To Kerry from Zogby: Stem Cell Science Plan - DO IT and Make bu$h Lose 20%

[Triana]

President Bush Could Lose 20 Percent of Committed Voters if Kerry Seizes Stem Cell Science Plan

New American Demographics-Zogby Poll Finds

First released on July 28, 2004, by American Demographics

Declared “Switchers” emerge as 2004 election phenomenon
in unique voter sentiment survey on pre-election ‘what ifs’
One of every five people who plans to vote for President George W. Bush would change his vote on election day in November
if Democratic Sen. John Kerry proposes bold stem cell research programs aimed at curing diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
A new poll done exclusively for American Demographics by Zogby International, says that if Kerry were to announce a major
initiative in stem cell research to cure diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes and spinal injuries, Kerry would gain
a whopping 11 percent of Bush’s voters. Another nine percent of Bush supporters would switch to a third party, not vote, or be
undecided.

“This is the ‘sleeper issue’ of this campaign,” said Bob Beckel, a former Democratic presidential candidate strategist. “It’s
more than just stem cell research - it’s the symbolism of announcing a plan to eradicate major diseases, and part of the Baby
Boomers’ health care crisis.” American Demographics’ Washington, D.C. writer Alicia Mundy analyzes the results in an
upcoming September issue of the magazine.

There is a growing public desire for the government to do more to cure diseases that will put the Baby Boomer generation in a
squeeze, parenting their own parents while raising children, and struggling to pay for and get health insurance. “In polling, a
switch to the competition is a two-fer, so a switch of 11 percent directly from Bush to Kerry is a total change of 22 percent,”
Beckel said. And in an election where most polls show a dead heat, any significant change could swing the results.

[Kierkegaard]

1. Not sure where he's getting those kind of numbers

but, it would certainly be a boost to whomever decides to adopt a strong position on stem cell research.

[Sporadicus]

2. I Expect a Response From the Kerry Camp on Stem Cell Research

but I'm willing to trust their strategists as to the proper time for announcing a comprehensive plan. We've still got 2 1/2 months before the election, and the general public has a short collective memory.

[tridim]

3. Same deal with alternative/renewable/clean energy R&D

It's a winning issue, Kerry needs to sing it loudly.

[w13rd0]

28. Absolutely...

...alot of Libertarian leaning Republicans realize that alternative/renewable energy would take us out of the "nation-building for oil" game, and thus enhance our security. I've used this angle in particular to great effectiveness with techies and libertarians I know in the IT sector.

[Francine Frensky]

32. I don't think so. People have energy fatigue

I'm serious. Most people don't want to think that hard through all the words you just mentioned. People think "hybrid cars" and "expensive regulated gas" when they hear those phrases. People want to go to the gas station and put gas in their SUV's and not have to worry about how it got there or how clean it is, or whatever.

What this poll is saying is huge. The sentence is simple, and it's never been said before, and unlike a lot of the things in campaigns that we get all worked up about, but let's face it, never have a whole lot of personal impact, this one could be HUUUUUGE. Bigger than a man on the moon, really, because it would affect everyday life NOT to have to deal with mom in the alzheimers unit. Knowing: "I will never have to change my dad's diapers" -- how much would that be worth????

Kerry says: I believe in science and I believe we can cure Alzheimers in ten years.

Boom.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. I think this is a good idea

Ron Reagan's speech at the DC shows that Kerry knows this is an issue. On a board frequented by freepers, I even suggested that the expanded stem cell research plan could be named in honor of Ronald Reagan-that finding a treatment for Alzheimer's would be a better tribute to him than pasting his name on a ten dollar bill. Not one of the freepers flamed me, which was unusual for that board. In fact, NOT ONE OF THEM criticized the idea.

[zuzu98]

8. Now THAT is political judo!

Brilliant suggestion! Makes it a win-win for Kerry and a lose-lose for BushCo.

[Triana]

30. BUMP for ayeshahaqqiqa's idea...

...Kerry should not only have a stem cell research science plan, but tie it to Ronald Reagan and finding a cure for alzheimer's - would hurt GeeDuhbya (potentially) but Repubs couldn't complain much 'cause it's tied to their Golden Boy.

Great idea!

Chop-chop!!

[Guaranteed]

5. Well, it's definitely worth a shot.

Those numbers seem out-of-whack to me, somehow, though.

