(CNN) - Former first lady Nancy Reagan issued a statement Monday praising the president's change to federal policy on funding embryonic stem cell research.
Read Reagan's statement after the jump.
STATEMENT BY NANCY REAGAN ON PRESIDENT OBAMA’S EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING STEM CELL RESEARCH
I’m very grateful that President Obama has lifted the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. These new rules will now make it possible for scientists to move forward. I urge researchers to make use of the opportunities that are available to them, and to do all they can to fulfill the promise that stem cell research offers.
Countless people, suffering from many different diseases, stand to benefit from the answers stem cell research can provide. We owe it to ourselves and to our children to do everything in our power to find cures for these diseases – and soon. As I’ve said before, time is short, and life is precious.
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There IS intelligent life amongst the Republican party!
It appears "The Shrub Stood Alone"
Hats off to Nancy, a republican with the courage to speak up despite the party's position.
Nancy Regan has been in favor of stem cell research for a long time. I am glad to see she has lived long enough to get her wish. Let's hope this act will enrich and prolong the lives of many people suffering from a myriad of illnesses that can be helped by stem cell research.
HA!
To all those die-hard Reaganites, next time you think of the liberals and their so-called destruction of life just remember the sweet words of one of this countries greatest first ladies on this countries stem cell policy.
Why do Republicans only support democratic issues when it involves themselves or the well-being of their family?
Curious as to how the hard core right will respond to this. Dare you drag Nancy Reagan's name through the mud?
Wow! What a powerful statement. Thank you Mrs. Reagan for supporting a very worthy cause.
I'm not a fan of President Obama, but I do give him credit for this. The Bush policy on stem cell reseach was absurd.
Mrs. Reagan... Americans will always hold a special place in there hearts for you!!
Well I guess this leaves the GOP lock lipped. If they now come down on the President then they come down on the widow of their beloved spiritual leader Ronald Regan. Opportunity missed.
Rock on Nancy!
Way to represent.
Looks like we will be wasting more tax dollars down the road here, so much for budget restraint on Obama's part.
A resounding victory for common sense occured today, and both sides of the isle should be thrilled at the advancement of science over backwards ideologies with little cohesion or relation to reality.
How interesting... a Republican praising a Democrats choice on Stem Cell Research. The very last thing I expected to see. Good for her.
Great Job President Obama Change change change
Thank You Nancy. I disagree with most of what your husband did politically, but as the granddaughter of an alzheimer's sufferer I am thrilled to see science trumping religious hypocrisy.
I guess now Mrs. Reagan isn't welcome to any "Focus on the Family" functions anymore.
Thank you Nancy. I hope you don't have to apologize to Rush Limbaugh for this though.
About time we have a president who cares about our people and not about some book known as "the idiots guide to life". About time our disabled have a fighting chance at a normal life. Women are going to get abortions regardless of stem cell research, why not use these cells for the good of mankind? Better than them just getting tossed in a biohazard trash can.
And all of a sudden Nancy regan cares about the disabled? Certainly didn't bother her when reagen threw all of the mentally ill people on the street.
God bless you Nancy Reagan
John March 9th, 2009 12:49 pm ET
Why do Republicans only support democratic issues when it involves themselves or the well-being of their family?
****************************************************************************
Unfortunately, its a party trait. The same thing happened with the drug wars, AIDS, and the same thing will happen when they start losing their jobs, their homes, and their money.
If you are looking for false issues, you really have one here. Medical research is not a moral issue. Bush threw it to the born-again fascists to buy some influence. This is not a distraction, it is the main event, and the republicans are block voting the financial bills in order to distract us from what really matters.
Meghan McCain and Nancy Reagan are a rare find. Kudos to them
Oh, man!! What will rush say now!!!!!!!
How bout that Rep. !
President Barack Obama is dilligently striving to keep his campaign promises. Regardless of whether you are republican or democrat we must give him credit for being a man of his word. His first 100 days will be be filled with more campaign commitments being fullfiied than any president in the history of America.For this I commend President Barack Obama.
Anyone whose loved one has suffered from any number of terrible illnesses will be grateful.
Unless you have experienced the horrors of diseases that no one can cure you will not understand.
A vast majority of Americans applaud this!
Well spoken Mrs. Regan. My respect for you could not be any higher. For the folks that think it is sacrificing one life for another? It is more like one "possible" life to save millions. Applauds to you ma'am. *deep bow*
And she is not going to apologize to Rush for her statement!
Bravo, Mrs. Reagan!
For the first time since the election we are finally hearing from a Republican who has set ideology aside to advocate for something that is genuinely a good thing...without interest it getting credit for her own party in the process.
Mrs. Reagan also has seen the ravages of Alzheimer's as it slowly took her husband away from her. If stem cell research can provide the hope that future generations will never have to experience her pain, then lifting the ban will have been entirely worth it.
You can try as you like but its still called killing unborn babies and you will pay the price for it...... God doesn't sleep...... I wish they would either find Obama's birth certificate of take him out of office if he doesn't belong there because hes ruining America at the rate hes going...one way or another we are all going to pay for his misdeeds
Nancy Reagan is living proof that not all Republicans are self-serving idiots.
