Romney: Stem-Cell Solution Is In Reach

National Review Online: Breakthroughs Allow For Progress Without Crossing Ethical Boundaries

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Mitt Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and a Republican presidential candidate.

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Late last week, two developments involving stem-cell research offered a sharp contrast between the great strengths of American biomedical science and the terrible weakness of Washington politics.

First, on Wednesday, we learned that researchers in Massachusetts, building on prior accomplishments by colleagues in Japan, had managed to transform regular skin cells into the equivalent of embryonic stem cells in mice. Their work points to a way to produce cells with the qualities scientists value about embryonic stem cells — but without the need to create, harm, or destroy human embryos, and therefore without ethical or political controversy.

But then, on Thursday, the Congress passed a bill that would for the first time use taxpayer dollars to encourage the destruction of embryos for research. Just as it is becoming increasingly clear that scientific ingenuity could offer a way around the divisive controversies of the stem-cell debate, congressional Democrats are working to stoke those very controversies. They have opted to exacerbate what they see as a political debate that works in their favor, rather than encourage a scientific solution that would work in America’s favor.

When I was governor of Massachusetts, my state wrestled with the stem-cell debate and I confronted many of the same issues now being debated in Washington. I carefully listened to all sides, and came to reject the idea that the exploration of stem cells had to come into conflict with America’s commitment to the dignity of human life.

Some advocates told me that only the creation of human embryos for purposes of experimentation, otherwise known as cloning, could help them better understand and perhaps someday treat a series of dreaded diseases. But they ignored the importance of protecting human equality, dignity, and life. Opposing advocates told me that the pluripotency of stem cells — their ability to become a very wide variety of different cell types — would not be of great therapeutic value, and that other sources of tissues and cells could serve the same purpose. But they ignored the unique role pluripotent cells could play in basic science.

Couldn't the strongest part of each side's argument — the utility of pluripotent cells on the one hand and the importance of protecting human life on the other — be brought together? I studied the issue for many months, and entered into conversation with experts from across the nation who were looking for consensus solutions, like Stanford's Dr. William Hurlbut. In the end, I became persuaded that the stem-cell debate was grounded in a false premise, and that the way through it was around it: by the use of scientific techniques that could produce the equivalent of embryonic stem cells but without cloning, creating, harming, or destroying developing human lives.

A number of such techniques have begun to emerge in recent years, and as last week's exciting scientific publications showed, some of the world's best stem-cell scientists are hard at work bringing them to fruition. Moreover, two of these techniques, Altered Nuclear Transfer and Direct Reprogramming could produce patient-specific stem-cell lines for the study of diseases. Our government should encourage and support these scientific developments rather than undermining the effort to find a solution. Finding cures to diseases using methods that uphold ethical principles and sustain social consensus should be the objective of America's approach to stem-cell research.

Rather than looking for such solutions, however, the Democrats in Congress have decided to turn back the clock and pass a bill that only sets research and ethics at odds, a bill they know will be vetoed by President Bush. This familiar Washington approach to controversial issues is just wrong. On matters of such significance, we should try to bring the country together, not further divide it.

Support for ethical biomedical research should be part of our collective identity as a noble society. Instead of turning the quest for cures into a partisan battle, Congress should embrace the exciting emerging lines of research that could meet the goals of all sides in the stem-cell debate. A bill to support just such a positive approach to stem cell research passed the Senate in April by a whopping margin of 70 to 28. But the House Democratic leadership, choosing politics over the prospect of consensus on science, appears to be unwilling even to allow a vote on that hopeful legislation.

It is time to move beyond typical Washington politics, and offer support for stem-cell research techniques that bring science and ethics together to promote life, protect life, and save lives.

[jacksteen1]

CBS and the other news organizations continue to try to make this mormon zealot palatable to the American public, when it is clearly NOT POSSIBLE.

His mormon 'religion,' which is actually as much a cult as scientology and Werner Erhardt's long-buried 'est,' is not acceptable as a choice for thinking, adult Americans.

The mormon cult runs the state of Utah, and nominally runs Arizona as well. They are inbred Yellowhammers, unsuitable for public office, who breed with their own daughters and granddaughters to foster a cult that strives to take over the earth. Space aliens populate both the mormon and scientologist 'biblical texts,' written by rural rube ignoramuses fueled by rum, pills, or pressures of bankruptcy.

