A MASSIVE DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN

FOR EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH

On July 10, 2005, about 36 million households received Parade magazine as a Sunday supplement.  The cover page was emblazoned with “Now…what the American people think about Stem Cell Research—A New Parade/Research!America Health Poll.”  Inside, readers found Micah Morrison’s article about “the state of stem cell research around the world” and a poll that is the cleverest piece of propaganda yet in support of embryonic stem cell research (ESCR).  

Morrison reviews the state of ESCR in various countries and suggests that ESCR in the United States is coming up short.

To his credit, Morrison states that “[t]he promise of embryonic stem cell science remains just that—a promise.  Adult stem cells, derived primarily from blood, have helped thousands with leukemia and genetic disorders.  Embryonic stem cell research, still relatively new, has yet to produce any groundbreaking cell therapy cures—and may never, some critics say.  But that hasn’t stopped scientists from believing in their potential.”

Morrison, however, doesn’t inform the reader about the “still relatively new” use of adult stem cells in the restoration of organ function beyond leukemia cures.  More importantly, Morrison doesn’t tell the reader that the harvesting of embryonic stem cells results in the death of the embryo.

Morrison notes that “[t]here is no federal statute outlawing embryonic stem cell research here—the barriers are largely due to restrictions placed on the use of federal research dollars,” but he doesn’t explain the reasons for the restrictions.  And he concludes with “Can we reach some moral consensus? Or will we slip behind as well-meaning partisans on both sides of the stem cell divide continue their fierce battles over terrain fraught with ethical and moral challenges?”  The reader is left to guess about the nature of the “ethical and moral challenges” and why there would be any need for a “moral consensus.”

The point of Morrison’s article is, of course, not to enlighten the reader about the fundamental, moral objections to ESCR but to demonstrate that in that particular field our country is “behind” other countries because of “restrictions” and “regulations.” 

In the end, Morrison’s article only serves as a “hook” for the real purpose behind addressing the issue: We must go ahead with ESCR because, according to a poll by Parade magazine and Research!America (“a nonprofit public education and advocacy group”), “a majority of Americans support embryonic stem cell research, yet a core minority is consistently opposed to it.”  (An excerpt of the poll appears in a box on page 5 of the July 10 issue of Parade magazine.)

The poll (available at www.researchamerica.org) is a master piece of manipulation.  In the first four questions it asks the respondents’ opinion about the importance of scientific leadership, the ranking of nations in that regard (it is unclear why the respondents would be qualified to make such judgments), science education, and the importance of medical research training.  Obviously, the respondents are being prepared for the desired conclusion: we must engage in ESCR because the United States must be the leader in embryonic stem cell research—though that isn’t the real reason, as we all know.

Then ESCR is addressed.  Only 17% have followed the issue closely, 45 % “somewhat closely.”  ESCR is strongly favored by 34%, somewhat favored by 24%, strongly opposed by 18%, somewhat opposed by 11%, and 13% “don’t know.”  As to the opposition to such research, respondents had two choices: “religious objections” and “other grounds.”  Most (57%) chose “religious objections,” 39% had “other grounds,” and 4% were not sure why they object.  That the “religious” objection is based on the scientific fact that current methods of ESCR kill human beings is nicely “manipulated” out of sight.

After several other questions about ESCR, this extremely deceptive question was asked:

“Scientists can now make embryonic stem cells for medical research by merging an unfertilized egg with a skin cell, for example.  In other words no fertilization takes place and there is no merger of egg and sperm.  Knowing this, do you favor or oppose embryonic stem cell research?”  Obviously, the “mis”-information is deliberate; it is deceptive “dis”-information.”  The respondents were not told that a new human being is created by this method—which would provide them with the most important scientific reason for a moral/religious objection.  The process was also not identified as the primary method for “cloning.”  Not surprisingly, the polling result was spectacular: 69% were for such research, 22% opposed it, and 9% didn’t know what to think.

Finally, the poll has two questions on cloning—without any explanation of the cloning process.

The first question states, “Reproductive cloning is the use of cloning technology to create a child.  Do you think that research into reproductive cloning should be allowed?”  As you would expect, 79% say no, only 16% say yes, and 5% don’t know.

The second question addresses cloning for research:  “Therapeutic cloning is the use of cloning technology to help in the research for possible cures and treatments for diseases and disabilities.  Do you think that research into therapeutic cloning should be allowed?”  In contrast to the “dis-information (“merging an unfertilized egg with a skin cell”) question above, only 59% say yes to such research; 35% say no, while 6% don’t know.  (Parade magazine notes the discrepancy, too.)  Of course, there is nothing “therapeutic” about such cloning.  A human being dies in every instance.  Moreover, the question is phrased in a way favoring the proponents of cloning because it, again, leaves out the all important fact that the embryo is made to die, and it talks about “possible cures and treatment for diseases and disabilities.”  It’s hard to object to that.

With this deceptive poll Parade magazine and Research!America dishonestly manipulated and mislead 1000 poll respondents.  The dishonesty was compounded by a factor of 36,000 by spreading this dis-information to 36 million households.  Don’t stand for it.

Educate yourself on ESCR (you can purchase a DVD on “Stem Cells & Cloning” from NRLC) and write to your newspaper protesting Parade magazine’s biased poll on ESCR.