Senate Stem Cell Showdown - Will Allen Flip Flop Again?

By: Lowell
Published On: 6/30/2006 5:31:04 AM

According to the Washington Post, the U.S. Senate is about to vote "on a package of bills that would loosen President Bush's five-year-old restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research."  The Post also reprts that the legislation is likely to pass, as it did in the House, setting up "the first full-blown showdown between the [Congress] and the president." 

It will be very interesting to see whether President Bush stands firm on his opposition to research that Americans support by a 2:1 margin.  It will also be VERY interesting to see what George Felix Allen does on this, considering his many flip flops on the issue. 

Allen, it seems, supported embryonic stem cell research from 2001 through last year, when he said, "If nothing happens on stem cells, it's not the end of the world."  The California Cowboy also said that "he would vote against the bill" by Republican Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) to provide federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

So, what is it George and George?  Research to cure horrible diseases like Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Juvenile Diabetes, anc cancer?  Or protection of 5-day-old clumps of cells (around 60), known as "blastocysts?"  Here's something for George Allen to keep in mind as he ponders the issue from Iowa or wherever he happens to be at the moment (assuming he's not too bored with it, that is).  In 2004, former first lady Nancy Reagan came out strongly in favor of stem cell research, saying:

I just don't see how we can turn our backs on this... We have lost so much time already. I just really can't bear to lose any more.

Mrs. Reagan added that stem cell research "may provide our scientists with many answers that for so long have been beyond our grasp."

The question is, do people like George Felix Allen "grasp" this concept or not?  Will "Felix" flip this time or will he flop on the issue?  It should be entertaining to watch, if nothing else.

Comments



I say Allen will come out against embryonic stem cell (summercat - 6/30/2006 8:19:39 AM)
research.  He is desperate for support from the Pat Robertson crowd.  What about a little poll on this?


Allen will definitely be against (William - 6/30/2006 9:45:49 AM)
the Republican caucus will fight this with a two-pronged strategy:

a) they'll ask for "proof" that embryonic stem cell research has gotten us anywhere,
b) then trot out adult stem-cell research, talk about the advances made through that (cord blood, etc), and line up behind adult rather than embryonic.

We've seen this debate already - they did it a couple months ago.  "Jesus" Brownback and others will lead the charge - they've got the speeches already written.

Allen will fall in line, as he seemingly always does.