The Unconscionable Claims of Michael J. Fox

[GaryC 7]

The Unconscionable Claims of Michael J. Fox

October 25th, 2006

The popular and appealing actor Michael J. Fox has taken to the airwaves in Senate battleground states Missouri, Maryland, and New Jersey with a highly misleading ad urging defeat of Republican Senatorial candidates opposing the use of taxpayer dollars to fund new embryonic stem cell line research. He states,

“Stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans with diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…. But George Bush and Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem cell research.”

Mr. Fox and his ads’ sponsors are guilty of conflating embryonic stem cell research, which the GOP candidates and many Americans oppose for destroying a human life in the name of curing other people’s diseases, with stem cell research in general, which includes adult stem cell research and umbilical cord blood stem cell research.

The only limits in question are on federal funding of new embryonic stem cell lines, requiring the sacrifice of new embryos. Private and state-funded research (California voters are spending six billion dollars borrowing money to fund this) is ongoing. The implicit claim that research based on new embryos is “the most promising” is absurd, completely unsupported by the scientific literature, and an insult to voters, based as it is on the assumption that they are incapable of understanding the issue. Too stupid to tell the difference, is the elitist assumption underlying this campaign.

Flim-flam is a charitable description. Why would federally-funded research be more promising than state- and privately-funded research? And on what possible basis can the claim be made that embryonic stem cell research is more promising than adult stem cell research?

The plain fact is that embryonic stem cell research is proving to be a bust. There are currently 72 therapies showing human benefits using adult stem cells and zero using embryonic stem cells. Scientifically-minded readers can review this medical journal article on the status of adult stem cell research. Adult stem cell therapies are already being advertised and promoted while no such treatments are even remotely in prospect for embryonic stem cell research.

The fact is that adult stem cells have already produced remarkable cures, whereas embryonic stem cells have failed. This should come as no great surprise to anyone with a background in high school biology. When an embryo is created by the union of the sperm and egg, the cells begin to divide, creating embryonic stem cells from which all future tissues and organs are derived. Within days, the embryonic cells differentiate into three cell layers – ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Cells in these layers continue to differentiate into tissues and organs. As the embryo matures into a fetus, child, and adult, some undifferentiated cells of the three types remain in various tissues such as bone marrow, fat, skin and olfactory tissue.

These adult stem cells are multipotent: they have the ability to turn into a variety of types of tissues. Successful stem cell therapies cause the DNA in the adult stem cells to further differentiate into more specific types of cells. There is no point in getting the adult stem cell to turn into a less differentiated type of cell, or using the more primitive embryonic stem cells. This would be going backward, in the opposite direction of providing a clinically useful therapy. Difficulties abound with proposed embryonic stem cell therapies. The growth of the more primitive embryonic stem cells is more difficult to control and leads to tumor formation. Recent research suggests brain tumors may result. Additionally, the use of embryonic tissue foreign to the patient can potentially lead to problems with immune rejection of tissue, a problem not encountered in using a patient’s own adult stem cells.

America is the most formidable medical research center in the world, but it is far from alone in pursuing the potential of adult stem cells. The worldwide effort is impressive and growing. For non-adult stem cell research, a morally unquestionable alternative source exists: stem cells drawn from umbilical cord blood. Already a bank exists in Dubai collecting cord blood stem cells.

In short, the claims made in the Michael J. Fox political ads are false and reprehensible, an insult to the voters of Maryland, Missouri and New Jersey, and to all Americans.

Mary L. Davenport, MD is an obstetrician and gynecologist, and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Mary L. Davenport, MD

http://americanthinker.com/articles.php?ar...&search=Fox

[matako 0]

I saw Fox' ad, and he seemed to be rocking much more than he usually does. I would not say it like Rush Limbaugh who is a jackass to start with did, but I think Mr.Fox did a little exxageration..he kept rocking but never fell down or went out of the frame of the camera. Common.