Brave woman, proud Christian, pragmatic Republican. She knows the pain of watching some lose one's life memories right in front of her.
Issac Asimov: Don't let your sense of morals keep you from doing what's right.
Sure... this is great. Our hard earned tax dollars are paying for bail-outs left and right and we are going to maintain the auto industries misphaps; why not throw a couple billion over to stem cell research. Regardless of the fact that there are a lot of americans who beleive that it is moral disgraceful. When are we going to take back our country and stop letting the government dictate everything. We have to wake up, at no time did Bush say you couldn't research stem cells he just said american tax dollars wouldn't.....Barack = handouts, plain and simple
Good for you, Nancy! I am glad to hear that some people are still able to think "outside of the party box" and support a cause they believe in – even though it is a minority opinion within their party. We need more moderate republicans AND democrats to represent so many of us who fall in the middle. I may be a lifelong democrat, but I don't fit the exact "formula" that politicians like to design for me.
Mrs. Reagan is from the era when republicans made sense. Back when they believed in science and had ideas. That party no longer exists.
Let's hear what the Republican right wingers say about this! All you ever hear is Reagan this and Reagan that (as if the present day electorate even cares about Reagan – non of the new voters in 2008 were even alive during the Reagan administration). But even if you do care about the Reagan era, how are you going to dismiss this one?
How about this approach? If you don't support embryonic stem cell research then don't take advantage of any of the medical breakthroughs that are sure to come. Hey, Right wingers: stand up (or lie down in your grave) with your principles and values.
Wow,
I just wished Mrs Reagan had made a forceful comment like this anytime between January, 2001 and January, 2009. when we had a Republican as president. She sees the good in what stem cell research could bring yet she let politics cloud her decision.
Better be late than never, Mrs Reagan. Welcome.
Diana, how is it killing unborn babies?! It's CELLS. A bunch of cells, which at the point of testing haven't developed into anything substantial. There's no heartbeat, no brain activity, nothing. It's CELLS. I could see having an issue with stem cell research if it involved 8 week old fetuses, but this is absurd. The "religious" always condemn sound science until they need it to save someone they care about.
Diana, you might want to know that if they're not using the embryos for stem cell research they usually just dump them in the trash.
Now which option seems better to you?
Saving countless lives with a cell or throwing them in the trash and saving no one?
Leave the judging to your God.
I am glad that the President has chosen to use solid, reputable science to base this decision and not politics. Now if he will only apply that same philosophy with the EPA and not listen to the flawed, liberal selected "research" that is guiding the politacally based decisions on the environment. Toss in a dose of common sense and that would even be better.
Obama/Nancy Reagan 2012
@ Diana............ then would you ALSO condemn WAR???????????
Here is the thing that is SO hypocritical about the religious-pro-life stance:
You want to protect ONLY the baby in the womb. But you, people, support the war that Bush started! Which killed hundreds of thousands of civilians....... women and children! Devastated a country, Iraq and cost the lives of thousands of Americans. Not to mention the thousands maimed!
LIFE is much more than ONLY the baby in the womb, ALL life is precious! The Pro-life people voted Bush into office twice, and did not cry out in protest when Bush VETOED the Bill that would have given poor children healthcare!
Hypocrites! AND YES........... GOD IS watching.
Diana, those "babies", as you call them, are already dead. There are 600,000 embryos ready to be flushed down the toilet because they are not needed at the fertility clinics. 80 were "adopted" last year. What about the other 599,920? Flush them, or get research value from them to help find cures, that's the choice. If your god was doing his job, he would prevent the fertilization of any embryo that was not destined for a womb. Or maybe, just maybe, He wants those embryos used for research and so allowed them to be fertilized anyway. Who are YOU to presume to know the mind of God?
May God Bless you Mrs. Reagan and our President.
looks like a new era of Republicans.. the women have the balls to stand up to Rush and his republican groupies
Thank you, Mrs. Reagan. You and I have lived with our loved ones as they have battled the ravages of Alzheimer's. You obviously understand the profound difference this research will make for others, so that some day they will not have to go through what you and your husband, and I and my mother, have gone through.
Who cares what Nancy Reagan thinks?
She gets one thing right and you all applaud her.
Evil woman.
Kudos to Nancy, a national treasure
Diana – are you really Ann Coulter?
I know, Obama is ruining this country, listening to Science -yikes. It's much better to run a country of the whims of religious fanaticals
Please, it's not killing unborn babies. It's furthering science for all mankind. If you truly feel that way, make sure that when you or your loved ones need to benefit from this powerful research that you turn it down.
Jonathan.. you seriously need to get this whole handout nonsense out of your head.
Obama is not giving any money to this research, he isnt handing out anything to anybody.
What he did was make it legal for the National Institutes of Health to hand out funding for this research. It doesnt change the Institutes budget or anything like that, it just means they can now determine whether such groups get funding.
God Bless you Mrs Reagan
Congratulations to our President. Now we can kill more babies before they are born.
