Think Progress

Bush on Stem Cell Veto: ‘These Boys and Girls Are Not Spare Parts’»

Moments ago, Bush made a statement at the White House discussing why he vetoed a bill expanding funding for embryonic stem cell research. (The media was barred from covering the veto itself.) Bush explained, “these boys and girls are not spare parts.” Watch it:

Bush speaking about stem cells

An embryo is not a boy or a girl. It’s a cluster of about 150 cells smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. The embryos funded by the bill Bush vetoed were “created for the purposes of in vitro fertilization…which are spare or in excess of clinical need and in every single case are slated for medical waste.”

Only about 10 percent of embryos are adopted — the rest are disposed of. Had Bush signed the bill into law, they could instead be used to develop potentially live-saving cures for millions of people.

Transcript:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Yet we must also remember that embryonic stem cells come from human embryos that are destroyed themselves. Each of these human embryos is a unique human life, with inherent dignity and matchless value. We see that value in the children who are with us today. Each of these children began his or her life as a frozen embryo that was created for in vitro fertilization, but remained unused after fertility treatments were complete. Each of these children was adopted while still an embryo, and has been blessed with the chance to grow up in a loving family. These boys and girls are not spare parts.

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179 Responses to “Bush on Stem Cell Veto: ‘These Boys and Girls Are Not Spare Parts’”


  1. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    Bush: We all began life as a small collection of cells.
    PLC1: Some of us evolved into much more, rather than just stayed that way.
    PLC2: And some of us belong in a cell.


  2. NewNameAcquired Says:

    Wait, I am confused. Which one is Bush, and which ones are the little kids he paraded around?

    Congradulations to the BOYS AND GIRLS who were adopted. But Bush still needs to answer why he isn’t allowing the ones that will be thrown away to be put instead to healing other humans. You know, the humans he apparently cares so deeply about.

    The caring must only be there because he needs boots on the ground to fight his illigal, and immoral wars.


  3. kdoug Says:

    “unique human life, with inherent dignity and matchless value. ”

    And what are the thousands of Iraqi’s, The 2600 US soldiers, the Lebonese civilians …

    What are they sir?

    Answer that Mr. “Holier Than Thou”.


  4. TJW Says:

    Whatever happened to “of the people, by the people, for the people”. 67% of ppl, ironically what Bush’s approval rating almost falls it, agree that stem cells should be used to help the ill. This whacko is out of control. When will someone stand up to his shit?


  5. buzzbomb Says:

    Oh, Georgie your so righteous. What about the kids in Iraq that our bombs are making into spare parts?


  6. TJW Says:

    sorry my mistake - i meant disapproval rating - in #5 above.


  7. Theresa Says:

    Bush “These boys and girls are not spare parts.”

    No, now they’re garbage.


  8. dj Says:

    go to irag and get their stem calls


  9. clint Says:

    hail to the Chief


  10. Clyde the Ripper Says:

    If stem cell research would have cured his hangover he would have had Uncle Dick and the Turd Blossom cutting the contract for Haliburton to start sending the stem cells to the White House. That drunk needs some medication. Rat poison might help if he didn’t thrive on it


  11. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    Typical non-sequitor. “These (real) boys and girls are not spare parts” implying that, therefore, the undifferentiated stem cells are not spare parts either. Giving each equal weight.


  12. Suck the Baby's Skull Out Says:

    Maybe liberals should start a foundation that supports stem cell research instead of wasting your $$ spreading anti-Bush propoganda. If history is any guide, it is probably $$ better spent.

    With WW3 erupting in the Middle East and the right-wing base coming home to their roots (however disenchanted they might be), Democrats have no chance in hell of taking back either House.

    I can’t wait to see the ads the GOP puts up against the Dems. You won’t know what hit you.


  13. kindness Says:

    Actually, these embryo’s ARE spare parts. Since they weren’t used for implantation, they’ll go to some medical waste incinerator or landfill. But hey, that’s so much nicer than using the stem cells for medical research.


  14. Tread Says:

    STBSO, give it a rest.


  15. kindness Says:

    suck baby skull - you suck, asshole.


  16. Heynow Says:

    Weirdo logic.


  17. What is wrong with you? Says:

    You are disgusting. And you value life so much, why are supporting this nasty president who is sending scores of Americans to die in a conflict we SHOULDN’T BE INVOLVED IN.

    Go away.


  18. Wilco Says:

    But it will be a christian burial at the landfill?


  19. DieNowForPeace Says:

    Too damn bad YOUR baby skull wasn’t sucked out…
    or maybe it was, and your tiny baby brain was damaged…


  20. The Point I wanted to make Says:

    Is that there are haters like STBSO in states who will be casting votes for candidates who have the same position as Bush on stem cells. Example - in Michigan, Dick DeVos who is challending Gov Granholm is a Bush clone in a lot ways - including stem cells. I think we should be watching these people, making their positions known, and holding them accountable.


  21. Anon1 Says:

    #13, Hey, Suck…, read the polls lately, you idiot!


  22. Redleg Says:

    I think #13 (our friend Suck …) is Ann Coulter. Uses the same illogic, the same sick sense of “humor,” the same hit-and-run type of attack, the same joy at giving Dems advice but not following the same advice.


  23. Spudge_Boy Says:

    Maybe liberals should start a foundation that supports stem cell research instead of wasting your $$ spreading anti-Bush propoganda.

    Spreading anti-Bush propaganda is free. The foundation is a great idea. It would be even better if republicans like you were turned away from getting the cures that are found.


  24. Steven Ertelt Says:

    You can read the full trascript of Presient Bush’s remarks, by clicking here. Also, as far as polls are concerned:

    The most recent poll on the subject, conducted by International Communications Research in mid-May, finds 48% of Americans oppose federal funding of stem cell research that requires destroying human embryos. Just 39% support such funding and another 12 percent had no position. The ICR survey found 57% favored funding only the research avenues that do not harm the donor. Just 24% favored funding all stem cell research, including the type that involves destroying human embryos.


  25. Suck the Baby's Skull Out Says:

    #24 - it would eventually balance out since the left kills their young and looks to eat them on research. Hitler would be proud.


  26. dlet Says:

    Each of these human embryos is a unique human life, with inherent dignity and matchless value.

    Then the president added: “I just hope these embryo childs don’t grow up to be crimimals ’cause then we will have to lethally inject them with stuff. That was fun when I was Guvner of Texas. heh heh. So grow up good embryo kids. Save the blistercysts.”


