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October 07, 2007
Hillary Issues “Stinging Critique”
by Tina Grazier
Oooooo!
Clinton Says She Would Shield Science From Politics
NY Times, by PATRICK HEALY and CORNELIA DEAN
In a stinging critique of Bush administration science policy, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York said yesterday that if she were elected president she would require agency directors to show they were protecting science research from “political pressure” and that she would lift federal limits on stem cell research. *** “When science is politicized, it is worse than wrong,” she said in the interview. “It is dangerous — dangerous for our democracy.”
Every time they want to make her look like a strong female leader (like Margaret Thatcher) they feature her issuing a “stinging critique.” Interesting that she wants to "require agency directors to show they were protecting science research". No personal responsibility in that statement.
Now, try picturing Hillary Clinton keeping her nose out of any business. I know...I know, the picture in your mind is all fuzzy and dark like some old Polaroid shot from the fifties. No matter how hard you try you just can’t make out the image.
President Bush's policy only limits government funded research that was already approved before he took office. He has also issued an order to ensure ethical guidelines. This kind of "political pressure" is appropriate since we do have government funded research. We don’t want scientist doing experiments from a black market stem cell pool. Imagine women being used to create such a pool of aborted babies...talk about forced labor. But, and this is the key,Bush's policy does not limit private research. President Bush believes research belongs in the private sector where scientists are free to direct the research and will be held accountable and responsible for it.
The notion of "private" business and research isn't in the Hillary Clinton palybook, however. She sees government as the road that leads to all things. So isn't she just saying to the stem cell community, vote for me and I'll get you a pile of taxpayer cash?
The following is representative of the kind of political pressure the former First Lady is against. It’s from the National Institutes for Health (NIH).
http://stemcells.nih.gov/
On August 9th, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that federal funds may be awarded for research using human embryonic stem cells if the following criteria are met:
The derivation process (which begins with the destruction of the embryo) was initiated prior to 9:00 P.M. EDT on August 9, 2001.
The stem cells must have been derived from an embryo that was created for reproductive purposes and was no longer needed.
Informed consent must have been obtained for the donation of the embryo and that donation must not have involved financial inducements.
The following link to the related Executive Order is also available from the NIH website:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-3112.htm
The President issued Executive Order 13435 on June 20, 2007. The order, “Expanding Approved Stem Cell Lines in Ethically Responsible Ways,” includes the following:
…stem cells derived by ethically responsible techniques so that the potential of pluripotent stem cells can be explored without violating human dignity or demeaning human life, it is hereby ordered as follows:
…shall conduct and support research on the isolation, derivation, production, and testing of stem cells that are capable of producing all or almost all of the cell types of the developing body and may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, but are derived without creating a human embryo for research purposes or destroying, discarding, or subjecting to harm a human embryo or fetus.
Sounds "dangerous", I guess, to someone with little concern for human dignity and life beyond one's own personal needs and wants.
Hillary Clinton, if I can read between the lines of her "stinging critique", would fund most, if not all, stem cell research. She would do it with government taxpayer money. A policy to offer tax payer funding, however, would bring with it the power to control, restrict, and regulate research and would place all power to decide who will receive funding (and who will not) with the government.
So much for shielding scientists from political pressure...and what of ethical standards? Certainly as president she would be required to make at least a “pretense” of setting an ethics standard. Perhaps her ethical policy would resemble the Roe v. Wade decision…pressure and control in the form of a feminist demand for results “her way”! Oh dear, that would definitely constitute political pressure. Better to just keep the Bush policy...never mention it. That way if it's ever questioned she can just blame him. Ha! The perfect solution.
This woman is fooling no one, she wants her thumb firmly planted on everything! And as for her critique…it’s either disingenuous or highly irresponsible, but stinging? I'll let you decide.
Posted by Post Scripts at October 7, 2007 05:51 PM