Where's all the right-wing nuts who trumpet Reagan as their man now? Nancy Reagan must have turned into a LIBERAL!!!
But how does Sarah Palin feel about stem cell research? Shouldn't we be consulting her before the entire medical community goes off half cocked here? How about the "say no to everything gang" i.e. Boehner, Shelby, ...
Responding to Caje comments:
"Wow,I just wished Mrs Reagan had made a forceful comment
like this anytime between January, 2001 and January, 2009.
when we had a Republican as president."
Nancy Reagan has openly supported stem cell research since 2004, defying many in the Republican Party. Although she supported President Bush in the 2004 election, this is one issue where they were polar opposites. Thank you Nancy Reagan!!!
From a devout Democrat!
Seems like a lot of people want to jump on the insult bandwagon here. Only one poster had it right, Bush didn't say that stem cell research coud not be conducted, he didn't say embryonic stem cell research couldn't be conducted, he said, federal money wouldn't be given to it. If it was that promising, one of the evil greedy Wall Street folks would have picked it up and ran with it. Now that "Free Money" will be available, everyone and his brother in the research community will line up for a piece of the pie.
Nancy Reagan is only supporting the President on this stance because her late husband could have benefitted from Stem Cell Research.
If Ronald Reagan was not afflicted with Alzheimer's we would not be having this conversation.
Mrs. Reagan does not give hollow praise. She believes in stem cell research and for good reason. It's not politics to her. Let's try to keep the spirit of Mrs. Reagan's praise in mind.
You know.... the nazis did lots of "research" too.
Thank you, Nancy Reagan for supporting President Obama in his efforts to renew the work of researchers to address so many health challenges for many, many, American people in the 21st Century. You certainly have shown the world that you can be Bi-Partisan! How unfortunate that so many Republicans just CANNOT or do not CARE to display support for human lives. Only those who suffer disabilities, and those who have cancer, and those children who are born with health challenges can fully understand the dire need to keep this research moving forward.
Woman who have trouble making babies go to a medical center to have their eggs removed, fertilized, and then planted in their womb. The eggs that are fertilized become "embryo" and if the woman has a baby, the embryo's she no longer needs are thrown away. Gone. Destroyed.
We have never approved of, nor would we in the foreseeable future approve of raising embryos for the single purpose of research. All we do is take what will be thrown in the trash, and try to cure people who are dying. Trash, or save lives. What is so hard to understand about this?
I think if just 1/2 of the anti-research people actually looked into this, they would see that it's not what you thought. It's like the morning after pill. Those people who call it "Abortion in a pill". The thing is, the pill acts to flush away the egg BEFORE it's even fertilized! There is no conception. There is no Sperm + Egg. The pill is taken in the morning after because it stops the egg, not killing an embryo. Education is so important.
I wish Christopher & Dana Reeve were alive to see this day.
Mrs. Reagan does not give hollow praise. She believes in stem cell research and for good reason. It's not a political matter. It's a matter of research, science and progress in healthcare. Let's try to keep the spirit of Mrs. Reagan's praise in mind.
As a Christian, a religious person, I support stem cell research and I side with Nancy. Unless you have suffered through illness or disease through self or a loved one you can not comprehend how this gives hope. Again I say, God is a healer and uses people, place, and things to bring about this healing. Bless the Lord for allowing this.
In response to PAUL's comment:
Really Paul kill babies. I think you need to do some research on how stem cell research is conducted, then maybe you can comment on the issue.
First Meghan, Now Nancy.. geesh who's next! Yes Mr. President, let's find a cure for all these diseases.
Maybe science can progress again without the Religious Rights "impressive" input. Asked those that have chronic, debilitating, diseases or injuries. Their prognosis should "not" be decided in any way whatsoever by religious terrorists.
Diana only parrots the same talking points that all pro-lifers (aka religious intolerants/pseudo-Bible interpretors) spew. Not taking into account that these sets of CELLS would only be tossed (killed??) anyway, she and the rest do not take anything logical into account into how they can benefit future generations who have diseases, disabilities, etc. What she and her ilk should do is to refuse any benefits that may come from this research. If it's so evil, than don't use it. Therefore, a family member/friend will not benefit. They'd spew a different tune if it was one of their own that could be helped....
I believe this research should be steered towards developing stem cells from other sources than embryonic. That is the most ethical solution to the embryonic stem cell research dilemma.
cheers to president obama and also to mrs. reagan.
Just look at her picture ,the Queen of the Republcan party and she is not going to back down from those conservative for good for America and world in Medical research. God bless.
Mari; you are right on. It's quoted that we should waste not/want not. Rather than discard the embryos we should facitiate a better quality of life for those that God has "allowed" to be born. As a Christian; I know God presents his way but does not force his points he gives us freedom of choice and forgiveness if we choose to do differently than his will for the individual.
Private business, and all of Europe, have spent billions trying to exploit stem cell reasearch for years. And yet only the adult stem cells are showing any signs of producing benefits.
How many fetus' must progressively die under Obama to prove a point?
She has seen the results of the diseases that this research can help. Congrats to the President.
