The Big Picture - by Jeff Eisen

the Stem Cell Page

time and ignorance are the enemies

The Big Picture

October 10, 2006

Here in Missouri, the debate over Amendment 2 has become fierce.

A Catholic publication quoted one opposition spokesperson, Robert Onder, as purporting that supporters of Amendment 2 are “lying.”

Never mind that opponents continue to scream that Amendment 2 mandates tax dollars, when it doesn’t even ask for any. Never mind that every time opponents challenged in the courts that the “ban on human cloning” language was deceptive, the judges disagreed with them. And never mind that Amendment 2 opponents continue to hawk a list of 65 to 75 diseases “successfully treated” by adult stem cells, though that list was discredited in a peer reviewed scientific journal.

In fact, when Michael J. Fox made the news during his recent visit to St. Louis (to stump for Claire McCaskill, embryonic stem cell supporter and Missouri senate candidate), Pam Fichter of Missouri Right to Life chided him with the same ‘ditto head’ talking point, but with her own addition. On the news that night she said, “Adult stem cells are successfully treating 70 diseases - including Parkinson’s!” If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was the value of news video of Fichter making that comment, juxtaposed against the image of Fox’s body spasms? Could anyone ever be more insensitive - let alone more wrong?

But the snowcap atop this mountain of offenses is the infamous Alan Keyes commentary. You remember, he’s the guy that publicly warned that if you support Amendment 2, “God hates you.”

Fierce.

With so much shouting, it’s easy to get caught in the quagmire of the present. But let’s just take a step back and scan the stem cell horizon.

Amendment 2 will ensure that stem cell research, therapies and cures remain legal in Missouri, but only to the extent of federal law. So when was the last time you considered how federal law might be reflected here?

Let’s review…

Jim Talent was a co-sponsor of Sam Brownback’s bill to restrict all types of cloning – whether reproductive and therapeutic. While everyone agrees we don’t want to see babies cloned, it would also outlaw SCNT. Talent had no problem with this.

But then he learned about altered nuclear transfer, or ANT. ANT produces an embryo genetically pre-treated to cripple the development of the trophoblast, the outer ring of cells that would otherwise develop into a placenta – the part that would normally implant in the uterus. It produces a disabled embryo.

Somehow, Talent connected the dots that if the embryo is disabled and can’t implant, then it’s not a “life” by his personal definition. But the fact is that the disabled embryo is completely curable.

I know what you’re thinking: How does a “pro-life” candidate say that manifested with the presence of a disability, the embryo is not a life – particularly if it’s curable? Good question. Someone should ask Mr. Talent. (For the record, I’ve tried but he’s never responded to me.)

My first guess was that he just didn’t know it was curable. Now, I’m not so sure. After all, he used the ANT method as his reason to withdraw his co-sponsorship of Brownback’s anti-cloning bill. If Talent believes ANT isn’t cloning, why would an anti-cloning bill place it at any risk? And if it is cloning, why would he say he’s “always against cloning” and then support it?

Clearly this is a political smokescreen and, in the end, Talent’s flip-flop on this bill means we really don’t know where he might land.

But we do know that he opposes Amendment 2. He gave us his reason: “I’ve always opposed human cloning.” Hmmm. Then why not support Brownback’s bill and ban it? And if you don’t like his version, why not write your own? After all, Amendment 2 will ultimately be limited to whatever restrictions are placed on the research at the federal level. So who better than a U.S. Senator to propose such restrictions, especially one who purports to have the perfect solution in ANT?

Now fast forward to HR810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. In this case, we also know exactly where Talent landed. Talent voted “NO,” and he supported the first and only presidential veto of the Bush administration to kill it. HR810 had strong bi-partisan support in the senate. The vote was 63 to 37 - four votes shy of a “veto-proof” two-thirds super majority.

Four votes – and Missouri can be one that changes from No to Yes.

In the long term, assuming an Amendment 2 victory in Missouri, HR810 is the real prize. This bill would open the door for NIH funding toward the creation of new embryonic stem cell lines. These new lines would come solely from leftover embryos at IVF clinics that would otherwise be incinerated as medical waste. And with new techniques, they can be produced without mouse feeder cells as cultures, which means they could be viable for human clinical trials, unlike the current NIH lines which aren’t.

So as approach this election, let’s support Amendment 2, but let’s also make certain we maintain visibility of the entire stem cell horizon:

Jim Talent opposes embryonic stem cell research.

Jim Talent opposes SCNT research.

Jim Talent opposes Amendment 2.

Jim Talent voted against HR810.

Jim Talent will continue to hinder stem cell research as long as he’s senator.

On the other hand…

Claire McCaskill supports embryonic stem cell research.

Claire McCaskill supports SCNT research.

Claire McCaskill supports Amendment 2, and

Claire McCaskill supports the reintroduction of HR810.

Claire McCaskill will support stem cell research as long as she’s senator.

McCaskill was named a Stem Cell Champion by the Coalition of Stem Cell Research Supporters. Once nominated, a candidate must meet three criteria. These candidates must…

1. Have been strongly and vocally supportive of embryonic stem cell research

2. Have opponents who have not been supportive

3. Have a real chance of winning - with our help

We in the stem cell advocacy community need to do all we can to get Claire elected. Put up signs. Talk up the issue. And right now – right now – make a contribution to Claire’s campaign. Unfortunately, Jim Talent has much more money. The President has headlined four fundraisers for Talent in Missouri and Claire’s war chest is a small fraction of Talent’s. And as we all know - and all too well - the media blitz is about to begin. We need to give Claire the best chance to win.

I’m asking you to donate whatever you can afford to Claire’s campaign. And what better place to do that than the Stem Cell Champions web page? Click on the link…

www.actblue.com/page/stemcells

Once you’re there, just scroll down until you Claire’s picture and make your contribution.

Want to create a stem cell veto-proof senate? Then send a contribution to Claire - and do it now.

Don’t lose sight of the “big picture.”

- Jeff Eisen

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