Thursday, October 30, 2008
Scientific advances should settle the stem cell debate
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Scientific advances should settle the stem cell debate
Re: "Stem cell advances don't end the debate" (Oct. 19 editorial):
President Bush did not put a ban on embryonic stem cell research -- rather, he was the first to fund it. Such research has received approximately $41 million annually in federal funding since 2001.
While "it would be wonderful if any ethical cloud over stem cell research could be eliminated," the only research that is so clouded is human embryonic stem cell research because it requires the destruction of human embryos.
Research using adult and cord blood stem cells is ethically noncontentious and has shown benefits in patients for 73 diseases and conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.
Finally, the breakthrough in reprogramming ordinary skin cells into stem cells does argue for ending the ethical controversy over embryo-destructive research. It was justified on condition that no "morally less problematic alternatives" were available. The advance in reprogramming provides such an alternative.
James Thomson, one of the two scientists to achieve the breakthrough, said it was the "beginning of the end of the controversy" and "human embryo stem cell research will be abandoned by more and more labs."
Communications Director Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics
Prayer restriction is a bar against faith
I was saddened and shocked to read "Don't play politics with prayer" (Oct. 10 commentary), which supported Gov. Tim Kaine's approval of the decision by the state police superintendent not to allow police chaplains to pray in Jesus' name at official events.
This is tantamount to telling them not to pray at all, as the only access Christians have to the creator God of the Bible is through Jesus Christ. To pray to a generic god who doesn't even exist is a waste of time and helps no one.
I excused Kaine's decision as ignorance of the Christian religion. Maybe I was wrong and he is not ignorant, just rebellious. Certainly, the Rev. Nelson Harris should know better.
McCain, Goodlatte have right experience
Ronald Reagan, in his 1984 re-election campaign, famously quipped, "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."
Unfortunately, Barack Obama's surrogates have chosen to make an issue out of John McCain's age. Sixth District voters should consider age and experience when casting their ballots for president and Congress.
McCain has served his country in the military, has made greater sacrifices than Barack Obama can even begin to comprehend, understands the foreign threats facing our country, and has the experience in government to know government is not the answer to our national and individual woes. Can anyone name Obama's relevant accomplishments or experience?
In the race for Congress, Bob Goodlatte has done a great job representing the views of the residents of the district. From voting against the recent bailout to fighting for low taxes and spending to protecting traditional values, Goodlatte is with us on the issues.
Sam Rasoul is 27 years old, has limited experience in business and foolishly voted for Ralph Nader in 2004 and 2000.
McCain's the choice on judges, taxes
I support Sen. John McCain for president for two reasons I want others in the valleys to understand.
1. McCain wouldn't appoint judges based on their ideology, as Sen. Barack Obama would. Let judges be based on their experience and their adherence to the Constitution of the United States. Don't choose judges based on their party; vote on their merits.
McCain said in the last debate that he would uphold states' rights and appoint judges based on their adherence to the Constitution. Obama would not make this type of distinction.
2. Obama wants to "give a tax refund to 95 percent of Americans." Great, except the percentage of Americans who pay taxes is less than 95 percent. He wants to give a "tax refund" to those who pay $0 in taxes. That's not a "refund." It's got another name -- welfare.
Didn't President Clinton reform welfare and put people to work?
Palin shouldn't ignore ugliness from crowds
The Associated Press recently noted, "Palin at a fundraiser in Ohio on Friday told supporters it's not negative and it's not mean-spirited to scrutinize Obama's iffy associations."
However, when she does not rein in supporters' remarks like "traitor," "terrorist," "treason" or "off with his head," she does a grave disservice not only to politics but to this nation.
This falls below the level of mudslinging and helps to poison the fabric of our society. Mind you, Sen. John McCain has only just begun to quell these remarks at his rallies; why the wait?
Voting my beliefs: for McCain-Palin
I have attended three political rallies, one for Barack Obama and two for McCain-Palin.
At the Virginia Beach McCain-Palin rally, it was striking that among the thousands of people present, I could count on one hand the number of African-Americans who attended.
At the Obama rally in Roanoke, about 50 percent were African-Americans. There, I spoke to a Christian Chinese woman who cannot vote. When I explained to her that Obama voted for aborted babies born alive to be left to die, she said she could not vote for him even if she was allowed to vote in this country because of her Christian beliefs.
I also attended the Salem Sarah Palin rally. The crowd was at 16,000 people and only had three days notice of Palin coming. And I thought, "How am I different from Obama supporters?" I don't want to revere Palin or look to her as a miracle worker.
Maybe the difference lies in the fact that I am praying to God for help and the candidates I support vote the Christian beliefs I hold: pro-life and pro-traditional marriage. I already have a messiah. I need a leader. Vote for McCain-Palin Nov. 4.
Protect our rights; vote for Barr
We are now slaves of the government, compliments of the Bush administration and with the backing of both Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama.
The fact that two parties colluded to make the $700 billion bailout deal happen should tell you that this is really bad for taxpayers. Only Libertarian candidate and former Rep. Bob Barr had the courage to stand up against the titans of Wall Street and their money-printing friends in Washington.
The cost to taxpayers is now more than $1 trillion in new national debt, therefore making you and me government's slaves (i.e., we are owned by the government).
If you want even bigger government and fewer jobs within the borders of America, vote Republican or Democrat. But if you want to stand up and stop the elephants and donkeys from stomping their way through our land and our rights, vote for Libertarian Barr. Please research Barr before casting your vote for anyone else.
