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Free the Stem Cells! (You Promised.)

By Pat Racimora on February 18, 2009 at 1:10 AM in Current Affairs, Stem Cell Research

(bumped up from early Tuesday afternoon by Susan)

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One of the most compelling pledges made by Barack Obama on the campaign trail was the reversal of the executive order set forth by George W. Bush drastically limiting the use of embryonic stem cells in federally-funded research.

It seemed unthinkable that embryos destined for the dumper anyway took precedent over the potential to find cures for adult diabetes, Parkinson’s, and many other debilitating diseases that that ravage millions of fully-formed, living human beings.

So, needless to say, hearts sank when now President Obama was asked on January 16th, 2009, if he was now going to use his executive power to swiftly lift the federal ban on embryonic stem cell research as promised. His answer was more than disappointing:

Well, if we can do something legislative then I usually prefer a legislative process because those are the people’s representatives. And I think that on embryonic stem cell research, the fact that you have a bipartisan support around that issue, the fact that you have Republicans like Orrin Hatch who are fierce opponents of abortion and yet recognize that there is a moral and ethical mechanism to ensure that people with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s can actually find potentially some hope out there, you know, I think that sends a powerful message.

So we’re still examining what things we’ll do through executive order. But I like the idea of the American people’s representatives expressing their views on an issue like this.

We would have to wait for Congress to get an act together. That could take months or even years. Why? Many thought it was because he was afraid to actually take a controversial stand all by himself. He hasn’t been known for that kind of courage.

I don’t know exactly what happened, and that key is not in the lock yet, but Obama’s primary strategist, David Axelrod, stated last Sunday that we can expect an executive order soon allowing federal funding for embryonic research. Yes!

Who knows what may have changed President Obama’s mind. Surely he was hounded by those who were counting on his promise-keeping. Maybe he wants to show Congress that he can take charge, following on his not-so-successful attempt to bring them quickly on board with his stimulus package.

Whatever the reason, this is great news. We won’t see cures overnight, of course. But we are late getting started, and the promise is great. Stay tuned…

  • Seattle Moss

    Milhouse Obamfusicates every issue.

    Not the sign of a great leader!

  • Choo Choo Magoo

    Well Done Pat!

    • Morgan

      Yes Pat, thank you for at least making the distinction that this is over federal funding, NOT the ability to do the research. Private research is already going on. People that disagree with it just aren’t forced to pay for it. Not sure how this is considered a freedom issue to compel people to pay for something that they disagree with, but that’s life.

      • Pat Racimora

        But here’s the thing, Morgan. Many of the very top biomedical researchers in the area of stem cells are employed by NIH. They need more cell resources to do their work.

        • Gwen

          I read or heard recently that the roots of molars and wisdom teeth have great stem cells. We may not have to deal with the embryonic stem cells at all if this new research pans out. It really sounds promising.

      • Rich

        People pay in taxes for many things they disagree with from military to social services for the poor. This one can not only be good for people with different kinds of illnesses or physical problems, it can actually make money for the country as something we can export and the government and employers could save money in not having to pay for medical costs for a lifetime. Just like the polio vaccine has done to cut medical costs.

        Rich

      • Pat Racimora

        Another thought–I wonder if those who disagree would refuse a treatment that was dicovered with stem cell research!

        Also, I have worked on NIH grants for almost 7 years now and they are VERY strict when it comes to ethical conduct and resposnible conduct of research. (I do have a day job, LOL!) I trust the ethics of government-funded research more than I do private research.

        • TeakwoodKite

          What is it about a society that will treat illegal aliens in our hospitals and clinics at great taxpayer expense and not allow for funding for stem cell reasearch?

          Just sayin’.

          • elise

            Wouldn’t it be great if we could designate where we want our individual taxes to be spent? Right now, Pentagon spending makes up fifty percent of the budget of the US and that doesn’t include the money for Iraq and Afganistan. It would be interesting to see how the money would be allocated if tax payers had a choice.

        • elise

          Of course they would not refuse treatment (with the possible exceptions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Scientologists). It’s the same with abortion. I know at least two good Catholic families who have allowed their daughters to have abortions. It’s always a matter of perspective. I hope he acts on this soon, Pat.

  • Rob G in Chicago

    If only a medical team could inject Obama with Hillary’s stem cells, we might then find out what a real President looks, sounds, thinks, and acts like.

    • AlexisM

      ROFLMAO Rob G…So true.

      Great work Pat!

    • brodie

      Bloody funny!

