Saw elsewhere that Michael J Fox is doing ads for embryonic stem cell research that will air during the World Series and right before the election. There is concern that this could hurt anti-stem cell candidates like Talent in MO.

Except he'd be saying, "I am not a Democrat! I am a human being!"

Interestingly many of the people who are in favor of full speed ahead stem cell research are afraid to eat 'genetically modified' corn.

If Talent had money, here's the response directly behind MJF.

See, there is embryonic research going on, some is for Parkinson's, but all the rats now have brain tumors.

This is no surprise:

Embryonic development is one of the most fascinating of all biological processes. A newly fertilized egg faces the daunting challenge of not only generating all of the tissues of the mature animal but organizing them into a functionally integrated whole. Generating a wide range of adult cell types is not an ability unique to embryos. Certain types of tumors called teratomas are extraordinarily adept at generating adult tissues, but unlike embryos, they do so without the benefit of an organizing principle or blueprint. Such tumors rapidly produce skin, bone, muscle, and even hair and teeth, all massed together in a chaotic lump of tissue. Many of the signals required to induce formation of specialized adult cells must be present in these tumors, but unlike embryos, tumors generate adult cell types in a hopelessly undirected manner.

If a developing embryo is not to end up a mass of disorganized tissues, it must do more than generate adult cell types. . . . Yet, despite their rapid proliferation, embryonic stem cells in culture lose the coordinated activity that distinguishes embryonic development from the growth of a teratoma.

--Maureen L. Condic, "The Basics of Stem Cells," First Things (January 2002).

Michael J. Fox stopped taking his medication prior to filming the ad for Claire McCaskill. Pretty grim, if you ask me.

Perhaps Talent should simply ask the voters of MO if the danger to Fox and his family is worth McCaskill's exploitation.

Adult stem cell research shows much more promise from a scientific standpoint, especially in terms of real results.

Embryonic stem cell research is mainly a political baseball bat for the pro-death crowd to whack away at the pro-life crowd.

Proof, as if any more was needed, that the main thrust of medical research must be a cure for BDS.

I can forgive Fox for bad judgement given the ravages of Parkinston's, but his handlers? Drawn and quartered doesn't sound too harsh in my opinion.