying: “Go ahead and kill the embryos using non-governmental funds; then you can use the stem-cell lines produced by killing the embryos for research using taxpayer money without restriction.” Of course, this interpretation would essentially nullify the amendment, treating its command as if it were a meaningless bookkeeping procedure. Judge Lamberth had no difficulty seeing through this shoddy reasoning: “To conduct ESC research, ESCs must be derived from an embryo. The process of deriving ESCs from an embryo results in the destruction of the embryo. Thus, ESC research necessarily depends upon the destruction of a human embryo.”

Meanwhile, Congress is planning to vote on a stem cell funding bill later this month.

“MLK Jr. Niece Comes Under Further Attack for Pro-Life Position on Abortion”

2010-09-07T13:25:51.9743750-04:00

LifeNews reports.

“57% Oppose Taxpayer Funding of Embryonic Stem Cell Research”

2010-08-31T16:08:30.3337500-04:00

Rasmussen reports. As does LifeNews.

Meanwhile, Jeff Jacoby asks why the private sector won’t support this kind of research. It probably has something to do with the fact that over 70 treatments or cures have come from ethical forms of adult stem cell research while 0 have come from embryonic stem cell research, which involves the destruction of human embryos.

Federal Judge Blocks Taxpayer Funding of Embryo-Destroying Stem Cell Research, Obama Administration Appeals

2010-08-26T14:14:14.9166250-04:00

A federal judge has allowed a preliminary injunction against the taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research while the case is being decided. The judge indicated that the plaintiffs had made a strong case that NIH policies approved by President Obama violate the Dickey Wicker provisions of federal law which “unambiguously prohibits the use of federal funds for all research in which a human embryo is destroyed.” NRO explains the significance and background of this case. Steve Chapman exposes some “inconvenient truths” about stem cell research.

While pro-lifers are cheering the decision, the Obama administration has indicated it will appeal. Also, a Democrat Congresswoman who frequently champions the taxpayer funding of embryonic stem cell research has proposed legislation to overturn the decision of the federal court.

Check out AdvanceUSA’s resources on stem cells and cloning and adult stem cells.

“Scientists Create Liver Cells From Patients' Skin”

2010-08-26T14:12:26.7916250-04:00

ABC News reports.

Attention Judge Vaughn Walker: Fathers Do Matter!

2010-08-26T14:11:34.5416250-04:00

Janice Shaw Crouse reports on the diminishing numbers of African American males who graduate high school and connects the dots to the absence of fathers. This directly contradicts what Jude Walker wrote in his opinion overturning California’s democratically approved constitutional amendment protecting the traditional definition of marriage. Excerpt:

A new report from the Schott Foundation reveals that only 47 percent of black male students earn a high school diploma on time. Ironically, this report came out shortly after Judge Vaughn Walker ruled regarding Proposition 8 in California. If the statements on which Judge Walker based his ruling are “facts,” how do we explain what is happening educationally to boys in the black community where a large majority are growing up without fathers?

Nancy Pearcey, in an article on American Thinker, identified certain “facts that Judge Walker claims are now established by the ‘evidence’ presented in his courtroom.” Those “facts” presumably will be deemed as “truth” far beyond the courtroom. Among those “facts,” the following three are especially relevant for young black boys’ futures:

• “Gender no longer forms an essential part of marriage.”

• “The gender of a child’s parent is not a factor in a child’s adjustment.”

• “Having both a male and a female parent does not increase the likelihood that a child will be well-adjusted.”

Those three general false principles that Judge Walker supposedly established in his arguments in favor of so-called “same-sex marriage” are equally faulty when applied to the more than 40 percent of today’s children who are born to single mothers. They are doubly relevant when the majority of those children are black.

“Democrats Privately fear House Prospects Worsening”

2010-08-26T14:10:33.9947500-04:00

The Politico reports.

“Obama Admin Relents, Posts Pro-Abstinence Education Study After Complaints”

2010-08-26T14:09:40.7135000-04:00

LifeNews reports.

New FDA-Approved Drug Causes Abortions

2010-08-23T13:16:21.3697500-04:00

The US Catholic Bishops are denouncing the FDA’s approval of the new abortion drug “Ella.” This video explains why Ella is an abortion drug.

“Prop. 8 Ruling Ignores Precedent, Evidence and Common Sense”

2010-08-19T21:09:45.9457500-04:00

Former Attorney General Ed Meese explains. Excerpt:

Even some who support same-sex marriage worry that, in striking down California's voter-approved proposition defining marriage as between one man and one woman, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker went too far. They are right -- and not the only ones who should be concerned. Walker's ruling is indefensible as a matter of law wholly apart from its result.

By refusing to acknowledge binding Supreme Court precedent, substantial evidence produced at trial that was contrary to the holding and plain common sense, the ruling exhibits none of the requirements of a traditional decision. This opinion is arbitrary and capricious, and its alarming legal methodology and overtly policy-driven tenor are too extreme to stand.

The editors at National Review find rare praise for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for suspending same-sex marriages in California until the case is settled.

“Poll Finds Americans Oppose Allowing Abortions at Military Base Hospitals”

2010-08-19T21:08:28.7582500-04:00

LifeNews reports.

California Marriage Ruling Roundup

2010-08-17T14:19:25.3363750-04:00

The following is a list of recent news and commentary on the California same-sex marriage ruling:

Making Gender Irrelevant

Dennis Prager

By allowing same-sex marriage, we are declaring that mothers and fathers are interchangeable.