[NMDemDist2]

11. not to me, us American's love our science and techno toys n/t

[zuzu98]

6. This could be similar to Kennedy's plan to go to the moon.

If Kerry can put together a credible group of researchers who can specifically articulate what diseases might be potentially helped/cured by stem cell research, what time frame we're looking at and a reasonable estimate of how much it will cost. There also must be a plan to deal with objections from those who feel that embryonic stem cell research "destroys life."

[JohnKleeb]

7. yeah possibly

Kerry seems very ethuisiatic about it.

[aquart]

10. The research is still pure.

How could they guesstimate what it would cure? That's misunderstanding the point of research.

[zuzu98]

20. But most people don't get "pure research."

I think this has to be tied to things that people will relate to in order to get/keep their support.

[aquart]

9. Funny, the Sunday pundits were saying how it doesn't matter.

How votes didn't hang on it. Does anyone remember which show?

They showed a clip of Laura saying how the research wasn't there and there was no cure in the immediate offing. (How did she think that would help George? He deliberately stifled the research.)

[Spinzonner]

12. Apparently you dont realize that Laura's an expert biologist and Medical r

or maybe she just read an article in a fundamentalist journal to remind herself when she was a librarian and had an honorable role in life.

[aquart]

17. Well, it's just that she's so modest and appropriate.

No unseemly speaking out or anything. So how could I ever guess?

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

13. Timothy Noah's Chatterbox

Did an article on this called "Surprise of the Week".

It talks about the GOP plans to have Ron Reagan's half brother Michael give a speech against stem cell research at the convention. I'm thinking that Kerry will wait for after that speech to attack this issue. Here's the link to the article:

Chatterbox

[aquart]

18. Oh wow. That'll bring millions to their cause.

Are they trying to be funny?

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

23. It sounds

as though once again, they are completely out of touch. I guess that's why Noah called it the "Pleasant Surprise of the Week". I left off the Pleasant part on my first post, sorry! Timothy Noah had said in a previous article that he thought the GOP wouldn't be that stupid, but guess what?! HA HA HA

[mzmolly]

14. OMFG ... WOW! I'm likin this!!!! YEEARRRGH!

:)

KERRY ARE YOU LISTENIN?

[DaveSZ]

15. Great idea!

It should be named in honor of Reagan, and then that will help get it through the (likely) GOP House as well.

[JohnKleeb]

19. hah genius

It sounds like a noble idea.

[aquart]

21. Name a stem cell research bill for Ronald Reagan??? GENIUS!

And bi-partisan, too.

[mzmolly]

24. I like the way you think DaveSZ!

:evilgrin:

"The Ronald Reagan Stem Cell Research Proposal" or uhm some such thing. :hi:

[oscar111]

22. NIH now $30B: Total US wealth 103 Trillion: GDP 10 Trillion

So the money exists to expand research.. about 3,000 times.

Shrink research time of 20 years at today's funding, to

2 and 1/4 days.

Of course, in reality time is needed to build all those extra labs, do training, and line up discoveries in order.

Still.... nice talking point with radio hosts. Shocking... 2 days.

[LisaL]

26. Only 10-25% grants (of all that apply) are funded by NIH

A lot of people apply for grants, and a lot of grants don't get funded.
You don't need to build extra labs, I am pretty sure there are plenty of PIs in existing labs that would be glad to apply for stem cell research grants.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

16. I don't know if this is true but I hope it is!

[Dob Bole]

25. Finally! We get a wedge issue!

Who knew that we would ever be so lucky?

[LisaL]

27. YEP

YEP, I don't see any downside to it.
People who think that stem cell research kills human life are already voting for Bush, I presume.

[neoSattva]

29. Much more than Stem Cells

Kerry can use the stem cell issue to break rational folks away from Bush's fundamentalist ideas ~ Bush's view toward science is dangerous, and the other areas in the news are either more controversial (global warming), or don't directly influence most Americans (evolution). By far most people think that it's just stupid not to pursue stem cell research. Using religion to put limits on a science that could improve or save thousands of lives is right out of the middle ages.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Francine Frensky]

33. What if we had a president who believed in science?

I'd replay that part of Kerry's speech over and over if I were doing the ads.

Get Bush to go on record as saying he doesn't believe in science.