These are not babies! They are cells that will never be implanted, never attach in a womb, and will simply be discarded! If you pro-life fanatics really care about life, how about giving a chance to those who are living with terrible diseases that may find a cure in this research? No, adult stem cells do NOT show the same flexibility to regenerate and take the form of its host cell.
And the Earth is not FLAT! Keep your religious fanaticism to yourself. You can refuse treatment developed using these cells if it really offends you so much.
In response to please's comment:
Obama is ruining this country-No, it was already that way when he got into office thanks to Bush 43, but I respect your opinion now I am just giving mine.
To Paul
I’m sorry to see you are so misinformed. These embryonic stem cells are already being sent for destruction. They throw them in the trash. I fail to see why people are up in arms about this. It’s better to use them for research that to just throw them away.
Paul, better than killing the living, breathing, learning, playing children in Iraq who had absolutely nothing to do with al Qaeda-until we invaded their country. Get your facts straight – they aren't living, or breathing. They don't have a birth certificate or social security number.
Now THIS is going to REALLY start a fire in the Limbaugh/ Hannity wing of the Republican party!
Pee Wee: Other countries have still been doing embyonic stem cell research, and will probably have more active advancements in the field than we can even imagine since our scientists hands have been tied for the last 8 years. The USA should have been at the forefront of this technology, and could have benefited both financially and academically beyond any other group in the world. Instead, thanks to the religious right and the Bush administration, we are behind all the others in our research and progress.
S. Callhan – thank you...I feel if God didn't want us to be able to do this, he would not have given man the knowledge to be able to develop this.
Hurray for Nancy. Sound science over blind faith. That's what America needs.
As a Christian, I support Obama, but he is truly a liberal. In the end, my loyalty is to God. I dont support his views on abortions, gay rights and stem cells.
Look, the conservative mantra of tax cuts and smaller government worked in the 80s because that's what was needed at the time. We now have capitalism run amok, and the GOP (Republicans can't be called conservatives; they've morphed into an ugly caricature of themselves) keeps insisting on applying the same medicine to a different illness. Obama understands that this is not the time for stinginess.
To Diana: I don't get people like you. How is DESTROYING the unused embryos not killing them? It's okay with you that they should be flushed down a toilet, but not used to help millions of people around the world who are suffering? What a hypocritical stance to take. We will indeed lose our brightest minds in science if we don't join the 21st century on this. We need to take advantage of the opportunity to develope new therapies that can help people who are suffering. " If not us...who? If not now...when?"
Diana, seriously, enough with the whole birth certificate meme. Hawaiian law FORBIDS the release of ANY original birth certificate. So, take up your cause with the Hawaiian legislature to get the law changed. Until then, watch your intelligent President make decisions that will benefit FUTURE Americans while you sit there and wring your hands over embryos that would otherwise be thrown in the GARBAGE. But don't you sit there and presume that my grandkids' or great-grandkids' health is less important than a few cells that will never end up as a baby.
Whatever you do, dont try to play God. We'll be creating monsters instead. If God cannot control the human character, dont expect to create a perfect human being.
It is about time science is back to help people. The Middle Age years of Bush are OVER.
"I believe this research should be steered towards developing stem cells from other sources than embryonic. That is the most ethical solution to the embryonic stem cell research dilemma."
Then you should be 100% behind Pres. Obama, since he specifically mentioned this very same idea in his speech.
jon:
No, the Nazis did not do research. They did experiments on people. They didn't try to create anything that would save a single life. Your comparison is an insult that reveals your ignorance of stem cell research and of the Nazi torture chambers.
Highly Favored:
Are you mad because of the fact that a Republican is supporting President Barack Obama's decision on stem cell research. Science and politics should not be mixed just like separating state from church.
Taxpayers should not be funding this!
If it where viable private funding would already be doing it!
How selfish can the republican party be? Is it possible that they can think about anyone else but themselves... it's getting clearer every time they open their mouth. They truly do not love America.. they don't even like it..
320,000 Vets Have Brain Injuries
American Military Casualties in Iraq
American Wounded Official Estimated
Total Wounded: 31089
As a Christian I believe in this research. There is a huge divide between the fundamentalist religious right and other Christians. I do not believe that "human life" begins at conception or in a petri dish. There is much more good to come from this.
On this point, Obama is absolutely correct.
Pee Wee:
Do you seriously think that the federal funding for stem cell research is just like handing out free money? That's surprising...go back and read the article about the executive order President Obama signed, then repharse your comment from earlier.
Many people usually oppose a solution to a problem when that problem has not yet hit home. Once you or a person you love has to deal with that problem, the reality set in, and the solution begins to make a lot of sense. Nancy Reagan know how it is.
Nancy understands the importance of this critical research in regards to President Reagan (may he rest in peace). I pray it reveals many cures for us going forward.
I am thrilled that Nancy is speaking up for this, 8 years too late.
I only wish her husband had done the same for AIDS, a word he never spoke while in office that perpetuated false myths and caused for delayed and reduced funding into the research that could have saved millions of lives.