  27. ct Says:

    1.3 million abortions per yr for almost 50 yrs. they are killing their own party faster than they can defect to the GOP


  28. Time Capsule Says:

    lets impeach the president for Hijacking
    our religion and using it to get elected

    Neil Young
    Living with war
    2006


  29. Bar Says:

    Why do Liberals continue to whine about the public support for this while at the same time decrying the same argument when used to oppose gay marriage?

    Can we please have a little consistancy from you when your knickers get in a wad?

    SHEESH!


  30. madashell Says:

    I love how the trolls pull their “facts” out of their ass.


  31. Later On » First veto from Bush Says:

    […] As ThinkProgress also notes: Bush made a statement at the White House discussing why he vetoed a bill expanding funding for embryonic stem cell research. (The media was barred from covering the veto itself.) Bush explained, “these boys and girls are not spare parts.” Watch it: […]


  32. Time Capsule Says:

    Bush would rather veto an America embrio than veto a Palestinian TRUE


  33. madashell Says:

    If you don’t know - ignore #30. Seriously. No debate is possible with this freak, and all you’ll get is a mouthful of the same old shit.


  34. pablo Says:

    too bad dumbashell was not one the 1.3 mil


  35. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    So, the federal government cannot be involved in medical research on stem cells because to do so would be financing the taking of a life, and all life is sacred. And if the federal goernment does not finance the research, the cells will die, but that’s ok, because the federal government didn’t do anything to save their lives.

    It seems to me this “all life is sacred” argument would make it criminal to discard these cells and would require that every fertilized egg be implanted and allowed to grow full-term. After all, if destroying these cells is murder, it seems like fertilization clinics are guilty of mass-murder, are they not?


  36. Bonnie Berger Says:

    Perhaps Bush’s daughters might want to incubate some of these thousands of extra embryos? (after they are through with their tours of duty in Iraq of course-where they are forced to kill and maim in the fog of preemptive war) Can’t believe that someone uses the handle “suck a baby’s head” -wow-they are really dumb arne’t they? PRetty scary-


  37. Gerald Gibson Says:

    We ALL must live as america christo-facists church people whether we like it or not. Its either their religious way or the highway. Next stop YOUR genitals.


  38. ct Says:

    I think he/she was


  39. Dave M. Says:

    Wow, I see the conservative misinformation about “partial birth abortions” that never happen is being pushed into the comment section quicker than usual today. That one guy agreeing with himself should really go adopt some of those discarded embryos instead of wasting his time on some progressive website…


  40. Dr Benway Says:

    The idea here is each blastocyst is a human, I am assuming complete with a soul. This leads to the interesting question of what happens to the extra soul when tetragametic chimerism happens.

    the chimera is formed from the merger of two fraternal twins in a very early (zygote or blastocyst) phase. As such, they can be male, female, or hermaphroditic…As of 2003, there were about 30-40 human cases in the literature, according to New Scientist

    I guess the next step is to ban all IVF techniques, since

    the incidence of tetragametic chimerism is set to rise because of modern fertility techniques that increase the rate of twinning. In 1998, they reported a case of a chimeric IVF baby who resulted from the accidental fusion of a male embryo and a female embryo. The child was outwardly male, but the left hand side of his internal reproductive system had developed as an ovary and fallopian tube.
    New Scientist vol 180 issue 2421


  41. Daniel DiRito Says:

    To see the politics of the stem cell debate explained with visuals and how the Bush argument is ultimately an absurd manipulation of the facts…link here:

    http://www.thoughttheater.com


  42. Leslie G. Says:

    Thats it, I am going into business. Similar to the mood ring, I intend on encapsulating stem cells and placing them on a ring. I will send them to the children of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria,Lebanon and Iran if I raise enough $. Now drop a bomb on their heads Dumbya the duncider, I dare you.


  43. Al Gore Says:

    We should chop bush up and use him for spare parts. This is a slap in the face of all americans that have a illness that potentialy can be cured by stem cell research. Anyone that is against stem cell use BETTER show me some footage you protesting fertility clinics in the 70’s/80’s/90’s, when of course the clinics threw unused embryo’s in the GARBAGE. The minute someone whats to salvage the discarded embryo’s, conservitives (following thier retarted and evil leaders words) threw a fit like a spoiled child, kicking and screaming on the floor.

    The simple fact is fertility clinics for decades have been destroying embryo’s by the thousands by throwing them away in the garbage. I ask is that immoral? Is saying millions of lives now immoral? A worthless human being who is backed by only 30% of the population, is making laws that 70% of the population dosen’t agree with.

    BUSH IS WORTHLESS!!!! His family is worthless!!!! And finally his supporters are WORTHLESS!!!


  44. looty Says:

    Won’t somebody think of the blastocysts?


  45. dlet Says:

    So when does anyone think Jesus will be going on the dollar?


  46. impeachcheneythenbush Says:

    You can read the full trascript of Presient Bush’s remarks, by clicking here. Also, as far as polls are concerned:

    The most recent poll on the subject, conducted by International Communications Research in mid-May, finds 48% of Americans oppose federal funding of stem cell research that requires destroying human embryos. Just 39% support such funding and another 12 percent had no position. The ICR survey found 57% favored funding only the research avenues that do not harm the donor. Just 24% favored funding all stem cell research, including the type that involves destroying human embryos.

    Comment by Steven Ertelt — July 19, 2006 @ 3:23 pm

    Here’s some background on this poster. Note that it’s criticism from a Christian website.

    http://www.theamericanview.com/index.php?id=324

    At least we can trace Mr. Ertlet back to the particular region of the Twilight Zone he’s operating from. As far as the “Ann Coulter sound-alike” STBSO, I doubt they have IP addresses in Hell.


  47. Gerald Gibson Says:

    Them there scientists days are noomberered. They thinkeses there smarters than wez christian folk.


  48. onthefence Says:

    So when does anyone think Jesus will be going on the dollar?

    Comment by dlet — July 19, 2006 @ 3:39 pm

    You’re almost right, the new dollar bill will have Reagan and Jesus


  49. pluege Says:

    wonder how the bushliar-criminal classifies all the boys and girl seedlings that die as eggs and sperm without ever getting together…wow…wingnut heads exploding.

    according to Arlen Specter there are currently over 400,000 frozen empbryos in the country. A total of 128 have found live adults willing to raise them as boys and girls.

    its cognitive dissonance of highest order that an alledged human being could order an illegal, unnecessary invasion directly causing the deaths of tens of thousands of people without a second thought, but would go to such lengths to try to preserve unwarranted, extra embryos.
    .


  50. Destroy the DLC Says:

    He’s a brave, wise man. Afterall,

    Americans thought it was a good idea to invade Iraq.

    Americans also want the gov’t to pay for Frankensteinian science.


  51. DieNowForPeace Says:

    I appreciate a man whose actions speak clearly louder than his jumbled words ever could.

