Michael J. Fox is everywhere

And I’ve been listening to him. So here are some notes.

Since everyone seems to be talking about him, and he seems to be talking everywhere, we should put Michael J. Fox in perspective going into Tuesday’s election on the Missouri amendment that would force taxpayers to fund embryonic stem cell research, AND prevent any limitations on producing cloned embryos to keep the supply steady.

America has loved Michael J. Fox in his acting roles, and we hate to see him suffer. He is suffering so publicly because in this role, I think there’s no acting whatsoever. Fox seems to believe passionately that his condition, Parkinson’s, and other diseases can be cured and suffering can be prevented if only embryonic stem cell research is pursued vigorously. He believes it promises great hope for cures, and he’s committed to convincing the public to vote for this research.

I also believe he has been very misled. Last night on “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” (CNBC), Fox started an explanation of his position by saying that “a tiny cluster of cells is created — an embryo” that will otherwise be discarded if not used for research. Deutsch delicately responded that a lot of Americans hold the belief that the embryo is human life, and should not be used this way. Fox said “The pro-life position is to help people today,” and he just couldn’t understand how anyone would not get that.

What he doesn’t get, apparently, is the belief in the sanctity of all human life from fertilization onward (see post below on Robert George’s explanation of that). He seems to believe that it’s not yet human life.

At nearly the same time, or within an hour or so of each other, three different programs ran an interview with Fox last night. Donny Deutsch, Glenn Beck and CNN’s Anderson Cooper. I took note of some comments Fox made, but don’t know which show. However, he said the same thing on each.

“The pro-life position is that we as a country seize the hope these stem cells give us,” was another comment. “Look at people you know who are affected by disease, and think of how this can help them.”

Look at the facts. There have been no cures from embryonic stem cells, and in fact clinical work with them in mice shows them to cause tumors, not cures. But there have been many successes with adult stem cells.

And that leads to the point that you should understand the distinction about stem cells here, because it’s vital. 

Everyone is using the phrase ‘stem cell research’ to argue their case, but you have to know the distinctions. It’s vital. There are embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, cord blood stem cells, to name three. Two of those are perfectly moral forms of research and treatment. Embryonic is not.

So when all these discussions and debates take place that toss around the term ‘stem cell research,’ keep asking the question: “whch ones?” The truth should not be the casualty of suffering and passion. It should be the result.