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The Best Stem Cell Ad

Category: Culture
Posted on: October 15, 2006 12:15 PM, by Jonah Lehrer

This is one manipulative television spot. Although I'm afraid it indulges in some serious scientific hype - stem cell cures for diabetes and Alzheimers remain a distant dream - it effectively humanizes a scientific issue. If we are ever going to get Americans to care about the politicization of science, then I'm afraid we will need more inflammatory ads like this one. The sucess of Rove rests on a single truth: you win elections by going after the amygdala. What gets voters to the polls is their visceral feelings, especially when they are tinged with fear.

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Comments (2)

1
the heartstrings and the amygdala.
That sounds anatomically confused.

Posted by: Mustafa Mond, FCD | October 15, 2006 2:20 PM

2

Good point. I've modified the post. Thanks!

Posted by: Jonah | October 15, 2006 3:48 PM

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