    STUPID, BACKWOODS MO-RON.


  52. Shades Says:

    I guess next Bush will want to create little embryo orphanages, or maybe the GOP will force women to incubate these little boys and girls.


  53. Tigris Lily Says:

    “it (stem cell research) crosses a moral boundary” per George W. Bush. And what does George W Bush know of moral boundaries other than the fact that he crosses them every day of his life!


  54. Gerald Gibson Says:

    Frankensteinian science.

    aka what dumb people think post 1830s science is.


  55. DieNowForPeace Says:

    You’re almost right, the new dollar bill will have Reagan and Jesus

    Comment by onthefence

    Don’t forget Elvis.


  56. yowzer Says:

    calling frozen, unwanted embryos boys and girls will surely play well in wingnuttia, but will play the opposite in the reality-based community. The more wingnuttia comes out of the closet, the faster mainstream America will be repulsed by it/them.
    .


  57. Al Gore Says:

    #51. Brave men also go to war when drafted. They dont go AWAL from the reserves. And then attacks his oppents brave war service. This is not the resume of a brave man.


  58. jimb Says:

    #28 ct
    1.3 million abortions per yr for almost 50 yrs. they are killing their own party faster than they can defect to the GOP

    Who’s talking about abortions? Address the issue here. We’re talking about stem cells and blastocysts. Ever see a blastocyst? Look at the period at the end of this sentence. That’s about the size of it. Are those blastocysts really “boys and girls” like Bush says? If you think so, then let’s run with that one. There are about 400,000 little boys and girls in freezers right now around the country. They aren’t all going to be implanted in a uterus before they rot away in the freezer. Are you going to save them? Is Bush? Are you just going to let them rot? Why don’t you find a womb for each and every one of them? Or are you just going to let them die?! It’s really cold in there, too. How do you think that makes those boys and girls feel? Why don’t you go liberate those little boys and girls from the freezers, you heartless bastard?!!!!


  59. Buford Says:

    DR. BENWAY - excellent point! However, it seems wasted on folks who for some reason feel disposing of excess blastocysts as medical waste is somehow more ‘moral’ than using them to cure disease.


  60. Destroy the DLC Says:

    Americans aren’t qualified to have an opinion about this.


  61. Carl Moyhannsen Says:

    If you are looking for something funny about this topic, check out these links:

    I Am Proudly Anti-Cure

    and

    We Must Stem the Tide

    Better to laugh than cry, I suppose.



  62. jason baddo Says:

    for him to be seen chomping food and talking crassly at the same to a dignatory precludes him from discussing a deep and profound subject such as stem cell research


  63. coal_train Says:

    The bloodthirsty regime’s public morality crusade escalates in direct proportion to their complicity in crimes against humanity.


  64. Tom In Maine Says:

    I love the caption at the beginning of this post where Fox/Not News headlines with Bush saying “that we all begin life as a small collection of cells”.

    Well that may be true but in Bushes case I think the majority of his cells ran down his father’s leg at his moment of inception.


  65. Pharm Says:

    Actually, If I remember my Human Anatamoy/Physiology classes, the fertilized egg has yet to develop any organs, let alone genitalia, so referring to them as “boys and girls” is a little premature (pun definetly intended).


  66. Scott Says:

    When Bush and his fundies can look down a microscope and tell which blastocyst is a boy or a girl, I will support his veto.


  67. LMAO Says:

    This is a great thread. The haters crack me up. “More to be pitied than scorned.” as my grandmother says. Don’t waste any real effort on them. Sore losers - well, they will be when they wake up after E-Day 06 and realize they have stoned themselves into the dark ages with their blind idiotic hater-speak. They will be lost in a world without their hater-leaders in Congress… like little blind moles… LMAO!!!


  68. technodaoist Says:

    The War on Science continues.

    Ignorance is bliss, so you better think long and hard if this decision makes you happy.

    Oh, wait… ignorance implies a lack of thinking…

    Think longer and harder. Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t make it false. (see evolution, stem cells, global warming, spherical earth, etc)


  69. Destroy the DLC Says:

    The next President will not veto.

    Why aren’t we discussing Lebanon?


  70. Max Says:

    Wealthy Americans will stream abroad in the near future to “the developed world” for a cure. Everyone is jealous of us Mericans heeheeheeheeheeheheee


  71. technodaoist Says:

    #61 - Speak for yourself… Oh wait, you ARE…


  72. Amazed Says:

    It’s embarrassing to our country to have such an unintelligent president, who doesn’t even understand the fundamentals of biology.


  73. dlet Says:

    Why aren’t we discussing Lebanon?

    Comment by Destroy the DLC

    Why are there blastocysts to save there too?
    Demented Bush Follower


  74. Bob's Your Uncle Says:

    This is a great thread. The haters crack me up.

    [snip]

    Comment by LMAO — July 19, 2006 @ 3:58 pm

    LMAO,

    Do you hate liberals?


  75. Destroy the DLC Says:

    Amazed — July 19, 2006 @ 4:03 pm

    I honestly plan to stay home in 06 and 08. I vigorously press people to vote independent. And once Bush is gone I will not continue to blog. I, like many Americans, am more involved in the political process because I am deeply ashamed someone that stupid could be our President. It is terribly wrong.


  76. LMAO Says:

    #76 - are you being deliberately obtuse or is that your version of funny?


  77. technodaoist Says:

    #78 Can you answer the question without changing the topic?

    Seems a fairly common tactic of the right, hmm?


  78. LMAO Says:

    #77 - Please don’t stay home! Allen is just like Bush - possibly worse. We need every vote to keep Bush, his clones, and their policies OUT - for good.


  79. dlet Says:

    Anyone on death row should be screaming at the top of their lungs: “You can’t murder me. I am a fully matured blastocyst.” Maybe someone will get the idea.


  80. LMAO Says:

    haters=nasty GOPers like the trolls in this thread. ok?


  81. Destroy the DLC Says:

    I will never vote for Democratic foreign policy. EVER.


  82. Bob's Your Uncle Says:

    LMAO,

    I think I may have misinterpreted your position, and if so, I apologize.


  83. LMAO Says:

    Bob- no prob. I may not have been clear. But for the future - when I say “haters” I think we’re in agreement about the definition.


  84. Bill Gant Says:

    Why aren’t we discussing Lebanon?

    Comment by Destroy the DLC

    Because Arab life is cheap to this administration, and then we wonder why they hate us.


  85. Bill from Dover Says:

    No, No, Mr president. We stem stem the tide, note tied the stem.


  86. Bob's Your Uncle Says:

    LMAO,

    Absolutely!