I sincerely hope the Republishit Party selects this cross-eyed example of what inbreeding does to a race of white people...it will then signal the end of Republicunt Party power for at leat the next 20 years.

"Yes Ma'am, Madame President Clinton!"

[sjc_1]

ubrew,

That is basically it. It is a sort of slight of hand trick. Pay attention to what I have shown you in this hand so I get your attention off of the other hand.

PNGV program from Clinton/Gore with 70 mpg hybrids in 1999, became the Freedom Car with hydrogen 30 years down the road.

Don't look for solutions now that will reduce the profits of my friends. Play right into our hands so that we can wring even more money out of you for even longer periods of time.

[ubrew12]

"The idea is to believe that this is the way, so forget about other proven ways that have brought progress. This may be convenient for politicians but bad for medical science....To abandon fetal stem cell research is to delay progress and prolong the suffering..." Posted by sjc_1 at 01:01 PM : Jun 16, 2007

Reminds me of Bush saying he would put research funds into Hydrogen technology, still decades away, to counter calls for higher gas mileage today. Or saying he opposed the G8 plan to combat Global Warming because he was 'studying' a better plan.

It's divide and conquer, thats all. Designed to mollify valid scientific concerns yet prevent anything from changing in the status quo. Mitt knows these technologies are in the realm of science fiction: thats why they are safe to promote.

The Whitewater investigations did not produce any evidence of wrong doing. Obviously, if Ken Starr could have found something, he would have splashed all over the media for everyone to know about. The truth actually lies in another direction...Whitewater was a baseless witch hunt blown up by the GOP to discredit Clinton.

[soldat44]

You don't like liars huh? So I guess that means you won't vote for Hillary then...she lied about travelgate, whitewater, 100,000 made in the market, the list goes on and on. Or, does the fact that there's a "D" behind her name cancel all of that out?
Posted by katg21 at 12:17 PM : Jun 16, 2007

You are so right!! Hillary is not even on my playcard.

Here, check this out about mormons:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/192320
05/

Have a great day!

Whatever is expedient is Romney's style; he is a political willow bowing and scraping in the right-wing winds. Here he is kowtowing to the religious right of the Republican party. It has been taken over by these forces and Romney, if elected, will be just like Bush...placating the religious right at the expense of the rest of America, even to further blurring the separation of church and state.
As far as stem cells go, we should use whatever is the most viable material, not spend unnecessary resources trying to develop some half-baked substitute that probably will not work as well.

[sjc_1]

If there was clear evidence that this would work, I think most people would favor it, but there is not. It is in very early stages with some indications in mice.

The idea is to believe that this is the way, so forget about other proven ways that have brought progress. This may be convenient for politicians but bad for medical science.

To abandon fetal stem cell research is to delay progress and prolong the suffering of so many.

Fetal stem cells allow scientists to get right to the cure. After they find the cure, then maybe this will be another method to get the stem cells.
Do both of these in parallel, but this suggests an either/or kind of thinking.

Promoting this over the proven methods would lead to very long delays or even complete failure, the risk is too great.

[perception5]

perception5 liking Romney should tell all you folks out there something! They guy is another right wing wacko!
Posted by grumpas at 09:45 AM : Jun 16, 2007

Dear grumpas, did I mention that the people of Massachusetts, the bluest state in the Union, elected Mitt as their Governor.

Your statement flies in the face of the facts..

Mitt's father was a very popular (3) term Governor of Michigan. Mitt's roots are in the Mid-West...........and he will make a GREAT PRESIDENT for ALL Americans.

grumpas, we need to start getting away from the "old" sterotypes if this country is to be pulled back "together" again.

Let's elect the "best" candidate ........not the one that just has a "D" behind their name....

Have a nice day.

[katg21]

He lied to get the gov job! He said he was pro-life then pro-choice. He is a PHONY!


Posted by soldat44 at 09:22 AM : Jun 16, 2007

You don't like liars huh? So I guess that means you won't vote for Hillary then...she lied about travelgate, whitewater, 100,000 made in the market, the list goes on and on. Or, does the fact that there's a "D" behind her name cancel all of that out?

[grumpas]

perception5 liking Romney should tell all you folks out there something! They guy is another right wing wacko!

[soldat44]

Mitt is by FAR the BEST candidate running for president from EITHER party hands down.

