President Barack Obama will lift his predecessor’s restriction on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research on Monday and will give the National Institutes of Health four months to come up with new rules on the issue.
Obama will not lay out guidelines himself but will let the NIH decide when it is ethical and legal to pay for embryonic stem cell research, science adviser Dr. Harold Varmus said.
Researchers and advocates have been invited to a White House ceremony at which Obama will make the announcement, said Melody Barnes, director of Obama’s domestic policy council. He will also sign a pledge to “restore scientific integrity in governmental decision making,” Barnes said.
“And the president believes that it’s particularly important to sign this memorandum so that we can put science and technology back at the heart of achieving a broad range of national goals.”
Former President George W. Bush was accused by scientists and politicians of injecting politics and sometimes religion into scientific decisions regarding not only stem cells, but climate change policy, energy policy and contraceptive policy.
Barnes said scrapping the restriction on federal funding imposed by Bush would help to create jobs and strengthen national security.
How’s this for an earthshaking precedent in American politics? Letting scientists lead the way for policy on science.
And now that embryos may not be required, what will the Religious “Right” say?
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090227/stem_cells_090228/20090301?hub=TopStories
“How’s this for an earthshaking precedent in American politics? Letting scientists lead the way for policy on science.” /// On the more basic and fundamental level, this issue will be controlled by Congress and how much it funds the research/applications.
I’m actually curious as to how “the President” can deny/implement a Congressional law in the evident way it can be?
The President is to enforce the laws, not turn them off and on like a water spout.
Where was our do nothing Congress during these scientific waste years? — Nevermind. —-
# 2 bobbo said, “Where was our do nothing Congress during these scientific waste years? — Nevermind. —-”
Actually, nothing was wasted. Funding was occurring to the degree doctors & scientists thought the area was potentially exploitable.
What is so “good” in letting (appointed) beaurocrats decide where my taxes go ? Please enlighten me how is that not generating corruption, waste and bribery.
Change has come.
We will now allow scientists to chart the course on scientific research.
On the downside, Bush appointed Merlin the Wizard will lose his job.
I’m sure liberals will not inject politics into science with regards to global warming or social science research, like investigating differences between races.
Too bad at it’s core there is a contradiction in terms as “restore scientific integrity” is not equal or greater than “National Institutes of Health” and it’s head Nazi like dictator, Anthony Fauci.
According to the NIH description:
“Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, a native of Brooklyn, New York, received his M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1966. He then completed an internship and residency at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. In 1968, Dr. Fauci came to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a clinical associate in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation (LCI) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). In 1980, he was appointed Chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, a position he still holds. In 1984, Dr. Fauci became Director of NIAID, where he oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria and illness from potential agents of bioterrorism. NIAID also supports research on transplantation and immune-related illnesses, including autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies. The NIAID budget for fiscal year 2008 is approximately $4.4 billion. Dr. Fauci serves as one of the key advisors to the White House and Department of Health and Human Services on global AIDS issues, and on initiatives to bolster medical and public health preparedness against emerging infectious disease threats such as pandemic influenza.”
But that is not equal or greater than many other views, here is one:
“As an AIDS activist, I am notifying you of serious breaches of ethical guidelines by the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), Dr. Anthony Fauci, M.D. This complaint isn’t about personalities or superficial public perceptions, but rather something much more insidious: an institutional breakdown in ethics that has concentrated far too much power, authority and blind trust in the hands of a single individual, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Without any doubt, the facts will prove that Dr. Fauci has broken the rules, Dr. Fauci has violated our trust and Dr. Fauci has compromised the most fundamental principles of scientific ethics and integrity.”
http://tmh.floonet.net/articles/varmus.shtml
We’ve already seen the left’s actions when they had the EPA conduct a review of scientific studies and declare that second-hand smoking was proven to link to higher rates of various diseases, when in fact they had to change the definition of ‘statistically significant’ to do so.
Who knew that ‘letting scientists set scientific policy’ is the same as giving them all the money they ask for?
I’m sure you have no objections to letting them set policy with regards to GM food?
How about creating their own full-size humans ala The Matrix or The Island?
Terrific!
Next step: human life cloning.
Get read for multiple John Dvorak’s all over the net.
“How’s this for an earthshaking precedent in American politics? Letting scientists lead the way for policy on science.”
Let them pay with their own money…
It’s funny, would you make that inane comment about the IVF guy screening embryos for cosmetic traits?
This whole “issue” has been made moot by technology now that stem cells can be collected from adults and differentiated cells can be induced back to stem cells. There is no reason to use human embryonic stem cells, so the ethical issue can be sidestepped altogether.
The only reason it goes on is because certain parties want to do Frankenstein experiments with human embryos on the federal dime, and the Christianists are too stupid to understand the science. It’s a tremendous waste of energy.