  87. katy Says:

    this deserves a repost, from the rove thread… my emphasis ;

    Perhaps I’m thinking about this all wrong, but I think Bush’s stance on stem-cell is very consistent with and motivated by his usual support of corporate interests… it doesn’t surprise me at all.

    Here’s what I’m thinking… the data from federally funded research is sort of public domain… the data are published in journals and anyone can take the data and attempt to develop technologies from it…this promotes healthy competition (a small innovative biotech firm can be on an even playing field with a large multinational corporation) and we the people, who foot the bill for the research in the first place, benefit.

    However… if we do not allow federal funds to support stem cell research, the research will be done (and I feel quite confident it is being done as we speak and Bush is stalling) by large corporations with the resources to do this (remember the pharmaceutical companies that this administration has been so supportive of??) Data from that research is proprietary. This allows those companies to develop their own technologies from that data with minimal competition.

    And further with fewer competitors… they probably will get to charge more for whatever technologies they do develop. And that is why Bush has no interest in actually outlawing stem cell research. This is just another example of this administration helping out their corporate buddies. Does this make sense??
    Comment by KirinRain — July 19, 2006 @ 1:41 pm

    yes, of course…


  88. Technodaoist Says:

    #83 Its good to know your vote depends on only one topic. We wouldn’t want to have to think about the implications and complications of all policies…

    And what does foreign policy have to do with this thread anyway? Good job trying to obfuscate and distract… troll.

    The topic at hand is today’s veto - keep to it if you are so keen on just thinking about one topic at a time.


  89. Citizen for Progress Says:

    Just think of where this country would be if Bush hadn’t made it past a stem cell and ended up in an incinerator himself? Oh, the endless possibilities. Let’s get a thinking individual in the White House next term. Ignorance is dragging this country down and putting us years behind the rest of the civilized world.


  90. dsm Says:

    Every speeerm is saaaaacreeed. Eeeeverry speeeerm is gooooddd
    Iiif a speeeerm iissss waaaasteed Gooood geeeet’s quiiiiete iiirate.


  91. nanlichi Says:

    I have acollection of potential boys and girls that are struggling to survive. If one of you religious freaks could please post your home address I will be glad to forward the Kleenex.

    Please give them all a loving home, and be sure and babtize them since they are full of sin until you do.

    Sorry I couldn’t name them all…………..


  92. Citizen for Progress Says:

    This is not about republicans or democrats, it’s about what’s best for humanity. Let’s keep political ideologies out of this and respond as members of the human race. Ignorance, finger pointing, and name calling will not accomplish anything. Is everybody with me on this?


  93. katy Says:

    tony snow 7/18:

    There is nothing that makes embryonic stem cell research illegal. It simply says that the federal government will not finance it.

    As you know, there are ongoing efforts in some states, including, I think, California and Massachusetts, to use state money for it. And I dare say if people think that there’s a market for it, they’re going to support it handsomely.

    The simple answer is he thinks murder’s wrong.”

    there iit is - it ain’t murder if it’s state funded, or if there is a profit!
    INVEST! INVEST!


  94. SortaLikeJake Says:

    What? Nobody thought to distract Bush with something shiny like a flask of vodka? Dammit.


  95. Citizen for Progress Says:

    Murder Wrong? Wait, wasn’t he governor of Texas at one time? Talk about state funded murder. What a hippocrite!


  96. Technodaoist Says:

    #94 I am with you!

    But my desire for rational discussion will not stay the deserved smackdown the ignant trolls deserve. Do not mistake my tolerance, patience, and understanding for weakness.

    Besides, the trolls will say they are with you regardless…

    Wait…

    Nevermind. I’ll just be quiet.


  97. MrBlueSky Says:

    Yeah… they aren’t spare parts… they’re now medical waste, thanks to the moron-in-chief.


  98. Joe Baby Says:

    The general pro-argument here for embryonic stem-cell development is that “Bush is a moron,” “Republicans are anti-science,” and “Iraq was wrong.”

    Sadly, the more intellectual arguments aren’t much better, and tend to skip over the bioethical implications.

    1. Is it right to use human life for our own purposes w/o consent?

    2. How long before embryos are created solely for purposes of destruction?

    3. Would we then justify fetal farming?

    These can all be justified from a utilitarian perspective, however, the dignity of the individual requires us to seriously consider these questions before acting rashly. Note the dilemmas re: organ donations. Could we save more people by paying for organs (or simply taking them)? Of course. Is that the kind of society we want?

    Also note the ethical dilemmas re: the use of research done by Nazi doctors. Many people (and not simply “anti-science” Republicans) objected to the use of this information because it was done on unwilling victims. The thought was that allowing the use of this type of data would encourage future unethical experiments.

    So in closing, yes, Bush may be an idiot and Iraq may be wrong — but are there other reasons to cringe at the thought of creating and experimenting on the form of life that is the first step toward personhood?


  99. borhtej Says:

    The fairy tale crowd hard at work destroying the world! And the chance to cure something as horrible as alzheimer’s thrown out the window.

    That mind set just makes me want to puke. Yeah leave it in gods hands you fools. the fairy tales have done wonders with the environment, world hunger, etc etc….

    I keep forgetting it teaches you not to think !

    BUSH I HOPE YOU GET ALZHEIMER’S


  100. Bob's Your Uncle Says:

    This may be a pretty basic question, but I’ll go ahead and ask it anyway.

    If the Bush administration refuses to provide federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, what’s to stop us from looking elsewhere for the money?


  101. Krazny Says:

    Joe baby,

    the cells in question are not now nor will they ever be capable of independant life, or thought. they don’t have any organs, form, or anything that would define them as anything other then a handful of cells. Under current situations, fetal farming as you put it is unecessary. there are over 400,000 blastoycysts availiable in Fertility clinics, with 90% being unused and eventually destroyed. If you wish to put a stop to in vetro fertilization then do so. You might find a stiff resistance to that idea. The moral arguments that you present, don’t really work in this context. You apply a slippery slope logic, and then talk about nazi’s.

    I realize, that you believe that concieness begins at inception, however science and brain wave monitoring does not carry out your supposition.


  102. LMAO Says:

    So, when our elected REPRESENTATIVES won’t help (read: represent) us, we have to find a rich guy who will… I guess that’s what we’re left with now.


  103. Drew Mackenzie Says:

    Lame Duck

    November


  104. Technodaoist Says:

    #100

    1. Its not “human life”. 40% of all fertilized eggs do not attach to the uterine wall and are flushed during the next muenstral cycle. You are holding our scientists to a standard the “Intelligent Designer” didn’t choose to meet.

    2. They already are. Its called invitrofertilization. Extra ovum are fertilized to help increase to odds of pregnancy. What do you suppose happens to the rest? Are you proposing we stop invitrofertilization?