Mitt has the MOST cross-functional experience and is extremely "grounded" as an individual.

Mitt is pretty much a "moderate conservative" which is pretty much where most of Americans are today.

There's no question that he could lead America "forward" after all Mitt's the former Governor of the Bluest state in the Union.
Posted by perception5 at 07:16 AM : Jun 16, 2007

He lied to get the gov job! He said he was pro-life then pro-choice. He is a PHONY!

[soldat44]

Working at the National Institutes of Health and Harvard on Stem Cells specifically mammary stem cells we too have completed similar research. We have found that stem cells in the adult body, i.e. blood stem cells, mammary stem cells, or liver stem cells are able to "turn" into other stem cells. This is called stem cell plasticity and has been cited in numerous top tier journals such as Nature, Science, and Cell.

It is sad that the reputation of embryonic stem cells has out lived the science to the point of national funding.

The time one becomes "alive" during embryogenesis should not be debateable; when the simpliest of single celled organisms, the bacteria is classified as life, than why not a single celled human.

Posted by jjplant at 09:38 PM : Jun 15, 2007

God bless.

[perception5]

"Rather than looking for such solutions, however, the Democrats in Congress have decided to turn back the clock and pass a bill that only sets research and ethics at odds, a bill they know will be vetoed by President Bush. This familiar Washington approach to controversial issues is just wrong. On matters of such significance, we should try to bring the country together, not further divide it." - MITT

....... Very well said......it is time to STOP playing politics with EVERY issue in order for POLITICAL GAIN ONLY. That's exactly why the American people only give this Congress a 23% approval rating.

Mitt is by FAR the BEST candidate running for president from EITHER party hands down.

Mitt has the MOST cross-functional experience and is extremely "grounded" as an individual.

Mitt is pretty much a "moderate conservative" which is pretty much where most of Americans are today.

There's no question that he could lead America "forward" after all Mitt's the former Governor of the Bluest state in the Union.

[jsilver2th]

Thanks Mitt- it's always great to know what your position is this week.

[jjplant]

Working at the National Institutes of Health and Harvard on Stem Cells specifically mammary stem cells we too have completed similar research. We have found that stem cells in the adult body, i.e. blood stem cells, mammary stem cells, or liver stem cells are able to "turn" into other stem cells. This is called stem cell plasticity and has been cited in numerous top tier journals such as Nature, Science, and Cell.

It is sad that the reputation of embryonic stem cells has out lived the science to the point of national funding.

The time one becomes "alive" during embryogenesis should not be debateable; when the simpliest of single celled organisms, the bacteria is classified as life, than why not a single celled human.

[ubrew12]

Romney: "Their work points to a way to produce cells with the qualities scientists value about embryonic stem cells %u2014 but without the need to...destroy human embryos"
And what are these qualities, Romney? Namely, the quality of being fertilized, ie a complete DNA complement, therefore capable of growing, in the proper environment, into people.

Anyone who claims he's going to grow you a new liver with partial-DNA cells is lying to you. Romney should know that the most useful aspect of stem cells is their complete DNA complement, without which they are incapable of growing in a 'human' fashion.

Romney: "the Democrats in Congress have decided to turn back the clock" Man, that is just too rich for words...

[soldat44]

Here's a really good mormon story for ya':
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19232005/

[marcodele]

Many liberals oppose abortion, especially partial birth, and many conservative republicans are pro-choice.

Dichotomous reasoning does no debate any good.

[marcodele]

I'm sure Barbara Bush, who is pro-choice, wishes she had had at least one abortion.

Romney is a pandering hack. He might as well run on a "Puppies Are Cute" platform.

[dvsden]

--Who knows, maybe the liberals have finally grasped that their collective abortions have severely depleted their ranks of voting stock and the embryonic-.... blah blah blah whatever dude.
If you think that only liberals have abortions, you are completely full of it. Most of the women I know who admitted to abortions were conservative or grew up in conservative, even Catholic, households.
You wanna know why so few children have Downs Syndrom anymore? Because over 80% of unborn children who are diagnosed with it are aborted. Do you think only Liberals abort children with Downs Syndrome if the numbers are that high?
I guess that conservative view abortion as evil unless it is one of their children that is going to grow up with a severe handicap, or one of their teenage daughters that gets raped, etc.