Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Support for Embryonic Stem Cell Research Based on Media Misdirection
Wesley J Smith posted this piece on his blog Monday, regarding a different sort of poll on ESCR.
This poll taken by the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) demonstrates that most people still oppose human cloning for biomedical research (and, of course, as a means of reproduction).
While majorities support embryonic stem cell research, which was sold successfully to the public as only involving the use of leftover IVF embryos due to be tossed out anyway. About therapeutic cloning, however, people are opposed. Even when the question is asked inaccurately, (leaving out the creation of a human embryo through cloning), a small majority opposes. "Do you favor or oppose using human cloning technology IF it is used ONLY to help medical research develop new treatments for disease?" The results were 43% support, 51% opposed.
So a small majority oppose the verbiage on cloning even when the whole process isn't spelled out. Here's the response when it is:
Notably, when the question is asked accurately, to wit: "Do you favor or oppose using human cloning technology IF it is used to create human embryos that will provide stem cells for human therapeutic purposes?" The support diminished and opposition increased: Thirty-four percent favored cloning under these conditions and 59 percent were opposed.
Although I still find it disturbing that about a third have no qualms even when the process is crystal clear, it is encouraging the how much opposition there is to ESCR when people are properly informed. The fact is despite the "spare embryo" smokescreen, ESCR is impossible as a therapy without using "therapeutic cloning" to create the millions of embryos needed to theoretically effect a cure. And the media has been doing such a bad job at highlighting this central issue in the debate that it can only be intentional.
And this poll shows why the sleigh-of-hand with the facts of the matter is so important to the proponents of ESCR.
This poll taken by the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) demonstrates that most people still oppose human cloning for biomedical research (and, of course, as a means of reproduction).
While majorities support embryonic stem cell research, which was sold successfully to the public as only involving the use of leftover IVF embryos due to be tossed out anyway. About therapeutic cloning, however, people are opposed. Even when the question is asked inaccurately, (leaving out the creation of a human embryo through cloning), a small majority opposes. "Do you favor or oppose using human cloning technology IF it is used ONLY to help medical research develop new treatments for disease?" The results were 43% support, 51% opposed.
So a small majority oppose the verbiage on cloning even when the whole process isn't spelled out. Here's the response when it is:
Notably, when the question is asked accurately, to wit: "Do you favor or oppose using human cloning technology IF it is used to create human embryos that will provide stem cells for human therapeutic purposes?" The support diminished and opposition increased: Thirty-four percent favored cloning under these conditions and 59 percent were opposed.
Although I still find it disturbing that about a third have no qualms even when the process is crystal clear, it is encouraging the how much opposition there is to ESCR when people are properly informed. The fact is despite the "spare embryo" smokescreen, ESCR is impossible as a therapy without using "therapeutic cloning" to create the millions of embryos needed to theoretically effect a cure. And the media has been doing such a bad job at highlighting this central issue in the debate that it can only be intentional.
And this poll shows why the sleigh-of-hand with the facts of the matter is so important to the proponents of ESCR.
papijoe 6:54 AM
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