    3. Wow. You went way out there for that one. I don’t know what could possibly justify “fetal farming”. Except maybe to help boost military recruitment numbers - after all they farm our highschools for 18 year old fetuses every day don’t they?

    You aren’t the only one who can use exaggeration and hyperbole. Discuss it if you are going to discuss it.


  105. katy Says:

    bob’s - see 95


  106. Gene Mc. Says:

    Ok Shrub, read “My Pet Goat” to these boys and girls and let’s see if they have any questions afterwards.


  107. Obie Says:

    I couldn’t believe what Tony Snow said in the White House press conference. He first says Bush believes it is murder to use embryonic stem cells in scientific research. Then he says that embryonic stem cell research isn’t illegal and private companies are allow to do this. So basically, private companies are allow to murder. I believe they, the Bush administration, haven’t figured out a way to privatized the research so that they can make all da money.


  108. katy Says:

    “fetal farming”
    the newest derogatory-intended meme


  109. Ryan Neat Says:

    “The general pro-argument here for embryonic stem-cell development is that “Bush is a moron,” “Republicans are anti-science,” and “Iraq was wrong.” Comment by Joe Baby”

    Those aren’t arguments, those are facts. You NeoCONazis are always too DUMB to tell the difference.

    “1. Is it right to use human life for our own purposes w/o consent? Comment by Joe Baby”

    Life, or cells? Human cells are used all of the time in skin grafts, organ transplants, through blood donations, and elsewhere. Women sign consent forms for embryo tissue just like any other tissue.

    Were you always this RETARDED in your NON-ARGUMENTS, or is because you were drowned in Crack and Meth as a fetus?

    “2. How long before embryos are created solely for purposes of destruction? Comment by Joe Baby”

    Why do you think this doesn’t already happen? There are lots of reproductive studies that occur on artificial embryo fertilization that have no intention of ever being implanted. Oh wait, you were probably so STUPID you didn’t know that - right?

    “3. Would we then justify fetal farming? Comment by Joe Baby”

    Ah the latest LIMBAUGH/ROVE nonsense. Lets respond with several different answers. Although it’s quite obvious you aren’t smart enough to process any of them, I’ll supply them to your dumba$$ person anyway.

    1) Why is farming necessary? Fertility clinics have 200 THOUSAND embryos that will be destroyed if not used already. You prefer to let these be destroyed than to help give life to someone with disease? That’s rather hate filled, short sighted and unchristian of you. DUMBA$$.

    2) Why is it wrong to farm a fetus, if it’s not wrong to create them for fertility clinics knowing that will probably be destroyed? Are you saying that fertility clinics shouldn’t be able operate, and that people should just have to live without artificial implantation?

    3) Why is it even relevant to have this discussion. You’ve never heard of passing a law that limits the quantity and methods of managing fertility clinic embryos? This is all stuff that can easily be legislated. Your DUMBA$$ slipery slope is as irrelevant as you are STUPID, and you’re pretty STUPID, so that should tell you something.

    “Also note the ethical dilemmas re: the use of research done by Nazi doctors. Many people (and not simply “anti-science” Republicans) objected to the use of this information because it was done on unwilling victims. The thought was that allowing the use of this type of data would encourage future unethical experiments. Comment by Joe Baby”

    If you can’t tell the difference between experimenting on a PERSON versus an undifferentiated clump of cells, then you really are one of the world’s biggest dumba$$e$. And you guys are anti-science because you’re stupid, and religious zealot idiots. Heck your own bible says that abortion is nothing more than an assault on property, and it’s only considered a civil crime if it is done by someone as part of an attack on the woman. DUHHH.

    “So in closing, yes, Bush may be an idiot and Iraq may be wrong — but are there other reasons to cringe at the thought of creating and experimenting on the form of life that is the first step toward personhood? Comment by Joe Baby”

    Yes Bush is an idiot, and Iraq was a mistake, but so’s your insane post.

    Actually your sperm is the first step towards personhood, and I bet you flush him down the toilet all of the time without remorse - which by the way is listed as a SIN in the bible, even though abortion isn’t.

    You people are aways so STUPID, don’t you ever read anything other than hate literature?


  110. Redleg Says:

    Joe Baby,
    The more fundamental issue is whether cells in a petri dish constitute human life.


  111. mighty aphrodite Says:

    Judd - you’ll agree you were a cluster of “It’s a cluster of about 150 cells smaller than the period at the end of this sentence,”? Thank goodness Mother Judd wanted children….


  112. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    Joe Baby
    By using your argument, perhaps we should ban organ transplants because someone might try to kill someone for their organs. Nobody is arguing for unrestricted use of embryonic stem cells (hey, progressives/liberals are “accused” all the time about putting restrictions on free enterprise).


  113. Aurore Says:

    Bush seems to think that our soldiers, the people of Iraq and Lebanon are no better than spare parts when it comes to furthering his dreams of world domination. What about all of the boys and girls who have died because of his socipathy?


  114. Technodaoist Says:

    Okay - We’re talking hypotheticals and arguments here…

    We know the ones that may come from “the right”: Hitler, Moral implications, the ever-present “Where does it end?” (see gay rights, immigration, etc) argument (and the answer is IT DOESN’T END)

    We know the ones that may come from “the left”: Disease cures, Gonna be trashed anyway, Capitalism meets corruption, etc.

    Now here’s one from way out in the future (AKA Crazyland) (but not as far as one might think): Immortality or at least the defeat of the Aging ProcessThink of the research that has been hobbled…. The thing people don’t get is that the pace of everything is speeding up. If progess is not made, then you will be Left Behind (all puns intended). I have a feeling I was born 50 years too soon. Too soon to get the hell off this rock… but that’s a different topic.


  115. Paul in LA Says:

    An embryo of that size has no gender for six weeks minimum.

    These embryos could easily be gay — have they thought of that?

    They could be Muslims.

    Poisoning all the children of Iraq with TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TONS of half-strenth Uranium, unpurified water, and lack of refrigeration,

    and then protecting these piles of cells the size of flea eggs.

    That’s par for Bush’s Manchurian Global presidential-implant.

    Somebody should have taken a preemptive ERASER to the GFH Bush pencil dot — saved 100,000s (and now with this veto, millions) of lives.


  116. Pharm Says:

    In nature, these blastocysts are a pre-embryonic state. A blastocyst that grows into an embryo may or may not affix itself to the uteran wall. 40 to 60% of these embryos are lost naturally. If you want to look at it in religious terms, God allows the destruction of 40 to 60% of these embryos, naturally. Therefore, if we are to believe that god is merciful and god is good, these tens of millions of embryos must not be seen as “alive” in the eyes of god.