Nancy understands the differences between ideology and the realities of the day and the pragmatic decisions that have to be made. Having watched her husband suffer through his last years now makes more sense to her than anyone will ever be able to tell her otherwise and she knows the hope and promise these researches have.
Nancy Reagan has just offered more praise for Obama than a certain other former first lady has
Apparently some of you still despise Nancy, even after she supports something that you agree with. Perchance you're still upset about not taking her advice and saying "no" to drugs?
Nancy walked in the shoes to live first hand with knowing what this desease is to the person and the family so is behind stem cell research so for the ones against it blowing their horns they should go work in one of these care facilities and see first hand then wise up .
Its rather odd how they are so pro life yet when they voted for Bush/Cheney and untruths/lies starting this Iraq war they don't bat an eye to send thousands of our men and woman into this ungodly warto be killed and injured or the life of all the other people caused by the Bush/cheney war of lies.
Life sure has lost its meaning whgen tghey reach draft age .
For quite a few years, we approached life with possibilities and dreamed of what could be in terms of life and science. The past eight years were limited to what was and what is. Finally, science can be separate from politics and religion. Maybe, just maybe, we can enter a new era of possibilities and to dream what science can do for all of humanity. That would be wonderful!
hey Paul, the stem cells are going to be destroyed anyway. they are taken from invetro procedures. please get your facts straight
Kudos to Nancy Reagan and Meghan McCain. 2 Republican women strong enough to speak their mind, contrary to their Party line.
Its about time!! I understand the controversy of it. But there can be ways to work around that where it wouldnt harm live fetuses. They have advanced so much without it so far.
This can do so much and cure so many things!!
Deborah...
Wrong on both counts...
First, private funding IS already going to stem cell research... And second, that is a ridiculous litmus test for viability in any case. Most major breakthroughs in science and technology have come initially from the public sector, and then taken by the private sector to make tons of cash. Now THAT's the American way... Socialize the losses and risk, and privatize the profits! YEE HAW!!!
I am a staunch DEMOCRAT, but I have always had great love and respect for Nancy Reagan!
Incredible. Obama is doing things that are are so simply common sense that its incredible. Millions of lives lost because of Bush. Thousands of solutions to diseases probably delayed 8 years.
Was Bush really that un intelligent? I guess so.
You can bet Mrs. Regan won't be apologizing to Rush for her opinions.
religion barbaric. i don't believe in anything that i cannot see. i believe in science.
Balla23
You are mis-informed. I'm not mad because a Republican is supporting a Democrat; my statement is that if Ronald Reagan was still alive with all of his faculties, Nancy Reagan would NOT be supporting this policy reversal. There would be no need because it does not IMPACT her world . . .!
Let's see Coulter and Rush attack the former First Lady over this.... Eureka! Maybe this is what it will take for moderate Republicans to banish those two fools for good from the GOP. – let Rush and Coulter start their own party. Call it the Party of ‘We’re millionaires who depend on poor whites for support”. Fingers crossed...
Best Wishes, Mrs. First Lady.
I am happy that Mrs. Reagan gave a strong voice to stem cell research. I know that she is speaking from her heart when she talks about life being short and that we owe this to our children to find cures using this technique. God bless you Mrs. Reagan for your support, please always keep this voice no matter who our president is.
YOU GET THESE REPUBS STRAIGHT NANCY.and thanks for standing up for stem cell resurch.we need it.
Thank you Mrs.Reagan for putting America before a Right Wing Agenda!
A true Patriot that actually does put COUNTRY FIRST!
There is hope for the GOP YET!
To all my republican friends: I agree with you. They are killing babies. Now lets round them up and make some disease-fighting baby goo. (tongue and cheek)
Isnt it funny how the people that get offended about this are the same ones that complain about helping out families with foreclosed homes?
How about fixing our problems first before you all pump out another 100 million kids into this planet. Aren't our resources limited enough? Dont believe me? Ask an economist what the baby boom has done to our country.
Stem cell research is a good thing. We should have been researching over the last 7 1/2 years. Why weren't we? Oh, yeah, right. Bush and his anti-science policies.
Interesting, between this and the Meghan McCain article, the overwhelmingly liberal posters on CNN.com are only able treat Republicans with a shred of humanity when they either bash or disagree with their party. On every other issue Nancy Reagan and Meghan McCain are just 2 more heartless, racist, homophobes that should leave the country.
As important that religion can be, it should never be in conflict with science. This is a great innovation that will save millions of lives, which some or even most will be religious people.
Well With Nancy Reagan And Megan Mccain Republicans should TAKE NOTE! Change your Idealogy ways!
You know, it never ceases to amaze me about the ignorance of some people. Stem cell research is not conducted using embryos that are aborted. They are from fertilized ova that were created by people seeking fertility resolutions. There are usually some left over that are either distroyed or kept indefinitely, but never used for anything. I.E. these embryos are not ever going to become babies. Their use in stem cell research could save the lives of some of the hate-filled people who think that they know better than the best scientists in the world.