The Unconscionable Claims of Michael J. Fox

October 25th, 2006

The popular and appealing actor Michael J. Fox has taken to the airwaves in Senate battleground states Missouri, Maryland, and New Jersey with a highly misleading ad urging defeat of Republican Senatorial candidates opposing the use of taxpayer dollars to fund new embryonic stem cell line research. He states,

“Stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans with diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…. But George Bush and Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem cell research.”

Mr. Fox and his ads’ sponsors are guilty of conflating embryonic stem cell research, which the GOP candidates and many Americans oppose for destroying a human life in the name of curing other people’s diseases, with stem cell research in general, which includes adult stem cell research and umbilical cord blood stem cell research.

The only limits in question are on federal funding of new embryonic stem cell lines, requiring the sacrifice of new embryos. Private and state-funded research (California voters are spending six billion dollars borrowing money to fund this) is ongoing. The implicit claim that research based on new embryos is “the most promising” is absurd, completely unsupported by the scientific literature, and an insult to voters, based as it is on the assumption that they are incapable of understanding the issue. Too stupid to tell the difference, is the elitist assumption underlying this campaign.

Flim-flam is a charitable description. Why would federally-funded research be more promising than state- and privately-funded research? And on what possible basis can the claim be made that embryonic stem cell research is more promising than adult stem cell research?

The plain fact is that embryonic stem cell research is proving to be a bust. There are currently 72 therapies showing human benefits using adult stem cells and zero using embryonic stem cells. Scientifically-minded readers can review this medical journal article on the status of adult stem cell research. Adult stem cell therapies are already being advertised and promoted while no such treatments are even remotely in prospect for embryonic stem cell research.

The fact is that adult stem cells have already produced remarkable cures, whereas embryonic stem cells have failed. This should come as no great surprise to anyone with a background in high school biology. When an embryo is created by the union of the sperm and egg, the cells begin to divide, creating embryonic stem cells from which all future tissues and organs are derived. Within days, the embryonic cells differentiate into three cell layers – ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Cells in these layers continue to differentiate into tissues and organs. As the embryo matures into a fetus, child, and adult, some undifferentiated cells of the three types remain in various tissues such as bone marrow, fat, skin and olfactory tissue.

These adult stem cells are multipotent: they have the ability to turn into a variety of types of tissues. Successful stem cell therapies cause the DNA in the adult stem cells to further differentiate into more specific types of cells. There is no point in getting the adult stem cell to turn into a less differentiated type of cell, or using the more primitive embryonic stem cells. This would be going backward, in the opposite direction of providing a clinically useful therapy. Difficulties abound with proposed embryonic stem cell therapies. The growth of the more primitive embryonic stem cells is more difficult to control and leads to tumor formation. Recent research suggests brain tumors may result. Additionally, the use of embryonic tissue foreign to the patient can potentially lead to problems with immune rejection of tissue, a problem not encountered in using a patient’s own adult stem cells.

America is the most formidable medical research center in the world, but it is far from alone in pursuing the potential of adult stem cells. The worldwide effort is impressive and growing. For non-adult stem cell research, a morally unquestionable alternative source exists: stem cells drawn from umbilical cord blood. Already a bank exists in Dubai collecting cord blood stem cells.

In short, the claims made in the Michael J. Fox political ads are false and reprehensible, an insult to the voters of Maryland, Missouri and New Jersey, and to all Americans.

Mary L. Davenport, MD is an obstetrician and gynecologist, and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Mary L. Davenport, MD

http://americanthinker.com/articles.php?ar...&search=Fox

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't buy it. He's standing up for something he 'thinks' will be of benefit for him and sufferers of similar conditions.

Embryonic stem cell research has been severely restricted under the law, so to suggest it is totally worthless is somewhat bizarre - when no research programme has been conducted. Scientists have, as I recall, pointed out the benefits that they believe an expansion of the programme could bring. Noone has promised a cure - just that a line of research is worth pursuing...

“Stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans with diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…. But George Bush and Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem cell research.”