    In addition, I think if you check Genesis, you will find that man was alive when he first drew breath.

    Comment by Bluedog49 — July 19, 2006 @ 5:06 pm

    Ouch, that’s not going to settle with the zealot religious right!
    Great post, tho


  117. Joe Baby Says:

    Bluedog, see my #100 above.

    Will experimentation end w/ these embryos?

    Or will embryos then be created solely for purposes of destruction, which would technically not violate the first ethical problem?

    And if embryo experimentation is allowed, is fetal farming (Katy, feel free to choose your own language — I just used the language from yesterday’s bill that passed 100-0) also justified in terms of saving lives, or is that seen as unethical, and if so, why?

    And I’d beg to differ w/ the comparison to in vitro. That process creates embryos for purposes of life, not for purposes of destruction. Noted, however, that the in vitro process has put us in the situation we are now — all the more reason, IMO, to think this latest issue through before acting blindly.

    You don’t have to be Pat Robertson to find something special about an embryo. Before our blog-posting days, we all began as an embryo and hung out in a uterus. I guess I have a romantic attachment to same. ;-)

    Again, is there any reason to give us pause on the matter, besides the guy who vetoed it?

    #118

    PLC,

    No, I’m not advocating banning organ transplants — rather, I believe our current managed system of transplant distribution proves my ethical point. That is, we do not have an inane right to use another for our own purposes. As a society we have placed restrictions because the situation w/o restrictions would assuredly be monstrous.


  118. Pharm Says:

    Joe Baby…I have one question.

    Should marital intercourse involve protection? (I’m talking oral contraceptive, condoms, diaphram, “pull out”…etc)


  119. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    If these undifferentiated cells are “human life” then the following civil rights and traditional mores are required:
    1. Tax credit at conception, not birth
    2. “Funeral” at expiration of cells
    3. Term “mother-to-be” only used for woman sexually active and not actually pregnant
    4. Age of people determined from date of conception, not birth
    5. Insurance companies required to provide “life insurance” at conception
    6. Additional welfare payments given to pregnant woman on assistance from the date of conception
    7. Family medical leave act in force from date of conception for any and all medical appointments for both parents to accompany their “child”
    8. Social security numbers assigned at conception
    9. Census data to include blastocysts in count of family members


  120. Joe Sixpack Says:

    So in closing, yes, Bush may be an idiot and Iraq may be wrong — but are there other reasons to cringe at the thought of creating and experimenting on the form of life that is the first step toward personhood?
    Comment by Joe Baby

    I certainly agree with you, Joe. Especially about that “idiot” part. And speaking of personhood I hope you will join with me to insist that all those miscarried embryos are given names, funerals, and at the least, a headstone to mark their passing, instead of having their mothers flush them down the toilet like so much waste.

    And about all those thousands of little sperm-beings that are denied the opportunity to live because only one can fertilize an egg. And its just so sad, really, watching them just being thrown away in a used condom by some backseat, redneck conservative instead of being allowed to reach their full potential.

    Its really heartbreaking, you know?


  121. CalGal Says:

    I just don’t understand. If we don’t use the stem cells in research, they are going to be destroyed anyway. So why is that okay, but not for research? It’s crazy and it drives me crazy that no one asks those idiots that question.


  122. Bob's Your Uncle Says:

    Of the 2,500 or so American troops killed in Iraq, a little over 75% (2,026) were between the ages of 21 and 31. Assuming that each of these individuals was capable of reproducing and bearing one child, their deaths also represent the loss of 2,026 potential human beings.

    I’m wondering if this fact bothers those of you who are troubled by the moral ramifications of embryonic stem cell research.


  123. PLC (PatrioticLiberalChristian) Says:

    No, I’m not advocating banning organ transplants — rather, I believe our current managed system of transplant distribution proves my ethical point. That is, we do not have an inane right to use another for our own purposes. As a society we have placed restrictions because the situation w/o restrictions would assuredly be monstrous. Comment by Joe Baby

    Actually, you proved MY point. You worry about “farming” embryos, as if we can’t have restrictions on getting those embryo stem cells. Further, why don’t we just ask those blastocysts if we can use them for research? (rhetorical, smart-aleck question)


  124. Pharm Says:

    I shall repeat. With the In Vitro process, one “injects” a sperm into “good” eggs. Of the, let’s say, 10 that are “fertilized”, only 2-3 are surgically implanted back in the uterus. The remainin 7 are frozen…to be used to try the procedure again, or to be “flushed”. Why would you defend the veto (for research), and have yet to address the flushing? And if one is against the “flushing”, then I assume, one is against in vitro pregnancies, correct?


  125. The Mahablog » Boys and Girls? Says:

    […] I see that The Decider has issued his first veto. What’s with “these boys and girls are not spare parts”? Boys and girls? […]


  126. Joe Sixpack Says:

    Why would you defend the veto (for research), and have yet to address the flushing? And if one is against the “flushing”, then I assume, one is against in vitro pregnancies, correct?

    Comment by Pharm

    I got an idea. Instead of flushing them, maybe we could insert them into a host. Maybe a monkey or chimp or chicken or something. I mean, the poor little boys and girls Bush mentioned would at least have a chance at being born instead of being being flushed.

    But that would open up another can of worms for the right-to-lifers: who should be allowed to raise them and give them values: the chimps or the state?


  127. jimb Says:

    #113 Joe Baby
    The general pro-argument here for embryonic stem-cell development is that “Bush is a moron,” “Republicans are anti-science,” and “Iraq was wrong.”

    Sadly, the more intellectual arguments aren’t much better, and tend to skip over the bioethical implications.

    1. Is it right to use human life for our own purposes w/o consent?

    2. How long before embryos are created solely for purposes of destruction?

    3. Would we then justify fetal farming?

    The general pro-argument for embryonic stem-cell development is not being expressed here. It’s been expressed ad nauseum elsewhere. Moron Bush and anti-science Republicans don’t get it. Worse, they don’t see how ridiculous it is to obsess over a cluster of cells and at the same time be dismissive of any concern over real honest-to-goodness human lives as innocent men, women, children, senior citizens, toddlers, infants, and even gasp fetuses are being tortured, riddled with bullets, burned alive, and blown to smithereens in Iraq. And all that would not be happening to those Iraqis, there would not have been 6,000 Iraqis killed in the past two months, now up to 100 a day, if it weren’t for moron Bush and those same anti-science Republicans.

    I think the problem is this. Right-wingers are incapable of dealing with real lives. They can only deal with symbols and so-called principles. They can get all whipped up over this concept they have of tiny little humans being harvested for parts, which simply isn’t happening nor is anything like it going to happen. But, at the same time you can’t get them to even think about the real anguish, real intense pain, real heartbreak, and real loss experienced by real people, because those right-wingers aren’t part of the reality-based community.

