WP: STEM CELL CONSPIRACY THEORY RAISES EYEBROWS

[DeepModem Mom]

Darn Cells. Dividing Yet Again!
By Rick Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 10, 2007; Page D01

Coincidence or conspiracy? You be the judge.

Thursday, June 7. After months of intense lobbying by scientists and patient advocacy groups, the House is ready to vote on legislation that would loosen President Bush's restrictions on the use of human embryos in stem cell research. But that very morning, the lead story in every major newspaper is about research just published in a British journal that shows stem cells can be made from ordinary skin cells.

The work was in mice, but the take-home message that suffuses Capitol Hill is that there is no need to experiment on embryos after all.

If that doesn't sound suspicious, consider this:

Monday, Jan. 8. After months of intense lobbying by scientists and patient advocacy groups, Congress is ready to vote on legislation that would loosen Bush's restrictions on stem cell research. But that very morning, newspapers are touting new research just published in a British journal suggesting that stem cells can be made from easily obtained placenta cells. No need for embryos after all!

Is there a plot afoot?

Lots of lobbyists, members of Congress and even a few scientists are starting to think so.

"It is ironic that every time we vote on this legislation, all of a sudden there is a major scientific discovery that basically says, 'You don't have to do stem cell research,' " Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) sputtered on the House floor on Thursday. "I find it very interesting that every time we bring this bill up there is a new scientific breakthrough," echoed Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), lead sponsor of the embryo access bill. Her emphasis on the word "interesting" clearly implies something more than mere interest....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/09/AR2007060901463.html?hpid=sec-health

[ProgressiveEconomist]

1. It's called PR, not conspiracy

Much of "news" these days is stenography for press releases from PR flacks paid by deep-pocketed interest groups. To see who's responsible for "placement" of the press release, oftentimes you merely need to google some of the unusual phrases in the resulting article. PR flacks are human and can't help themselves from posting the fruits of their labor.

What did you think, "reporters" are investigating and reporting on their own legwork? They're too busy with hairdressers, wardrobe consultants, and acting coaches teaching them to appear spontaneous.

[Rex]

2. My boss went on a morning talk show

at a local station and all he could talk about (with me) was how they exaggerated every movement and emotion - so fake that in person it seemed ridiculous.

[glowing]

3. there have been times that certain topics are asked to be post-

poned or rushed. I would say it looks a interesting.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. But you can also point out the day before's story, about an embryonic stem cell advance for sight

Stem Cells Can Help Age-Related Blindness

...
Researchers believe they may be able to restore vision loss in people with age-related macular degeneration.

This is good news for those who suffer from the "dry" form of the disease for which there is no current treatment.

The therapy uses human embryonic stem cells, injected directly into the eye, replacing faulty retinal cells.

Macular degeneration causes blurred central vision and leads to vision loss.

Researchers in London said the new treatment is made possible by an $8 million donation made by an American frustrated with the lack of stem cell work here in the U.S.

http://www.nbc10.com/health/13455065/detail.html

[blondeatlast]

5. Interesting, indeed... I've been advocating blastocyst research

for over a decade and don't think I haven't failed to notice this pattern in the past few years.

Great find, DMM. K&R.