Principled Senators
Earlier this year, Sen. Craig Thomas lost his battle with leukemia. Today, Sen. Pete Domenici announed his retirement because he was diagnosed with frontotemploral lobar degeneration (FTLD). Both of these are conditions that some say could be cured and/or treated as a result of embryonic stem-cell research.
While the promise of embryonic stem-cell research has been grossly exaggerated, many have allowed themselves to be duped into thinking that it far more promising than it actually is. They have actively advocated the research, seeing only the false oasis presented by those seeking financial gain from research that violates protocols that have been in place since the Nuremberg trials. Those who knowingly mislead those suffering from debilitating diseases are engaging in the worst kind of exploitation.
In spite of their conditions, Senators Craig Thomas and Pete Domenici consistently voted against the unethical research, which some say could help find a cure to their conditions. Whether it is because they were fiscally responsible, because they looked at the overwhelming evidence that adult stem-cell research is more promising, or because they simply couldn’t support research that destroys life, both of them deserve special recognition for their principled stance.