And all of you who think that abortion is evil no matter what the circumstances, I don't understand you. I do not suport the use of abortion for birth control, but do support the right of a woman to determine, with her doctor, whether it is an appropriate option for her. In the case of rape or incest, it may well be the only way to save the victims of these crimes, as there is a high suicide rate among them. You are all for the rights of the unborn, but once they are born, you don't give a flip about them. How many unwanted children have you adopted? How many times have you castigated a woman giving birth out of wedlock? How many times have you voted to cut the budgets for welfare, food stamps, health care for these same women. Walk a mile in their shoes before you judge them.
I believe in my religion as a Christian but I also believe that if these embryos are going to get destroy anyways might as well used it for good than being used for nothing.
Good on ya Nancy. If only the rest of your party had such a pragmatic view.
What a non-story. California has had a huge stem cell research program – billions of dollars' worth – for years. The so-called "ban on stem cell research" was a ban on spending Federal dollars for it. The much more efficient private and State sectors were spending hand over fist on stem cell research – and accomplishing very little scientifically.
Obama's "pure science" memo is just a cynical joke. Reversing the stem cell "ban" is nothing more than a Democratic campaign contribution issue – not a real health care story. It's the Democratic version of "partial birth abortion" – it gets the base mobilized, and contributing money. But it's a red herring.
Playing God is not and will not ever be right. I don't want my tax dollars funding this folly of research.
Pay for it yourself you baby killing Liberals if it's so important to you.
The Grand Dame of the Republican party is behind this.
I'd like to see Limbaugh, Hannity, Dobson, Falwell, Palin, Coultier or any of the other big mouth blowhards on the right wing criticize this decision by the PRESIDENT to favor scientific advancement.
Good for Mrs. Reagan. She has finally earned my respect.
Her son is a great guy too.
I go on so many blogs, abcnews.com, cnn.com and others....and there are alot of angry people in this country......alot of hate.....its pretty scary....prety much what ever obama does the liberals will rejoice and the conservatives will cringe.....argument over.....why even blog....
Bless this Republican lady for saying what needed to be said!
I totally support stem cell research! let us advance our human race instead of having it hindered by religious zealots. I love the lord. I believe he has created this great earth and galaxy for us to explorer, to discover, not to sit idle and to be zombies. Sorry, but these ultra religious people need to stop being brainwashed by their fathers and pastors.
I once heard someone say their pastor told them if they voted for Obama, then they cant receive communion. What a disgrace. how about the pastor ban himself from church indefinetly for supporting the war in Iraq.
Congrats to Nancy for giving her honest opinion. To President Obama; you are doing what Americans need, not just Republicans as they were during the 43rd rule. Commenting on the igronant post here is a waste of time.
This is one of many black marks on the Bush legacy. If one of his children was dying and they had a cure that was developed by stem-cell research, he wouldn't save his child's life because of the way it was discovered? Another example of the Bush principle getting in the way of common sense. What a bad legacy, and the Supreme Court will just make his legacy worse and worse and worse...... Didn't anyone notice during our trying economic times right now our Congress has to spend time enacting laws to counter act bad Supreme Court decisions. Example, Lilly Ledbeder legislation. It's an American embarrasment to have to enact a law directly opposing a Supreme Court decision that was wrong, just to protect the American worker. It was one of the most un-American decisions the Court has ever rendered. One more for the Bush legacy.
Just as all politics are local. All health research is personal. Unless and until a condition affects you or your loved one, then it is easy to dismiss the need for research. I would applaud the "embryo principle" more if these same zealots took the ultimate stand: no person should be manipulating the creation or destruction of life–end in vitro fertilization entirely. As long as it is okay to create life outside of the natural human process, then it should also be okay to use the discards for important research purposes. Manipulating life to create a new life is good, manipulating life to maintain or improve an existing life is not good. Irrational!
As a 57 year old Diabetic with a grandson who also has an incureable disease I think that only studies and science can help find cure for many diseases. Stem cell research has plus & minuses. For those who are saying don't play God, I believe it is he who gave these great minds to our scientists so they can do what they do to help in many ways. Should we have not played God when we went to the Moon. He created Earth so why are we going up in space.
Wow! First Meaghan McCain blasts Ann Coulter & says something nice about Obama and now this from Nancy??? Has something gone totally awry in the Universe???? Whatever it is, as one of those terrible liberals . . . I'm likin' it!!!
Millions of people applaud the change, but, the republicans will get all the airtime to spew their negative stance on stem cell research.
Yes, it is a blessing for those of us who suffer from incurable diseases to at least have hope for a cure someday. While I disagree with the idea of aborting life, to squash stem-cell research in effect aborts life anyway only at a later stage. Abortions will always occur whether naturally, surgically, or chemically therefore the pro-choice arguments need not apply as women always have a choice outside of rape ergo the question is when a woman wishes to express her choice. For those who suffer from diseases, we have no choices and quite often no treatments, respite no relief for life but because of the President's actions today, we now have a little hope!!!
Nancy Reagan has taken this position as Republicans usually do: because it affects HER life. Had it not, she'd be staunchly opposed to it. Republicans can't understand a problem unless it personally affects THEM! Nevertheless, we'll TAKE it! Thanks, Nancy.