Mr. Fox and his ads’ sponsors are guilty of conflating embryonic stem cell research, which the GOP candidates and many Americans oppose for destroying a human life in the name of curing other people’s diseases

Hard to see why his claims are "unconscionable". He's saying what he (and many other victims of incurable diseases) believe (whether he's right or not is another matter), and Bush and Steele DO oppose an expansion of stem cell research to include the embryonic variety. This person has a clearly 'pro-life' outlook, so its hard to claim that she doesn't have a wide latitude of bias.

In any case its a bit late to cry foul about 'dirty politics' considering the election strategy of the Republican Party over the last 6 years.

[GaryC 7]

Just because he "thinks" that is will provide a cure isn't reason to force the government into paying for "embryonic" stem cell research. Stem cell research is legal and widespread. Major advances have been made without making new embryos. Others have been doing research with embryos without any success. I find it odd that Mr Fox (who I like very much both as an actor and a person) would condone his name and reputation being put on the line in a way that will damage him like this.

The plain fact is that embryonic stem cell research is proving to be a bust. There are currently 72 therapies showing human benefits using adult stem cells and zero using embryonic stem cells. Scientifically-minded readers can review this medical journal article on the status of adult stem cell research. Adult stem cell therapies are already being advertised and promoted while no such treatments are even remotely in prospect for embryonic stem cell research.

The facts speak for themselves. The person that wrote this article is a PHD and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. I think her opinion is more reliable that of Mr. Fox's or any politician.

If all the advances are being made with other types of stem cells does it not make sense to follow those lines rather than waste money on something that hasn't made any progress?

The Dems have turned this into a political issue and not a medical one. Mr. Fox has cast his lot with the Dems. So regardless of his condition he has made himself fair game.

Embryos can still be used for research. It's just the government will not pay for it. That's the political side of it.

Edited October 26, 2006 by Iniibig ko si Luz forever

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So, the scientific community that sees a benefit in pursuing embryonic stem cell research (plenty of PHD's in there, too) knows nothing but the GOP and this particular PHD know everything. Does that about sum it up?

[Reba 2]

there are plenty more celebrities in the series of commercials along side Michael Fox. I think if he was worried about his "reputation" he wouldn't do it. I think perhaps he's more concerned about living a long happy life with his wife and kids.

No one griped overmuch when Superman condoned stem cell research that I can recall. Why gripe at Fox? Just because he's still standing and breathing on his own?

I've seen what Parkinson's does to a person. My Auntie Marg had it and it killed her. And damn near killed her husband who cared for her for years! I wouldn't wish such a disease on anyone. If something can be done, it should be done.

[Mags 112]

You can't blame MJF at ALL for his claims. He sees a potential light at the end of the tunnel for himself and other sufferers. He has HOPE.....you can't blame someone for having that.

And to say he is putting on his rocking and shaking is downright awful. He has had Parkinson's for about 10 years now...I thought he was actually not as bad as some who have had it for a similar period of time.

[GaryC 7]

there are plenty more celebrities in the series of commercials along side Michael Fox. I think if he was worried about his "reputation" he wouldn't do it. I think perhaps he's more concerned about living a long happy life with his wife and kids.

No one griped overmuch when Superman condoned stem cell research that I can recall. Why gripe at Fox? Just because he's still standing and breathing on his own?

I've seen what Parkinson's does to a person. My Auntie Marg had it and it killed her. And damn near killed her husband who cared for her for years! I wouldn't wish such a disease on anyone. If something can be done, it should be done.

I invite you to look at this chart. It pretty much shows where things are going with adult vs embryo stem cells.

http://stemcellresearch.org/facts/treatments.htm

Regardless of the politics it is a waste of money to go with something that has shown it does not work rather than something that shows it does work.

Not only has embryo stem cells been shown not to work they have been linked to brain tumors.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061022/hl_nm/stemcells_dc

This has been turned into an election year issue and not a medical one. I would say the politicians care more about getting elected than finding a cure.