Marriage Rulings Are Only a 'Ban' on Truth

Robert Knight

The Prop 8 Case Charade

Mario Diaz

9th Circuit Rules Gay Marriages to Stay on Hold in California During Appeals Process

ABC News

Judge Lifts Prop. 8 Stay - Gay Marriages on Hold

San Francisco Chronicle

“FDA Approves Ella Drug, Pro-Life Groups Say It's Untested, Causes Abortions”

2010-08-17T14:17:56.3520000-04:00

LifeNews reports. As does The Washington Post.

“US Breast Cancer Drug Decision 'Marks Start of Death Panels'”

2010-08-17T14:16:47.0863750-04:00

The Telegraph reports.

“Dismantling America”

2010-08-17T14:15:57.6801250-04:00

Thomas Sowell discusses those who would elevate their will above the Constitution and the will of the people. Excerpt:

The Constitution was not only a challenge to the despotic governments of its time, but has been a continuing challenge — to this day — to all those who think that ordinary people should be ruled by their betters, whether an elite of blood, or of books, or of whatever else gives people a puffed-up sense of importance.

While the kings of old have faded into the mists of history, the principle of the divine rights of kings to impose whatever they wish on the masses lives on today in the rampaging presumptions of those who consider themselves anointed to impose their notions on others.

The Constitution of the United States is the biggest single obstacle to the carrying out of such rampaging presumptions, so it is not surprising that those with such presumptions have led the way in denigrating, undermining, and evading the Constitution.

See Thomas Sowell interviewed by Uncommon Knowledge on NRO.

“Obama Boasts of Most 'Progressive' [i.e. Liberal] Political Triumphs in Decades”

2010-08-17T14:13:49.3051250-04:00

The Hill reports.

“Sense and Nonsense on Anti-Prop 8 Ruling”

2010-08-13T14:13:45.3659788-04:00

Ed Whelan reports.

“Bus Tour Opposing Abortion in Health Care Raises Ire of "Pro-Life" Democrats”

2010-08-13T14:12:57.3470000-04:00

LifeNews reports. AdvanceUSA attended the bus tour rally in South Bend.

Activist Federal Judge Overturns California Marriage Amendment

2010-08-09T19:00:11.3087500-04:00

A Federal Judge in California, after a lengthy show-trial, has ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage and that the democratically approved California Marriage Amendment is unconstitutional. The worldview expressed by Judge Walker evinces a clear disregard for the facts.

Liberal activists are already cheering the decision as step toward nationally imposed same-sex marriage. They shouldn’t count their chickens before they are hatched. This ruling will be appealed to the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals and could ultimately go to the United States Supreme Court. Also, liberals should remember that state constitutional amendments to protect traditional marriage have ultimately been passed democratically every time they’ve been on the ballot. Allowing activist judges to do their dirty work will only illustrate the need for an amendment to the federal constitution to protect and define the traditional definition or marriage.

“Senate Confirms Pro-Abortion Activist Elena Kagan to Supreme Court”

2010-08-09T18:58:25.2306250-04:00

LifeNews reports. See how your senators voted here. Some conservatives see a silver lining to the Kagan confirmation.

“[Adult] Stem Cell Surgery for Windpipe 'Could Replace Transplant'”

2010-08-09T18:53:21.8087500-04:00

BBC News reports.

“Doing Henry Hyde’s Unfinished Business”

2010-08-09T18:52:27.8712500-04:00

Kathryn Jean Lopez reports on a group of pro-life champions in Congress who want to permanently prevent our tax dollars from supporting abortion.

Senate to Vote on Kagan Nomination

2010-08-05T15:05:24.4410000-04:00

The Senate will vote on the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court in mere moments. Newt Gingrich explains why the Senate should vote against her confirmation. Look for vote results to be added here soon.

UPDATE: Kagan was confirmed by a vote of 63 - 37. See how your senators voted here. LifeNews reports.

Two Studies Seem to Minimize Benefits of iPSC

2010-07-30T10:02:58.3988750-04:00

According to news reports, two new studies indicate that stem cells created from reprogrammed body cells may not be as pluripotent as embryonic stem cells. Even if it is proven one day that iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) will never be as malleable as stem cells obtained from destroyed human embryos, it doesn’t make embryonic stem cell research any less unethical. Feeling somewhat skeptical about the spin generated by the media over these studies, AdvanceUSA contacted Dr. David Prentice to get a better perspective on the implications of these studies. Here’s what he told us by email:

The data show that with current techniques, some iPS cells may not be completely reprogrammed to be identical to embryonic stem cells. But the results also show that in some cases this made it easier to change the iPS cells into specialized tissues, such as blood cells. Both papers also showed that subsequent manipulation could further reprogram iPS cells to a more embryonic-like state. Several leading embryonic stem cell scientists have also noted that the techniques are still being improved, and it is simply a matter of time until these hurdles are overcome.

Regardless, this is still no justification for further destruction of embryos, nor especially to justify cloning of human embryos for experiments, which is what one paper seems to imply. While this is interesting in terms of basic science, embryonic stem cells are poor substitutes for adult stem cells and the current successful treatments that they are already delivering to thousands of patients.

Dr. Prentice explains even more in a recent blog post at FRC Blog.

New Technique Cures Bad Joints with Rabbits’ Own Stem Cells

2010-07-30T10:01:43.1488750-04:00

ABC News reports that a new stem cell “homing” technique cured rabbits of joint problems by causing stem cells in their body to move to problem areas and replace damaged tissues. This suggests that similar techniques could probably be used in humans without the need to destroy human embryos. Dr. Prentice adds more helpful expert commentary at FRC Blog.