From the President

By

WANDA FRANZ, Ph.D.

Mischief about Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 810 ... . The bill would compel all American taxpayers to pay for research that relies on the intentional destruction of human embryos for the derivation of stem cells ...

Destroying nascent human life for research raises serious ethical problems, and many millions of Americans consider the practice immoral.

—Executive Office of the President, 5/24/2005

Stem cell experts bristled at President Bush’s characterization of embryonic stem cell research as unethical ...

.. Bush has promised to veto any measure broadening embryonic stem cell research, saying it crosses “a critical ethical line.”

—Reuters wire service story, 5/25/2005

And who are the “experts” quoted by Reuters? Sean Tipton, a lobbyist for stem cell research, and Dr. Robert Lanza, a stem cell researcher in a privately owned company, who wants the taxpayer to fund such “unethical” research.

Dr. Lanza is quoted as saying, “Many people believe human life—a person—begins in a woman’s uterus, in the mother’s womb, not in a Petri dish ... ” It is unlikely that, as a scientist, Dr. Lanza actually believes this. In fact, if in vitro fertilization (using human eggs and sperm cells) did not produce a human life in a Petri dish, Dr. Lanza would have no interest in the resulting embryo.

Reuters’ favorable treatment of the embryonic stem cell research lobby—and of embryonic stem cell research in general—is typical for the media and most polling organizations.

One can safely assume that most people don’t know much about embryonic stem cells but are willing to be instantly “educated” by the pollster and then express an opinion. Hence “framing” the poll question is of paramount significance.

A particularly striking example of framing that favors embryonic stem cell research comes from the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll of June 25–28, 2004. It states:

There is a type of medical research that involves using special cells, called stem cells, that are obtained from human embryos. These human embryo stem cells are then used to generate new cells and tissues that could help treat or cure many diseases. I am now going to read you two statements about this type of research.

Statement A: Those OPPOSED to this type of research say that it crosses an ethical line by using cells from potentially viable human embryos, when this research can be done on animals or by using other types of stem cells.

Statement B: Those IN FAVOR of this research say that it could lead to breakthrough cures for many diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and spinal cord injuries, and this research uses only embryos that otherwise would be discarded.

The poll question cleverly sets the stage by referring to “medical research” and “treating or curing many diseases.” Who could be against such benevolent endeavors? And the cells are “obtained from human embryos”—suppressing the fact that the embryos get killed in the process.

Statement A, opposing embryonic stem cell research, speaks only of “crossing an ethical line using cells from potentially viable human embryos”—without giving the primary reason for such opposition: the killing of a fellow human being by the researcher. It also muddies the waters with the biologically meaningless term “potentially viable.” As to the alternatives to embryonic stem cells, it refers to “other types of cells,” without identifying them as stem cells from either adult tissues or umbilical cord blood. The mounting “breakthrough” successes of adult stem cell therapy are not mentioned—neither is the complete lack of success, so far, of embryonic stem cell therapy. Thus only 22% oppose embryonic stem cell research.

Statement B, supporting human embryonic stem cell research, is phrased in terms that make it hard to oppose such research. There are “breakthrough cures for many diseases.” And there is the list of dreadful afflictions: cancer—everyone’s nightmare; Parkinson’s and spinal cord injuries—aren’t there famous people who were struck by them?; and Alzheimer’s (probably the least likely disease to benefit from stem cell therapy)—didn’t the nation just bury Ronald Reagan, our beloved president? To top it off, Statement B fraudulently asserts that “this research only uses embryos that otherwise would be discarded”—willfully ignoring the desire of researchers to clone human embryos to be killed for their stem cells. Statement B garners 71%.

The poll question above is unusual in that it combines a variety of polling “sins” on embryonic stem cell research in a single question. But other polls and news stories about such polls have repeated many of them. Add to that the steady propaganda in the mainstream media, especially after President Reagan’s burial, and you have a mis-“educated” public that has internalized many false ideas about human embryonic stem cell research. Current polls reflect that: 58% “approve medical research using embryonic stem cells” (CBS News poll, 5/20–23/2005) and 63% “support embryonic stem cell research” (ABC News/Washington Post poll, 4/21–24/2005).

In 2004 there were new elements: the advocacy for human embryonic stem cell research in the Democratic Party Platform and the Kerry-Edwards campaign’s push for it. The result was a dramatic opinion shift among respondents identifying themselves as Democrats (Gallup poll): Embryonic stem cell research was considered “morally acceptable” by 57% and 58% in May 2003 and 2004, respectively, and by no less than 72% in May 2005. In contrast, support among Republicans declined from 53% and 51% in May 2003 and May 2004, respectively, to 49% in May 2005. The corresponding numbers for the total sample are 54%, 54%, and 60%—demonstrating the large effect of the media propaganda after President Reagan’s death and the Democrats’ efforts to use embryonic stem cell research as their “wedge issue.”

Once again, pro-lifers face the huge job of undoing anti-life propaganda and educating the public on a fundamental issue. The first step is to educate ourselves. To that end NRLC has developed a DVD on “Stem Cells & Cloning” with simple diagrams, summaries in clear language, and additional explanations narrated by me.