    Is it right to use human life for our own purposes w/o consent?

    Using an awfully broad brush, aren’t you? That describes an awful lot of things that the right seems very comfortable doing. Use? Human life? Purposes? Without consent? Would you distinguish between “use” and “dispose of”? Would you not consider “dispose of” to be worse than “use”? “Human life” covers a very broad spectrum, not just those little tiny cells you’re so concerned about. Are some purposes better than others or are they all about the same? Which do you think would be a more noble purpose, to help ones favorite corporation make billions of dollars with war profiteering or to try to cure life-threatening and incapacitating diseases? Take your time. And who in the Republican-controlled government asks consent for anything anymore? The president won’t even ask consent from a lapdog Congress when it’s required by the Constitution.

    How long before embryos are created solely for purposes of destruction?

    Where is the demand for embryos and for what purpose? You’re being very selective with your application of the slippery slope. This gets back to that matter of principle vs. real life. You get hung up on symbolism and you’re willing to sacrifice real lives to protect a symbol orto prevent something that is nowhere near an inevitability.

    Would we then justify fetal farming?

    Well that’s just sliding further down the slope. The hypothetical slope. The one that doesn’t exist anywhere right now, unlike the millions of real people whose lives could be saved or whose intense suffering could be relieved by embryonic stem cell research.


  128. Ken Says:

    We have a madman in the White House…

    http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/312

    What is his problem?


  129. WaltTheMan Says:

    Millions of human blastocysts fail to attach to an ovarian wall each day and are thus discarded. Stem cell research is but a dint in this pall of embryonic sacrifice. The only solution is to ban human reproduction and the Bush administration should take immediate action on this problem. Spaying infants at birth, world wide, would solve this problem as well as global warming (In about 120 years, max).


  130. WaltTheMan Says:

    And don’t forget - no more wars.


  131. Jeffrey F. Kohan Says:

    I just hope that someone Bush loves(if he is capable of love) suffers from a disease that can be cured by this research. He can tell his sufering loved one how he protected the frozen embryos.


  132. Mike L Says:

    Breaking news:
    Congress failed to override the veto


  133. Where’s the Outrage? » Lost in Stem Cell Hell Says:

    […] Update:  Bush has used the power of the pen to crush a biparitisan effort to reverse his stem cell policy.  Interestingly, the media was not allowed to photograph or film this great moment in history, his first veto. […]


  134. Mike L Says:

    Jimb… well done. It’s hard work combating manipulative/broad-brush right-wing statements with facts and reason, but it must be done.


  135. katy Says:

    my EPIPHANY:

    go back to #89, read it - i know it’s lengthy, but ya gotta…
    ok?
    it’s all about PRIVITIZATION… PRIVATE INVESTMENTS
    WILL YEILD PRIVATE RETURNS AND PROFITS.

    The WEALTHY will be HEALTHY.

    it’s not about “life”… it’s about profits…


  136. Coffins draped with flags Says:

    Is Bush aware that he will be Cheney’s heart donor?


  137. Six String Ink » Blog Archive » Untitled Says:

    […] I see that The Decider has issued his first veto. What’s with “these boys and girls are not spare parts”? Boys and girls? […]


  138. JudyLou Says:

    Re #140–jimb — July 19, 2006 @ 6:25 pm

    Excellently well put! They can’t argue w/these things b/c it would take too much good sense and some actual thought, not just Faux talking points.

    IMHO, you are correct about the theoretical vs. the actual.


  139. Zooey Says:

    Frozen embryos:

    10% snowflake babies
    90% garbage pail babies

    It’s all good with GWB…


  140. Larry from C Says:

    How sad it is that a moron like George Bush is the one making this decision on such a complex issue. If it wasn’t for his famous last name the toughest decision he’d ever be charged with making is how many ketchup packets to reorder at the Hardee’s he night manages. And I’m not even sure he’s qualified for that job either.


  141. devin Says:

    small collection of cells, yes, mr. bush which is the only amount you operate from.


  142. Zooey Says:

    “These boys and girls are not spare parts.”

    And now, thanks to GWB’s war on terra, thousands of our troops need spare parts.


  143. bones Says:

    OK, let’s turn the arguement around. IF we figure out how to turn adult stem cells - what GW is supporting here - into embryonic stem cells, that is cells that are dedifferentiated to the point that they can recreate any human organ then the Prez is supporting the creation of ARTIFICIAL blstocysts that can be allowed to develop into EMBRYOES. Not possible currently, but the idea that we can produce an omni-potent cell from an adult stem cell means that we can eventually produce artificial embryoes - maybe this Prez is smarter than we give him credit for - artificial neocon manpig warriors without civil rights to fight Iraq.


  144. Everyday Scientist (NotScience) » Bush’s stem cell veto - saving non-existent boys and girls Says:

    […] As a followup to the last post, I thought I’d share an amusing tidbit about Bush’s veto. He explained his veto against the stem cell bill by saying These boys and girls are not spare parts.” The trouble I have with this, is that the embryos used in stem cell research aren’t boys or girls. Embryos used for stem cell research are taken from fertilized embryos that are 1 week old. Source. But embryos don’t develop sex until around the 8th week of gestation. Source. Okay, some of them probably would’ve grown up to be boys and girls, but that doesn’t change the fact that (a) they aren’t currently boys and girls, and (b) many of them are fertility clinic leftovers subject to destruction anyway. If he really wanted to stop destruction of embryos, then maybe he ban fertility clinics. Let’s see how far that gets him. | | […]


  145. Willy Says:

    Save the stem cells and kill the American soldiers and Iraqis. I guess we know where his priorities are. Insanity!


  146. JPark Says:

    The guy is clueless. He is confusing cloning with stem-cell research. I really wish we could elect a guy with a higher IQ than us.


  147. Giacomo Says:

    Uhmmm … guys and gals? Embryonic stem cell research isn’t illegal. Anyone who wants to set up a lab and do it, is perfectlly within their right to do so. Bush’s veto means they can’t get FEDERAL FUNDS to do so … that’s it.

    But … since everyone here has such confidence in the, what was it again, “potential life saving, disease ridding, Grandma no longer forgets who she is” opportunities that embryonic stem cell research affords, I suppose all those horrible drug companies will be lining up to reap the windfall of capital that comes when one can slow or eliminate a disease (you know, like they get from vaccinations (which, shhhh, don’t work)). What’s that … none of them are interested …. but, but, but what about Grandma?

