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Josh at work Joshua Rosenau spends his days defending the teaching of evolution at the National Center for Science Education. He is formerly a doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas, in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When not battling creationists or modeling species ranges, he writes about developments in progressive politics and the sciences.

The opinions expressed here are his own, do not reflect the official position of the NCSE. Indeed, older posts may no longer reflect his own official position.

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    « Simple answers to stupid questions | Main | The sound of silence »

    Stem Cells

    Category: Policy and Politics
    Posted on: November 12, 2008 3:38 AM, by Josh Rosenau

    Ronald M. Green writes in the Washington Post:

    Few issues are likely to generate more emotional opposition than federal funding of stem cell research. Handled wrongly, it could energize conservative opponents and derail Barack Obama's presidency. There is no question that we must move ahead, but caution is key.
    Actually:

    Time Poll conducted by Abt SRBI. June 18-25, 2008. N=805 likely voters nationwide. MoE ± 3. "There is a type of medical research that involves using special cells, called embryonic stem cells, that might be used in the future to treat or cure many diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, and spinal cord injury. It involves using human embryos discarded from fertility clinics that no longer need them. Some people say that using human embryos for research is wrong. Do you favor or oppose using discarded embryos to conduct stem cell research to try to find cures for the diseases I mentioned?"

    Favor: 73%, Oppose: 19%, Unsure: 8%

    Not likely to derail much. Public opinion has come around on this, and did long ago. Solid majorities opposed Bush's repeated vetoes of Congressional overrides of the Bush stem cell doctrine.

    Meanwhile, former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson thinks Barack Obama should listen to his advice. Fortunately, no one seems to be that stupid any more.

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    Comments

    1

    This poll is worthless considering the way it is phrased (framed?).
    If I were to phrase it

    "Some people belief that scientific interest in basic research justifies the use of human embryos to further our knowledge of biology. Do you think that human embyos should be used this way?"

    Polls are known to be extremely sensitive to the way they are stated.

    Posted by: MartinB | November 13, 2008 1:41 AM

    2

    Just to let your readers know that Andor Technology plc are running a competition for the scientific community. $400 to the charity of your choice, will be awarded for the winning entry in the 2008 Christmas Card design contest, plus the opportunity to promote your work on www.andor.com - Check out:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k85yzCSdhrc

    Posted by: Jonny82 | November 18, 2008 4:55 PM

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