[Buttons 0]

I saw Fox' ad, and he seemed to be rocking much more than he usually does. I would not say it like Rush Limbaugh who is a jackass to start with did, but I think Mr.Fox did a little exxageration..he kept rocking but never fell down or went out of the frame of the camera. Common.

The Unconscionable Claims of Michael J. Fox

October 25th, 2006

The popular and appealing actor Michael J. Fox has taken to the airwaves in Senate battleground states Missouri, Maryland, and New Jersey with a highly misleading ad urging defeat of Republican Senatorial candidates opposing the use of taxpayer dollars to fund new embryonic stem cell line research. He states,

“Stem cell research offers hope to millions of Americans with diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s…. But George Bush and Michael Steele would put limits on the most promising stem cell research.”

Mr. Fox and his ads’ sponsors are guilty of conflating embryonic stem cell research, which the GOP candidates and many Americans oppose for destroying a human life in the name of curing other people’s diseases, with stem cell research in general, which includes adult stem cell research and umbilical cord blood stem cell research.

The only limits in question are on federal funding of new embryonic stem cell lines, requiring the sacrifice of new embryos. Private and state-funded research (California voters are spending six billion dollars borrowing money to fund this) is ongoing. The implicit claim that research based on new embryos is “the most promising” is absurd, completely unsupported by the scientific literature, and an insult to voters, based as it is on the assumption that they are incapable of understanding the issue. Too stupid to tell the difference, is the elitist assumption underlying this campaign.

Flim-flam is a charitable description. Why would federally-funded research be more promising than state- and privately-funded research? And on what possible basis can the claim be made that embryonic stem cell research is more promising than adult stem cell research?

The plain fact is that embryonic stem cell research is proving to be a bust. There are currently 72 therapies showing human benefits using adult stem cells and zero using embryonic stem cells. Scientifically-minded readers can review this medical journal article on the status of adult stem cell research. Adult stem cell therapies are already being advertised and promoted while no such treatments are even remotely in prospect for embryonic stem cell research.

The fact is that adult stem cells have already produced remarkable cures, whereas embryonic stem cells have failed. This should come as no great surprise to anyone with a background in high school biology. When an embryo is created by the union of the sperm and egg, the cells begin to divide, creating embryonic stem cells from which all future tissues and organs are derived. Within days, the embryonic cells differentiate into three cell layers – ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Cells in these layers continue to differentiate into tissues and organs. As the embryo matures into a fetus, child, and adult, some undifferentiated cells of the three types remain in various tissues such as bone marrow, fat, skin and olfactory tissue.

These adult stem cells are multipotent: they have the ability to turn into a variety of types of tissues. Successful stem cell therapies cause the DNA in the adult stem cells to further differentiate into more specific types of cells. There is no point in getting the adult stem cell to turn into a less differentiated type of cell, or using the more primitive embryonic stem cells. This would be going backward, in the opposite direction of providing a clinically useful therapy. Difficulties abound with proposed embryonic stem cell therapies. The growth of the more primitive embryonic stem cells is more difficult to control and leads to tumor formation. Recent research suggests brain tumors may result. Additionally, the use of embryonic tissue foreign to the patient can potentially lead to problems with immune rejection of tissue, a problem not encountered in using a patient’s own adult stem cells.

America is the most formidable medical research center in the world, but it is far from alone in pursuing the potential of adult stem cells. The worldwide effort is impressive and growing. For non-adult stem cell research, a morally unquestionable alternative source exists: stem cells drawn from umbilical cord blood. Already a bank exists in Dubai collecting cord blood stem cells.

In short, the claims made in the Michael J. Fox political ads are false and reprehensible, an insult to the voters of Maryland, Missouri and New Jersey, and to all Americans.

