WASHINGTON (Reuters) ? President Barack Obama lifted restrictions on federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research on Monday, angering abortion opponents but cheering those who believe the study could produce treatments for many diseases.

 

"We will lift the ban on federal funding for promising embryonic stem cell research," Obama said to vigorous applause at a White House gathering.

 

"We will also vigorously support scientists who pursue this research. And we will aim for America to lead the world in the discoveries it one day may yield."

 

Shares of companies specializing in stem cell research burst upward on the news, with Geron Corp up by as much as much as 35 percent and StemCells Inc up 73 percent at one point. Other related company shares rose, too.

 

The decision was a clear repudiation of the approach taken by Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush. U.S. law limits the use of federal money to make human stem cells, but Bush tightened the restrictions even further to include work using such cells.

 

Bush's decision prompted charges that he was basing his decision on politics and religion rather than science. Religious conservatives who supported Bush generally opposed embryonic stem cell research because it involves destruction of embryos, which they view as human life.

 

Obama rejected that view.

 

"When it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values," he said.

 

"As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research -- and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly."

 

Aides said Obama would not dictate details about how stem cell research should be overseen but would give the National Institutes of Health 120 days to come up with guidelines.

 

"We will never undertake this research lightly," Obama said. "We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse."

 

Some scientists accused Bush of sacrificing scientific research and subverting scientific findings to appease his conservative political and religious base, not only on stem cells but on climate change policy, energy and reproductive and end of life issues.

 

STATEMENT ON SCIENCE

 

Obama also signed a presidential memorandum directing the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for "restoring scientific integrity to government decision making."

 

The NIH will take into consideration guidelines from the National Academy of Sciences and the International Society for Stem Cell Research, said Dr. Harold Varmus, a former NIH director who is also president of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and an adviser to Obama.

 

Kansas Senator Sam Brownback issued a statement of dissent: "If an embryo is a life, and I believe strongly that it is life, then no government has the right to sanction their destruction for research purposes."

 

He argued that other sources of stem cells that do not come from human embryos offer as much promise.

 

Stem cell experts agree that all types of stem cells should be developed, but it is not clear which offer the best route to a new type of therapy called regenerative medicine, in which it is hoped doctors can replace brain cells destroyed by Alzheimer's disease, reverse genetic defects such as cystic fibrosis, and regrow severed spinal cords.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090309/pl_nm/us_stemcells_usa_9

Nothing but lies from this guy.

Before the eyes roll I should say that this is my business.

 

I vehemently disagree with Obama's order. There wasn't a restriction on private acquisition and study of stem cells. This is a common misconception. What Obama's order does is open federal funding to stem cell research. So what Obama is essentially doing is expanded the government and promoting more spending.

 

However, I should add that Bush opposed this for the wrong reasons. He took a strictly religious standpoint and refused to allow the government to be engaged in activities he thought were morally wrong.

 

Of course, there is still a moral debate and I think it is a valid one. However, many people are missing the point here.

 

The only thing bush did for stem cell research is set it back a decade.

I think 9/11 set it back more than Bush did.. stem cell research, and Gary Condit... those were all the rage on the news before 9/11 happened. Then we all forgot about them for five years.

I think 9/11 set it back more than Bush did.. stem cell research, and Gary Condit... those were all the rage on the news before 9/11 happened. Then we all forgot about them for five years.

 

Speaking of Gary Condit, did you know that the D.C. police just arrested somebody for the Chandra Levy murder? Washington Post basically broke the case for them.

Before the eyes roll I should say that this is my business.

 

I vehemently disagree with Obama's order. There wasn't a restriction on private acquisition and study of stem cells. This is a common misconception. What Obama's order does is open federal funding to stem cell research. So what Obama is essentially doing is expanded the government and promoting more spending.

 

However, I should add that Bush opposed this for the wrong reasons. He took a strictly religious standpoint and refused to allow the government to be engaged in activities he thought were morally wrong.

 

Of course, there is still a moral debate and I think it is a valid one. However, many people are missing the point here.

 

The only thing bush did for stem cell research is set it back a decade.

 

I love how a man in office for less than a decade could set this back a decade. In fact, funding was directed towards induced stem cell research, which is where the future of such research seems to now rest.

This is great news, it's good to open up more federal spending programs at this time, since the federal government's budget surplus needs to be spent somewhere.

This is great news, it's good to open up more federal spending programs at this time, since the federal government's budget surplus needs to be spent somewhere.

The first person in this thread to actually get this.

 

Bush did not set research behind and Obama is not moving it forward. The question is actually whether or not this is actually an appropriate use of taxpayer money.

 

Bush's opposition to the funding was the correct move but he made the correct move by mistake as he appeared to have no qualms about the government spending but was opposed to the moral aspects of it.

 

It seems to me that some of you hold the naive viewpoint that no science was being done over the last eight years. That's pure nonsense.

 

Right, for those institutions who can afford it.

Right, for those institutions who can afford it.

 

AKA all of them with the departments to do so.

while I don't necessarily mind government spending on science....now is certainly not the time. we don't have money and we really, really need to stop spending.