Big deal. Yes, she spoke out about stem cells some years ago, but she still voted for George Bush in 2004. I'm pretty sure she voted for McCain this last go round. This woman has zero integrity. Let's not forget about her White House years – meaningless, arrogant and wacky (astrology). Who the hell cares what she has to say?
Diana March 9th, 2009 1:00 pm ET
You can try as you like but its still called killing unborn babies and you will pay the price for it…… God doesn't sleep…… I wish they would either find Obama's birth certificate of take him out of office if he doesn't belong there because hes ruining America at the rate hes going…one way or another we are all going to pay for his misdeeds
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Diana, you're almost worth a cry. You and your ilk don't seem to have a problem when those frozen embroys scientists wanted to use were going to be disposed of by being thrown in an oven and roasted out of existance. I say this because I have heard no one raise this as an issue equal to using them to help and hopefully find a cure for horrid diseases affecting ALREADY-BORN people – who have families, who have jobs, lives, most likely go to church!!
And Yes. President Obama certainly does belong there. He was ELECTED!
Now. About Mrs. Reagan...
I saw some invoking the name of the corpulate, mindless pig. I don't think Mrs. Reagan deigns to play the new repugnican game DARF – Didja Ask Rush First.
if the repuklicant god's (reagan) wife approves of stem cell research, why can't the rest of the 'pukes get on the train?
HAH take that hanity and oxycotin limbaugh!!
The killing of a baby for Science?
No matter what you call it, if you stop a heartbeat, it is Murder.
Babies will die for your opinion.
God will hold each child.
Those who have the sense to take away a beating heart will be accountable.
Expat American says...
"Let's see Coulter and Rush attack the former First Lady over this…. Eureka! Maybe this is what it will take for moderate Republicans to banish those two fools for good from the GOP. – let Rush and Coulter start their own party. Call it the Party of ‘We’re millionaires who depend on poor whites for support”. Fingers crossed…
Best Wishes, Mrs. First Lady."
That was so well said that I felt compelled to repeat it again here. Republicans need to distance themselves from these two loonies if they ever wish to be relevant again.
Hats off to Mrs. Reagan for standing by her beliefs. I'm sure the wrath from Limbaugh, Coulter and Hannity will soon follow.
jon March 9th, 2009 1:22 pm ET
You know…. the nazis did lots of "research" too.
I'll be that if you had cancer or some other life threatening disease you would be at the clinic faster than you could say "stem cell"begging for some doctor to cure you. What if your son or daugther was in an accident and ended up paralyzed and this research could result in treatments to allow them to walk again?
It is about time that we let our scientific policies be governed by science and not religion.
This is going to be a great age for science and technology! As, someone who follows everything science I'm giddy with excitement!
@Diana March 9th, 2009 1:00 pm ET
You can try as you like but its still called killing unborn babies and you will pay the price for it…… God doesn't sleep…… I wish they would either find Obama's birth certificate of take him out of office if he doesn't belong there because hes ruining America at the rate hes going…one way or another we are all going to pay for his misdeeds
****************************************************************************
Man, what's up with members of the GOP/RUSH party? Are they all low information voters?
Deborah – Tax payers should not be paying for this??? What happens when you, your child, partner or loved one comes down with a disease with no cure? What happens when you go through your life savings and insurance no longer covers necessary therapies? I guarantee you'll be first in line with your hand out to the tax payers. Do us all a favor and just stop the hypocracy.
For those of you who have seen the ravages of AZ up close it's a no brainer, but kindly note that much of what actually happens with the Executive Order can still be challenged by the individual states.
It's not all that clear cut at the moment and with Federal Funds in play you can be sure that the loonies are not going to go quiet into the night. Let's see if Shelby possibly knows less about science than he does economics....:-)
Wow, with Obama in office killing just gets easier and easier. The fourth Reich will be forthcoming!
Mrs. Reagan realizes that we are people first and Democrats/Republicans second. Hats off to her for supporting something that can benefit all mankind.
So no that the Nancy Reagan had made her comment on this I DARE, NO I DOUBLE DARE, Rush or any on the ultra Right Rep to bad mouth her or Ronald. I am a Ind not a Dem or a Rep but I bet they keep there comment mind and soft.
This is good. GO NANCY!
A maverick, at last! Nancy's gutsy gut reaction on the stem-cell policy of BHO seems quite generous and genial, in general. We commend and laud her candor and this, sure as heck, will bring her accolades galore, generatin' mostly from the moderate GOPs, and not from the Coulter-Rush germlines.
I applaud Mrs. Reagan's supporting President Obama on this issue. The former First Lady has long since championed stem cell research and knows that as a result there could one day be a cure for the dreaded disease which claimed her beloved husband.
No one creates embryos with the idea of destroying them. However, they get destroyed when they are thrown out, if not used. I think it's a greater moral issue to just throw them out (if that is going to happen to them) and not use them to try to help those who are suffering.
Always liked that lady! Best Wishes, Mrs. Reagan!
You have to live it and she did. George Bush – what did he ever do – did he serve in the military? No. Did he have a family member with a physical condition that may be improved with the help of stem cell research? No. All he did was set back time and hope.