There was never a ban on stem cell research.
The ban was for federal funding on the research.
Private individuals and companies were free to spend as much of their own money doing anything they wanted.
A new method to create stem cells from non-embryonic tissue has since been developed.
Would this scientific breakthrough have occurred if there was no federal funding ban? Necessity is the mother of invention.
From AP: President Barack Obama says human cloning is “dangerous, profoundly wrong” and has no place in society.
I just want to know: who say’s? What’s his standard? I’m sure others around the world will disagree.
#14 I didn’t know Obama was a scientist…
Of course he is. He’s the smartest president ever, with 2nd place being Clinton and 3rd being nuclear physicist Jimmy Carter.
Eideard said, “How’s this for an earthshaking precedent in American politics? Letting scientists lead the way for policy on science.”
It would be if it was true. As you can see with the cloning thing, O’Mama doesn’t seem quite ready yet…
# 8 MikeN said,…….. change the definition of ’statistically significant’ to do so
Nope, ‘statistically significant’ has always been able to be used as a ‘weasel word’.. it means “larger than the degree of error (in the statistical study)”.
J/P=?
The Lyin’ Mike and Cow-Paddy Show. True Republicans showing their intelligence. Too bad they aren’t funny enough to have a conservative radio show.
Bush stacked the panels for health and science. He put drop outs in charge of NASA. It is now time to return science back to the scientists.
Obama said “we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society.”
LOL
Way to let the scientists decide. Obamabots at a loss.
Scientists will lead policy decisions and the Prez will decide policy. Maybe too subtle for some of you?
Might not be a perfect solution, but it sure beats the hell out of letting voices in George’s head determine policy.
“Letting scientists lead the way for policy on science.”
You mean kinda like they’ve always done, except without the nanny state ‘tude that the tax payers cough up the dough for whatever is on the Xmas list? – no matter how bereft the results of certain long term pursuits turn out to be?!
Bonus round: Adult stem cell research VS embryonic stem cell research. Which avenue ~after 30 years of research~ has yielded NO, NONE, ZERO, ZIP, NADA, NYET, ABSOLUTE GOOSE EGGS worth of successfully applied medical procedures which benefit patients??
Hint: ADULT stem cell research has produced DOZENS of viable patient treatments, and the pluripotency of adult stem cell prove more stable in laboratory manipulation than the embryonic – with far greater results.
I’d say ‘real science’ goes with success, not demagogued political expediency.
And Obama says “dump other people’s money down a rat hole!”
How’s this for an earthshaking precedent in American politics? Letting scientists lead the way for policy on science.
Does anyone here disagree that a scientist could find some scientific justification for attaching a living human head to a dog?
RBG
# 21 Olo Baggins of Bywater said, “Scientists will lead policy decisions and the Prez will decide policy. Maybe too subtle for some of you?”
ROFL! Just like Bush.
#24, Cow-Paddy, Ignorant Shit Talking Sociopath, Retired Mall Rent-A-Cop, Pretend Constitutional Scholar, Fake California Labor Law Expert, Pseudo Military Historian, Phony Climate Scientist, Leading Troll Extraordinare, Asstrologist, and President of the “I Hate America Club”
ROFL! Just like Bush.
Nope. There your hero tried to influence all aspects of science, including all those reports from scientists in the field.
Why do you hate America?
# 15 Paddy-O said:
I didn’t know Obama was a scientist…
# 16 MikeN said,
Of course he is. He’s the smartest president ever,
Science is math, physics, chemistry and such.
Since when studying Law has anything to do with science? (beside using its products)
Memorizing laws and rules doesn’t require much thinking, just good memory.
Juris Doctor is not equal to i.e. Medical Doctor by any length LOL, not to mention any real sciences.
But yeah, at least he got his J.D. on his own (probably) compared to Dubya’s crappy MBA given to him by elder Skulls buddies.
“How’s this for an earthshaking precedent in American politics? Letting scientists lead the way for policy on science.”
Even scientists need guidelines and boundaries.
# 23 RBG said “Does anyone here disagree that a scientist could find some scientific justification for attaching a living human head to a dog?”
Exactly my point. That’s happened in Russia. I am sure there is some panel or such that reviews the ethics and scientific methods proposed for experimentation. But what are the guidelines now? MSM is not reporting that. They only highlight the euphoria and present this as the gates to heaven have finally been opened and now we need only walk through. Dr. Mengle would be very happy reading most of this news coverage.
I want to get my company started on harvesting humans for organs. I think the Feds should pay for this too, but even if they don’t, I plan on cloning embryos, growing them in a lab, using artificial wombs, and then growing the human specimens in cages. My experimental treatments have a long time horizon, and I anticipate being able to provide whole organs within about 36 years.