It's Stem Cell People :)

[DanCa]

Frankly I have decided that I dont care what Howard Dean says or who is or candidate in 2008. All I care about is getting a President elected who is firmly behind stem cell research and the best chance of that (with all due respect to the green party) is with the dems.
So let the msm make a big fuss about Howard Deans remarks, am a christian, a church goer, and a white dem, it didnt bother me. I will cast my vote for anyone who wants to cure my parkinsons disease. Thats the real issue Dean's comments are just a media smoke screen . I guess you can say that I might not be 100 percent on the democrats side but there on mine and thus I cast my alliegence with them. And thats all I have to say about HD can we now get back to the real issues people :) :)

[Pirate Smile]

1. "Stem Cell Research - E mail today from DCCC"

Dear XXXXXXXXXX:

If ever there was a testament to the hope that stem cell research offers, it was the vote in the U.S. House of Representatives at the end of May.

Members of both parties came together in the face of fierce opposition to defy President Bush's stifling limitations. They understand that this research opens possibilities for some of mankind's worst afflictions, from Parkinson's syndrome to Alzheimer's to diabetes - diseases that have tragically baffled the best efforts of medical scientists. And now there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if nobody knows just how far away it is - although a threat from President Bush to issue his first veto still looms.

Democrats stood virtually united on lifting the limits President Bush has imposed on this field. But the surprise was that 50 Republicans, who have followed the party line on everything from dismantling Social Security to gutting the ethics rules, bucked Tom DeLay and George Bush on this contentious issue. Passage of the bill has inspired optimism in millions of Americans whose families and friends might benefit from this research some day.

None were more inspired than I, and I wanted to write you today about how this affects my life - and invite you to share your personal stories. For the Republican Leadership, this is a battle over ideology. But for me, and millions of others who support serious stem cell research, it is a matter of our humanity - ending the suffering of those we hold closest to our hearts.

One of my dearest friends recently died of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, which causes fatal destruction of nerve cells. The slow death sentence that ALS gives its victims is brutal. The disease took away my young friend Tom's ability to control his own muscles, paralyzing them and ultimately making it impossible for him to breathe. Stem cell research provides hope for future ALS victims. Scientists believe they can use stem cells to replace the devastated nerve cells that ALS leaves behind.

With heart disease affecting so many of us in this nation, embryonic stem cell research holds tremendous promise. Instead of patients suffering because their heart cells are failing and no longer able to pump blood, new ways could be discovered to replace those cells.

And with regard to cancer, stem cell research has enormous potential. For example, it could facilitate the testing of new medications and treatments.

In each of these cases, stem cell research holds out promise. It provides hope to the hopeless that longer, fuller lives are possible.

For so many Americans who suffer from these diseases, or who have watched family members and loved ones suffer, the promise of stem cell research is particularly close to our hearts. Although we have passed this groundbreaking legislation through the House, it faces many more obstacles to come, including a potential veto from President Bush.

If that happens, we will need to find another 52 Republicans willing to put our common humanity above their party and the right-wing ideologues who control it.

This will be one of our toughest fights, but we have the overwhelming majority of America on our side. That is part of the reason that the DCCC and I ask you to share your stories. We need to demonstrate that this debate is not some abstract, ideological exercise. There are millions of people across our country who need and deserve the potential benefits of stem cell research.

The DCCC has set up a special email address for you to submit your personal reasons for supporting stem cell research:

[e-mail]

Let us know why stem cell research gives hope to you, your friends, or your family. The DCCC will review all of them and post as many as possible on its website.

Thank you for your ear. Now you have ours.

Sincerely,

Rep. Lois Capps
California's 23rd Congressional District

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1838974

[DanCa]

4. Heres the letter I sent

Hey Pirate Here's the letter I sent to the DCC. It came in my box too.

To whom it may concern,

my name is Daniel E. Caithamer and I am writting to you on behalf of people that are inflicted with the terrible disease known as young onset parkinsons disease. I am a thirty six year old college educated white male who can no longer live by himself and have problems with every day tasks that people take for granted.

Theyre are days were my hands tremble so much that I cant hold a spoon or shave. I wake up frozen stiff every morning in a virtual state amost like a waking coma. It takes me at the most two hours to get the circulation going. There are also times that I need people just to pump my legs up and down in the morning to get some sense of feeling and movement in them before I can start to use the muscles myself.

I used to be able to bench press 250 now am lucky to do 30 lbs on a good day. There are times when I have to crawl to the rest room or my bed room when my legs give out and i fall on the floor. No one will hire me and am forced to go on SSDI and I cannot move out of my parents house. I am no longer able to drive do to hand tremors and perception problems and thus I cannot drive and I am completely dependent on others for transportation. As you can imagine my social life as you can guess is nill.

Paul Revere once said "give me liberty or give me death!" I would like to change that and beg you to "Give me stem cell or give me death". I am much too young for this disease and am facing a lifetime of isolation, pain, loss of movement control, and personal dignity. My family have begun talks of placing me in a home and I am most distressed by this.Please I beg you to look deep in your hearts and pass stem cell research.

I pray to Jesus Christ that there will be a cure for parkinsons diseases and for people diabetes and children with hemophilia. Yes I pray and I attend church weekly its only my faith and hope that keep me going these days .Even though I feel both of my rights are being assualted by Bill Frist and the Justice Sunday Crowd.. (Please share that with your gop counter-parts). So I ask you as sincerly and as succintly as I can please pass stem cell legislation. The life you save may be mine.
May God Bless.
Danny Caithamer

[Pirate Smile]

6. Awesome letter. I wouldn't be surprised to hear someone read it on

the House floor.

I'm sorry life is so difficult.

It sounds like advances are being made around the world where this research is being done.

If only we could get enough House votes to override a veto.

There is HOPE!

edit to add - I recommended this thread in the hopes that more people will see your letter.

[Straight Shooter]

2. A very recent poll indicates 75% of Americans agree with you.

Sorry, I don't have a link or even the name of the poll, but I believe I read it on BuzzFlash yesterday.

I wish you well and I wish you strength and courage as you deal with Parkinson's until the disease is cured or at least a remedy is found that those who have that affliction can lead as normal a life as possible without further deterioration.

[DanCa]

3. Thanks

Each day I grow more and more amazed at what the msm will and will not cover as "news". It's not my own butt am worried about but also those of thousands of americans without healthcare, a war without end, and hate crimes, etc, and what do people focus on runaway brides michael jackson and now he said she said high school crapola. Lets just roll up our sleeves get back to work and fix the real problems in this country. And lets start by getting rid of the chimp who caused this mess.

[Carla in Ca]

5. That is the issue for me...

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1833971&mesg_id=1834539>

[wuushew]

7. Actually a pro-peace candidate would be more useful

would you want Lieberman in office just to satisfy your stem cell fetish? Stem cell research is carried out globally, but the American military machine is controlled from one location.