 

maybe the 42% that my bonus is getting taxed will help out a bit.......

while I don't necessarily mind government spending on science....now is certainly not the time. we don't have money and we really, really need to stop spending.

 

maybe the 42% that my bonus is getting taxed will help out a bit.......

 

Tell me about it, I was like "wooooohoooo $1500 bonus!" and then it showed up....

while I don't necessarily mind government spending on science....now is certainly not the time. we don't have money and we really, really need to stop spending.

 

maybe the 42% that my bonus is getting taxed will help out a bit.......

 

Tell me about it, I was like "wooooohoooo $1500 bonus!" and then it showed up....

 

x2

this is great news...hopefully it can help in getting those crippled by terrible ordeals back to walking and maybe even running one day...good job O

this is great news...hopefully it can help in getting those crippled by terrible ordeals back to walking and maybe even running one day...good job O

 

And the above is why he did it, the uninformed thought that somehow this research was not moving forward, and that federal funds has any impact on this at all.

this is great news...hopefully it can help in getting those crippled by terrible ordeals back to walking and maybe even running one day...good job O

 

And the above is why he did it, the uninformed thought that somehow this research was not moving forward, and that federal funds has any impact on this at all.

 

Yeah, im sure thats why he did it, to make the uninformed happy.

this is great news...hopefully it can help in getting those crippled by terrible ordeals back to walking and maybe even running one day...good job O

 

And the above is why he did it, the uninformed thought that somehow this research was not moving forward, and that federal funds has any impact on this at all.

 

Do you even think before you write something?

 

Yeah, im sure thats why he did it, to make the uninformed happy.

 

It is a free way to get people that think it is some kind of panacea to support you. If one does not understand how money works, it even seems like it will help the research. The other option is that Obama is among the ranks of the uninformed, but that can't be true, the news constantly tells me he's brilliant.

this is great news...hopefully it can help in getting those crippled by terrible ordeals back to walking and maybe even running one day...good job O

 

And the above is why he did it, the uninformed thought that somehow this research was not moving forward, and that federal funds has any impact on this at all.

 

Do you even think before you write something?

 

Yeah, im sure thats why he did it, to make the uninformed happy.

 

It is free PR,

 

Look I see where you are coming from, but to say that cutting federal funding to the biggest, most important field in science did not hinder it is just ludicrous.

 

Yes, those who think that stem cell research is all about cloning and curing peraplegia are misinformed/uneducated about the subject, however, it is insulting to say that this ban was just to satisfy those.

Look I see where you are coming from, but to say that cutting federal funding to the biggest, most important field in science did not hinder it is just ludicrous.

 

Yes, those who think that stem cell research is all about cloning and curing peraplegia are misinformed/uneducated about the subject, however, it is insulting to say that this ban was just to satisfy those.

 

But I am not saying that. Calling EBC the "biggest, most important field in science" is a bit of hyperbole, but nonetheless the Federal government did not cut federal funding to that field. The Bush administration is the first administration to fund such research, so that it automatically not a cut. Unless the federal funding was more than would have been spent on those extant strains (no chance), then every single dime spent by the federal government was effectively used on any kind of research whatsoever.

 

Despite the fact that it is not my fault that your average person does not fundamentally understand how money works, I am still expected to pay more than a fair share of that idiocy.

 

It may be insulting, but that doesn't make it any less true. Either the President is putting on a dog and pony show, or he is honestly ignorant.

this is great news...hopefully it can help in getting those crippled by terrible ordeals back to walking and maybe even running one day...good job O

 

And the above is why he did it, the uninformed thought that somehow this research was not moving forward, and that federal funds has any impact on this at all.

and by uninformed? you mean.....you?

It seems to be that there are certain people in this forum (including me), who just argue for the sake of arguing.

 

It seems to be that there are certain people in this forum (including me), who just argue for the sake of arguing.

 

 

Why would anyone think this is productive? If it were meant to be productive we wouldn't let Jimmy42Jack0 participate.

this is great news...hopefully it can help in getting those crippled by terrible ordeals back to walking and maybe even running one day...good job O

Nonsense. He's just politicizing it (or continuing to). That's the last thing we need.

 

he said he would lift the ban and he did... stop reading into it.

Why can't private funding continue?

 

 

And also, you've continuously accused him of lying through his teeth on everything during the election. He didn't lie about this, you've still criticized him. He literally cannot win with you, no matter what.

I stand by what I said. You've criticized him for not following through on what he said and for following through on what he said.

i think its quite obvious that you just dont like the man penguino...and thats fair enough...its a free country...but you have attacked him relentlessly in this last month and im just wondering where this governmental criticism was when ol W' was doing his best to rip america apart? that is where you share your true colors in these debates...

 

IMO...you are the type of person who will argue anything just to be different...and you feel that ron paul is so dramatically different than democrats and republicans...but power corrupts...irregardless of any difference between any candidate...so then you are left picing the person who you feel would f*** up the country less...and that far and away, not even close, the hare torched the tortoise on this one...and Obama won...now if you want to attack the war hawks, try going after the big red elephant not named rush limbaugh