Mary L. Davenport, MD is an obstetrician and gynecologist, and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Mary L. Davenport, MD

http://americanthinker.com/articles.php?ar...&search=Fox

Well, As a Big Fan of MJF and a nurse. I can safely say that Micheal is not at the point of falling down. Nor would his twitches make him move enough to go out of camera frame. If you Know anything about Parkinson's the degree of tremors increases with stress and mood. If he is adament about his thoughts than the tremors would be worse than let's say he was acting. (where's he's comfortable).

Can I ask you something ??????

If it was you with the horrible disease that affects the body and not your mental state, wouldn't you fight like helll for every possible cure, or chance for a cure. The man is Young, he's had Parkinson's for a long time. Let him give a good fight while he still can. The disease is a progression and no matter how hard he tries it is unevible that he will soon find him unable to speak, loudly clearly and stop the tremors.

I've taken care of numerous Parkinson's patients , it is the most horrible disease I can imagine.

Imagine someone having to give you cues to walk. Left Leg forward, Right leg forward, how inhumane of you to criticize a man who just wants a fighting chance.

GO MICHEAL J FOX GO! GIVE THE GOOD FIGHT AND BEAT THIS MONSTER DISEASE!

Edited October 26, 2006 by Buttons

[Marc and Olga 0]

Again could someone point out where he specified "embryonic", or where it is implied/hinted/clearly stated, since it seems that "stem cell research" is as ambiguous a phrase as "immigrant" and "immigration".

[GaryC 7]

The bill he is advocating does.

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ppStemCell.asp

[Cristy 4]

I hope the bill goes through. My stepdad has MS and if this can give any of his body back I will be grateful.

There is no way MJF was putting on a show. He may not have taken his meds just so we could see what he goes through but I don't believe he was acting.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

ah yes, missouri politics, where it's difficult to tell the politicians from the actors they have on the ad

waits for almaty to find this

[GaryC 7]

Here is an editorial from an admittedly no side of the argument but it explains why some are against it.

October 23, 2006 6:06 AM

Vote “No,” Missouri

By The Editors

The pro-cloning ballot initiative in Missouri has a lot going for it: industry backing, celebrity endorsements, bipartisan support, and great press. What it lacks is honesty; and if opponents hammer home that point between now and Election Day, it may yet go down to a richly deserved defeat.

The initiative is being packaged as a way to ban cloning, when in fact it would put a right to clone into the state constitution. The initiative is designed to protect scientists’ ability to create cloned human embryos for use in research. Just five years ago, everyone agreed that this research involved cloning. Supporters tried to build support for it by calling it “therapeutic cloning” or “research cloning.” When those tactics failed, the pro-cloning movement decided to ditch the word “cloning” altogether — and, with remarkable chutzpah, to accuse those of us who keep using the word of being liars. (There are still a few supporters of cloning who, to their credit, have not gone along with this terminological spin; about them, the spinners are silent.)

The initiative doesn’t ban cloning. It bans only the implantation of a cloned embryo into a woman’s womb to initiate a pregnancy. In other words, it outlaws the development of a cloned embryo into a cloned baby: You can create a cloned human embryo as long as you kill it during research. (If artificial wombs can be made to work, however, the law would allow even for cloned babies.)

Nor is this the end of the cloners’ twisting of language. They do not just deny they are promoting cloning; they do not even want to face up to the fact that what they want to kill is an embryo. In Missouri, the phrase “early stem cell research” is being used. It is a double deception. It ignores the features of this research that make it controversial: its reliance on the cloning and destruction of human embryos. And it implies that the initiative’s opponents are against stem-cell research. In truth, they support research so long as it does not have those objectionable features.

The ads for the initiative claim that this kind of research can cure Alzheimer’s disease: a claim that reputable scientists who support the research say is absurdly unlikely.

The point of this initiative is political. “Stem-cell research” is popular, but cloning isn’t. If this initiative can bamboozle a red state, the theory is, the cause will be unstoppable. It is up to Missouri voters to put the brakes on this dishonest campaign.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=N2VmZ...zllZWNlYzdjYTk=

[Carol&Marc 0]

Hmmmmmmmm! left wing puppet! Maybe