Whatever. Why didn't she say something or protest when Dubya implemented the ban in the first place?
I love ya, Nancy, but you're coming off pretty hypocritical in my book, i'm just sayin'. . . .
The repugnicans as they are today are the sorriest,most pathetic group of losers, given that their main spokesmonsters are rush and coulter. And palin + mcaain himself. ( eyes rolling, patronizing and generally a senile, smug bloke.)
There is hope, however. Meghan McCain and Mr's Reagan will undoubtedly inspire other Americans to see just how stupid the current gop is. Then we'll have intelligent opposition, not the whiney, cornered- rat syndrome now in evidence.
you did the right thing on nov 4 th, I hope you will do the same in 4 years too. he`s fixing science research bush damaged, environement protection, he`s making peace with our enemies, if you want to be arrogant do it at your own account not 300 million americans. if you don`t have the courage to swallow your pride for the people don`t run for any office.
Thank you, Nancy Reagan. There are many Americans sharing your gratitude towards President Obama for moving forward with this vital research.
Nancy Regan appreciates Obama ???The reason is obvious.
I'm for stem-cell research, but find it amazing how people's values go right out the window when something affects them directly.
Nancy Reagan is still alive?
Nancy, you are out of touch with American people here. You should know that we are jobless and our savings are drained out. You have guts to praise this president for stem cell research but you do not have guts to criticize him for what he is going to our nation. He has put us into trillions of dollars in debt. How can he borrow money which we do not have. Now he is comparing Taliban to Sunni Militants in Iraq. We have elected an ignorant president. He does not know what Taliban has done to their nation (Afghanistan) for the last decade. Sunni Militants basically surfaced after Saddam Hussein went down and you should be full of ignorance to compare them to Taliban. This guy just does not get it. He will create more harm to our nation with his actions and his ignorance.
i like nancy regan she's a wonderful lady
Former Actor/President Reagan commented via a seance to add:
"REAGAN SMASH!"
No, but seriously, Tear Down This Myth.
No wonder, Republicans, the American Talibans or religious extremists don't support science or technology or medical research. They are even against govt's role in providing affordable and accessible healthcare to people. They call it socialized medicine while all repub senators and congressmen receive their own healthcare benefits from the government.
I will take anybody for this advancement of science. It is a good thing. Disease does not discriminate. Let us hope for breakthroughs.
right on, Mrs Reagan!!!!
Much respect to Nancy Reagan. And I can't wait to see what Bill O'reilly, Hannity, Coulter and Rush have to say. They probably won't even touch the topic or Bill will bring it up in his Patriot or Pinhead section.
yes...thanks for the support Mrs. Reagan, we'll take it
Thank you Ms. Nancy Regan for this apolitical but genuinely humanitarian endorsement.
Thank you, Mrs. Reagan, for not standing on the party line on this issue. Maybe some of your fellow Republicans can see past the elephant and work for the country instead of their reelection. It's one thing to disagree, and another to just refuse any solution put forward by the President as "wrong," "too costly," or "socialist."
Thank you Ms. Nancy Reagan for this apolitical but genuinely humanitarian endorsement.
When a cure is needed for the well being of a family member that is when the Republicans speak up, would she have spoken up if her husband could not have benefited from the research, I wonder. I do have to thank you for speaking up and hope that research will help a lot of people, the time has come.
The era of non-science has ended. Thank God! On behalf of those of us with Diabetes: thank you President Obama. On behalf of those who have or might get any of those diseases thank you sir. Now the next step is to put it into law so the next time there is an ingnorant #$&^*& in the White House it would take "an act of Congress" to undo.
Finally a president that will pull us out of the dark ages who believes in science. I'm liking this. What's not to like?
I am so tired of this. There was never a ban on federal funding for research. Just research on cells derived from aborted babies.
A mathematical question for conservatives:
There are 400,000 strains of embryonic stem cells that can be used right now.
Are there 400,000 of you willing to impregnate yourself with someone's cast-off in-vitro cells? Or, if we're trying to find people willing to go 'Octomom', are there 50,000 of you willing to have all these children AND THEN provide for them for the rest of their lives and make them feel wanted and loved for ever adn ever as all children should?
Anyone out there willing to put their money where their mouth, or womb in this case, is?
No?
Then I guess we should move forward with saving existing lives.
Preach!! You go girl!! Just say yes!!! (to stem cell research)
Sometimes good things happen for people when good people do good things.
God Bless President Obama and his team!!!
WWOMD? (What would Octo-mom do?)
I totally agree.
It is very important that scientists will get the chance to develop new possibilities against illnesses. We are born to discover.
Thank you Bridget!!! I was just thinking the same thing about the whole birth certificate issue, that argument is so tired.
If there we any doubt how would he have even become President in the first place?
I can't understand the way some people think. They are against funding for stem cell research which could help so many people, yet, they have no objections to having funded billions of dollars to a war that claimed so many people's lives, as well as wrecked others'. Doesn't make any sense to me. Can someone please explain.
Oh Nancy.....what will Rush say about you on his show tomorrow? Don't worry, I got your back!