    Excuse my snark folks, but if embryonic stem cell research had all the potential that’s continually stated here and elsewhere, companies would be killing themselves to invest. Do you have any idea how much money they could make with a cure for diabetes? Or Alzheimers? Heck, they don’t even need to cure it … just slow it down … continual income stream!! Funny, and this MIGHT be coincidence, that all the major proponents of embryonic stem cell research are (wait for it) WITHOUT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM ANYONE BUT THE US TREASURY … hmmmmm …

    Follow the money, honey. You liberals have excellent Halliburton sniffers … try this one on for size.


  148. Marie Says:

    Bush, incredibly ignorant. And the worst of it is that he likes being that way.
    I can’t fathom how he will not agree to microscopic cells being used to help living beings, yet he sees the bodies of those killed from his imperialistic folly in Iraq and he can still sleep at night, mistakenly believing he makes wise decisions.
    He’s the “decider” right?


  149. WaltTheMan Says:

    #163 - Marie,
    W does not see the bodies - he ignores and conceals them.


  150. Marie Says:

    Yor’re right - no one is supposed to see the bodies of ours coming home, nor are we supposed to see the bodies of the Iraqis - they’re only “collateral damage.”
    Bush is one deranged madman.


  151. jimb Says:

    #162 Giacomo
    Uhmmm … guys and gals? Embryonic stem cell research isn’t illegal. Anyone who wants to set up a lab and do it, is perfectlly within their right to do so. Bush’s veto means they can’t get FEDERAL FUNDS to do so … that’s it.

    Excellent point! That’s right, it’s not illegal. But, Tony Snow might disagree with you where he says “there is a burgeoning business — as you know, a lot of people getting rich already — in this kind of medical research.” So, it’s not illegal and federal funding isn’t needed, because there are investors out there trying to make a buck.

    What was the other thing Tony Snow said? Oh yeah: “The simple answer is he thinks murder is wrong, and he has said.”

    To sum up, it’s not illegal, investors are making money on it, and it’s murder.

    Umm…okay.


  152. jimb Says:

    #162 Giacomo
    Uhmmm … guys and gals? Embryonic stem cell research isn’t illegal. Anyone who wants to set up a lab and do it, is perfectlly within their right to do so. Bush’s veto means they can’t get FEDERAL FUNDS to do so … that’s it.

    Excellent point! That’s right, it’s not illegal. But, Tony Snow might disagree with you where he says “there is a burgeoning business — as you know, a lot of people getting rich already — in this kind of medical research.” So, it’s not illegal and federal funding isn’t needed, because there are investors out there trying to make a buck.

    What was the other thing Tony Snow said? Oh yeah: “The simple answer is he thinks murder is wrong, and he has said.”

    To sum up, it’s not illegal, investors are making money on it, and it’s murder.

    Umm…okay.


  153. Jay Randal Says:

    Hitler was anti-abortion too, because he wanted babies to grow up to be more soldiers to die as cannon fodder in warfare! Bush does not care about human life at all, so his embryo protection is just to please his extreme far-right goofball supporters!


  154. bones Says:

    162, yes stem cell therapy has that potential. It’s not just Grandma doesn’t forget anymore. It’s regrowth of amputated parts, walking for spinal cord victims, no more diabetes, new livers and lungs and hearts as old ones wear out. It is dementia treatments, no more dialysis, no more cystic fibrosis, it is potentially new bodies for old worn out bodies. Government funding puts dollars into startup costs and defrys costs while no profits are being made, ie the research stage before there is a product to sell. For example, the reason we can drive NY to LA is because of government funding, no company would have spent the money on privately developing a road system like we have, ditto the only reason we have airlines - government bailouts/incentives, ditto electricity in the TVA, ditto family farms - subsudies, etc. When government funding is withheld it delays development, in this case to the tune of the death and suffering of millions.


  155. minvolved.com » Pathetic Says:

    […] From Think Progress:Moments ago, Bush made a statement at the White House discussing why he vetoed a bill expanding funding for embryonic stem cell research. (The media was barred from covering the veto itself.) Bush explained, “these boys and girls are not spare parts.“Boys and girls. […]


  156. unbelievable Says:

    So, it’s not okay to use embryos in medical context to save lives and cure diseases, but it is okay to destroy them so that they cannot be used in medical context to help save lives and cure diseases?

    Bush will meet Karma, as he himself is clearly afflicted with a serious brain disease - stupidity.


  157. God On The Hill (or) It’s Been A Busy Week For The Flock at EHâ„¢// The Chiming Of A Perfect Chord Says:

    […] Bush On Stem Cell Veto: ‘These Boys And Girls Are Not Spare Parts’ […]


  158. Juke Says:

    Well, seeing as how they have XX and XY chromosomes, they are definitley male and female. Whether you want to say boy or girl, that’s up to you.


  159. Anais Says:

    I see Americans have rushed to adopt these embryos. About 400,000 frozen embryos are out there, and fewer than 200 have been adopted out. That’s 5 100ths of a percent!
    If they are going to end up incinerated or in a landfill, wouldn’t it be kinder for them to help another human being?
    Oh, wait, I forgot: this is the administration that dealt so kindly with Katrina victims, soldiers in need of proper armor, Angela Merkel’s personal space, etc. etc.


  160. Bee Says:

    #163, Bush isn’t the decider, Cheney is!


  161. Cyra Brown Says:

    Haven’t we all learned by now, that whatever BushCo says, the EXACT opposite is true. What really happens to the superfluous fertilized eggs was not even addressed. GWB called them “unique Human life… with matchless dignity…” that they then throw in the trash. Those who support GWB also seem to ignore that aspect as well. And it is not that stemcell research cannot be done, it is that the Federal Government will not provide any money for it. This Administration has been privatizing everything they possibly can, for the last 5 1/2 years. Just look to Iraq for the examples of that. Every decision is based on not what is best for America, but how to profit from it. This is no different. ‘Big Pharma’s’ fingerprints are all over this one. CURE diseases?!? Where is the profit in that? Unless of course, they own the ‘cure’. Recently, it was revealed that the Federal Government had approved the testing of a ‘Blood substitute’ being developed by a pharmaceutical company. The only problem was that they did not tell the patients that they were being experimented on. And THAT was what had been approved by the Government. After this became public, the programs were ’suspended’. The error that Bush supporters continue to make, sadly, is to believe that BushCo really cares about them, and shares their values. They don’t, and they never will. They will just have Frank Luntz out there, polling ‘focus groups’ to find the most persuasive way of phrasing something, to maximize the emotional appeal. It is ALL about the money. The only ‘Almighty’ they worship is the ‘Almighty Dollar’. That pretty much sums it all up. All decisions are made by finding out how best to profit from it. Tragic.