NYT. The administration fumbles to find ways to stop the slide in stem cell research due to its restrictions on the number of lines that can be used. The problem is that the ban went into effect well before there were enough stable, abundant lines in place (with prenegotiated intellectual property rights). This gaffe has all but stopped stem cell research that is critical to curing diabetes, Parkinsons, and a huge variety of other diseases. This means the President has just locked-in opposition to his re-election by the millions of families that are impacted by these diseases. They will likely be one issue voters.
For example: my father has Parkinsons. If this ban wasn't in place he would vote Republican, but now he will probably vote in any Democrat that supports lifting the ban. So would my mother. In addition, my daughter has diabetes, so I am absolutely going to vote in any Democrat that would lift the ban. So will my wife. I hope that as the election nears the rest of my immediate family is going to to follow the same pattern. That's another 8 or so votes spread over electoral swing states.
The creation of millions of one-issue voters joined in opposition to you, is like touching the third rail in American politics. You do it, and you won't survive long in office. [John Robb's Radio Weblog]
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