    • Andy

      ROFLOL, well said Rob G. in Chicago !!

      Excellent post and toon Pat Racimonbaa: thank you!
      I agree with your take regarding the strict and ethical rules imposed on $$ for
      grants for research given to NIH&NSF and how the scientists that work
      under them have the highest ethical standards.( I have a day job too! LOL).

      • Andy

        Pat, sorry for the typo above in your name, don’t know what happened there….

        • Pat Racimora

          Pat Racimonbaa–Andy I rather like it. Fun to pronouce as well. : )

    • Andy

      ROFLOL, well said Rob G. in Chicago !!

      Excellent post and toon Pat Racimona: thank you!
      I agree with your take regarding the strict and ethical rules imposed on $$ for
      grants for research given to NIH&NSF and how the scientists that work
      under them have the highest ethical standards.( I have a day job too! LOL).

    • DaddysDarlin

      Amen!

  • Peggy Sue

    I have a feeling it was the pressure that his original statement created: wait for a legislative decision. The howl was immediate. And yes, “freeing” the stem cells was a major campaign promise, the whole returning to science meme.

    Restricting this research never made any sense to me or many. As Pat noted, it was okay to throw embryos in the dumpster, but not use them for the benefit of others, the treatment advances for and understanding of a wide variety of ailments.

    Liked your graphic, Pat!

    Of course, I have to see it happen before I truly believe it. I’m not about to take David Axelrod’s word on anything.

    • Animal Control

      Axlerod has a strange resemblece to Adolf

      • Peggy Sue

        He does, Animal. The man gives the creeps everytime I see him.

        • Andy

          Same here Peggy Sue …

      • jbjd

        My 16-year-old son said this to me. And he has autism!

        • Animal Control

          Smart kid!

  • jiminycricket

    You can be darn sure that if he does sign it into law, it will be at some politically advantageous geographical location that might figure into the 2012 election for which he is now running.

    • Tricia Spiegel

      That might be California. We voted in Prop 71 in 2006 by a huge margin, allocating 3 billion for research. LOTS of folks are really angry that it hasn’t gotten off the ground.

      • beebop

        Naw. California is going to vote for him any way. I bet it is someplace where the vote was close.

    • Animal Control

      Madison Avenue subliminalanity has finally reared it’s ugly head and Obama is the Messiah.

  • Ani

    Great post, Pat, and great cartoon, as usual.

    Getting this research off the ground would also help the economies of a number of states. Mr. President, we’re waiting.

    • beebop

      And hey, they would be REAL jobs not make work …

  • Don X

    Great cartoon. As usual, you are helping hold the President’s feet to the fire. I think he will proceed with an executive order as promised. His experience with the stimulus package having had broad Republican rejection surely must have made it clear that if he waits for legislative approval, that could be years away and might not happen at all. So we will see if he is bold and confident enough to sign the order….and take the heat from opponents.

  • Doc99

    Thus far, worldwide, there are at least 70 therapeutics either developed or in the pipeline derived from Adult Stem Cells. Moreover, there are methods for transforming adult or marrow stem cells back into embryonic cells. Given the drop in the Dow in the last month, I’d say this is a secondary issue.

    • Pat Racimora

      But these are not nearly as flexible as embryonic stem cells. On the other hand, I hope they do come up with some other ways of getting highly flexible cells.

  • rw

    Do I recall news I read in foreign news service correctly, that under Bush’s stem cell research ban, US researches went to other countries to do the research with US embryonic cells….sort of like stem cell research semi-rendition.

    • Pat Racimora

      Yes, indeed. I know one who went to Japan.

  • Neverland

    Unbelievable! I have never thought highly of Obama but this is too much. What Bush did to embryonic stem cell research is THE thing I detest the most. How can you not support such a research?

    Obama’s excuse? “I’m gonna let other people decide”. Nice way of running away from responsibility again, Barry. Guess this means you vote present.

    What a slimeball. He truly is a democratic version of Bush.

  • Rich

    Good cartoon and a very important subject matter.

    This is about a president keeping his word to the people since he more then anyone represents all of the people and not just a segment of the country or not just the religious right.

    As I commented to Morgan, people pay in taxes for many things they disagree with from military to social services for the poor. This one can not only be good for people with different kinds of illnesses or physical problems, it can actually make money for the country as something we can export and the government and employers could save money in not having to pay for medical costs for a lifetime. Just like the polio vaccine has done to cut medical costs, individual and family crises, and increased productivity.

    Rich

    • carla

      I wonder how long it will take for women to start charging for their stem cells?

