From the mouths of knaves

By Lee Russ

Friday, October 27, 2006 at 06:05 PM

Rush Limb-awww just won't let it go.  Now he's sent Katie Couric an e-mail about his claim that actor Michael J. Fox was faking symptoms in the ad he did for the Missouri Democratic candidate for the Senate, and now he's added the claim that Fox is just a partisan hack.

Excerpt from the e-mail (emphasis added):

Rush's E-mail to Katie Couric

October 26, 2006

Thanks, Katie, I'll try to make it simple:

I believe Democrats have a long history of using victims of various things as POLITICAL spokespeople because they believe they are untouchable, infallible. They are immune from criticism. But when anyone enters the POLITICAL arena of ideas they forfeit the right to be challenged on their participation and message.
["...forfeit the right to be challenged"?????  Does anyone have any idea what that's even supposed to mean?]

I have not met Mr. Fox, do not know him. I have admired his work in film and TV and his appearances on Letterman were howlers. I have nothing personal against him. But I believe his implication that only Democrats want to cure disease(s) is irresponsible [As Olbermann has pointed out repeatedly, Fox did an ad supporting Arlen Specter in a past election for the same reason--Specter supports stem cell research]  (as I believed about John Edwards assuring voters Christopher Reeve would walk if only John Kerry were elected). I think this is ultimately cruel and gives people who suffer these terrible afflictions false hope.

As of now there is NO EVIDENCE that embryonic stem cells even hold promise, while other approaches, such as adult stem cells, already have yielded results.

Yessir, when Dr. Limb-awww is right, Dr. Limb-awww is right.  There is NO EVIDENCE that embryonic stem cells even hold promise.  None I tell you, not an iota.

1. "Embryonic stem cells are a promising source for myocardial regeneration due to their pluripotency and plasticity. In theory, embryonic stem cells are capable of self-renewal in an unlimited fashion, and can differentiate into any cell type required for cell-based therapy, including cardiac myocytes. In recent years, embryonic stem cells have been transplanted for cardiac regeneration in animal models, and the results are encouraging."

From abstract to Dai W, Kloner RA.: Myocardial regeneration by embryonic stem cell transplantation: present and future trends; Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2006 May;4(3):375-83.

2. "We review the application of stem cell transplantation to the spinal cord, emphasizing the use of embryonic stem cells for remyelinating damaged axons. Recent advancements in neural injury and repair, and the progress towards development of neuroprotective and regenerative interventions are discussed."

From abstract to Garbossa D, Fontanella M, Fronda C, Benevello C, Muraca G, Ducati A, Vercelli A.: New strategies for repairing the injured spinal cord: the role of stem cells; Neurol Res. 2006 Jul;28(5):500-4.

3. "These two features have made HESC [human embryonic stem cells] extremely important in basic and applied research. In addition, they may serve as a powerful tool for studying human development. HESC can recapitulate embryogenesis by expressing developmentally regulated genes and by activating molecular pathways as they occur in vivo. Moreover, they can be used to analyze the effect of specific mutations on particular developmental events and may enable us to identify critical factors that play a role in the processes of cell commitment, differentiation, and adult cell reprogramming. Thus, modeling human embryogenesis by the use of HESC may allow new insights into developmental processes, which would otherwise be inaccessible for research."

From abstract to Dvash T, Ben-Yosef D, Eiges R.: Human embryonic stem cells as a powerful tool for studying human embryogenesis; Pediatr Res. 2006 Aug;60(2):111-7.

4. "This review summarizes these recent advances in vascular development from human ES [embryonic stem] cells and their potential clinical applications."

From abstract to Cohen IG, Beck G, Ziskind A, Itskovitz-Eldor J: Human embryonic stem cells for vascular development and repair; Isr Med Assoc J. 2006 Aug;8(8):573-8

5. "Adult stem cells, however, have limited potential to differentiate into different cell types. Human embryonic stem cells can be converted into cells of all lineages."

From abstract to Tuch BE: Stem cells--a clinical update; Aust Fam Physician. 2006 Sep;35(9):719-21.

But hey, you know Dr. Limb-awww doesn't expect his audience to know about the research.  They're idea of research is listening to Dr. Limb-awww.  The reason that there haven't been any cures from human embryonic stem cells is that we're still working through the exploration phase of this kind of treatment.

You know, the day before the first clinical test of the polio vaccine, you could have claimed that there was NO EVIDENCE that this research was even promising, and certainly NO EVIDENCE that it was effective.  The next day...a new world.