  • JohnnyB

    Good cartoon Tricia.

    How much ink would it cost to sign Obama’s name?

    A lot less money than Congress passing a bill, then it would still need the cost of this ink for Obama to sign the bill. No excuse for not signing it now.
    How many lives will be saved by Obama signing it now?
    Whenever cures are found using stem cells, this day will come quicker if Obama signs an executive order TODAY.

    Ask MoveOn to help out on this. Obama listens to them.

    • Solara 7

      REALLY good points, Johnny B!

  • Chris Martin

    Of course, a cynical person like me can see this as a well planned out act. Team Obama liked to roll out their endorsements at politically advantageous times (Richardson to help with latinos in CA, etc., Edwards to help with Appalachia, …). Also, the career ending revelations against his opponents were well timed as well.

    We knew Obama was going to be in for some tough times–so did he. The executive order in question was an executive order that did not need Congress at all to be overturned. It was simply removing the ban on using new stem cell lines. To me this reeks of political opportunism. Obama is starting to be seen as weak and this comes across as just a cynical attempt to appear presidential.

    Regardless of motives, though, *if* Obama signs this, it will be good for science.

  • http://noquarter foxyladi14

    not holding my breath

  • lightacandle

    Actually, David Axelrod said he THINKS Obama will lift the ban soon, but I also THINK I am going to win the lottery soon.

    I’ll believe both when they happen.

    - – - – - – -

    “We’re going to be doing something on that soon, I THINK. The president is considering that right now,” Obama adviser David Axelrod said on “Fox News Sunday.”

    http://tinyurl.com/camnqf
    - – - – - – -

    In any event, why it has taken Obama a month to perform such an easy task?

  • JS

    Embryonic stem cells have produced nothing of value. If they did, don’t you think the private sector would be going full tilt in that direction?

    • Chris Martin

      There’s a reason embryonic stem cells haven’t produced much. The currently available lines have been contaminated making them essentially useless (researchers didn’t know at the time).

      But what do I know? I am just a biomedical researcher.

      • Solara 7

        LOL! I know you are correct Chris.

        Stem cell work with animals has produced some amazing results. We know it can be done with humans.

        There is a rare disease, CGD (chronic granulomatous disease) that is well-situated for stem cell work (in fact it has started already) in humans because how it operates is somewhat simple and well-understood manner. NIH researchres are anxious to get going with this one. I suspect it will be the first breathrough.

  • Choo Choo Magoo

    Hey Pat-
    That looks like the lock box they put SS – but the SS box had wider gaps between the bars.

    • Solara 7

      LOL

  • GBS

    Obama’s response is the standard politician answer – give all sides hope without promising anything.

  • kgirl

    Personally i would be very careful praising Mr “that’s above my pay grade”. Because one day in the not so distant future he’s going to turn that same jaudice uncaring eye toward the full boddied living, and you will be a whole lot less happy with him then. My advice is to go find the book on universal health care written by tom daschel. These people are nuts, they believe in the “duty to die” for the elderly, you clog your arties up don’t even think about gettinig a stent.

    even though i believe in stem cell research, I also hope that we will eventually move on to saving cord blood so one day we don’t have to use the cells of those headed down the crapper, and i see these embroyos as I do any other cadavier donors who give of themselves so that others can live. But obama, doesn’t give damn, about the, or the people they are helping.

  • Doc99

    While all the buzz is about embryonic cells, adult stem cell therapeutics are on the way. The signal has been drowned out by the noise.

  • masslib

    While he’s at it, do you think he could make time for revoking the so-called “conscious clause”?

  • dawnelle

    PAT!!!

    WOULD YOU PLEASE MAKE A NOQTR Racimora Art BOOK SO I CAN BUY IT!!! :-)

    LOL @ freedom for stem cells

    Hahahaha! Hey I NEED a new heart. Could we PLEASE FREE THE DAMN STEM CELLS!! LOL!

    • Pat Racimora

      Dawnelle–you are such a great fan. I appreciate you.

      The problem I see is that I color the toons expressively for the backlighting that a monitor provides. When they are printed out they lose a lot of their visual punch.

      I have gone so far (family and friends insist) on creating one book with them all there (along with the stories). We will see how it goes…

      • dawnelle

        GOODIE!!! Keep us all informed! I’m sure you will sell LOADS!

  • Cahil

    Thanks for the update.

    Best not to celebrate too soon though.

    What Obumble says vs. what Obumble does…. well, you know the drill.