Like Barbara Bush, I have a Beautiful Mind. I simply dismiss the Limbaughs, Hannitys, and Coulters of the world on the theory that these gasbags foul the air within that beautiful space. But today
Media Matters presents a portion of Rush Limbaugh's July 19 broadcast, which is causing deafening static to my Truth Radar.
Following Wednesday's veto of federal funding for stem cell research, I realize there are still far too many people who continue to suck up right-wing lies, inhale them and blow them out like secondhand smoke.
Grab a gas mask and read a transcript below the fold:
LIMBAUGH: Myself, I personally hope Bush enjoys this. And I hope he makes the veto more of a habit with some of the asinine legislation that comes to his desk. Now, the controversy is not over. This stem cell research business and -- and using embryonic stem cells, there is so much demagoguery about this. There is no evidence of any of these claims. And the claims are that embryonic stem cells will cure everything -- Parkinson's, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, even protect you from carrots. But we are not -- we're not even years within human clinical trials on this. This is all nothing but speculation.
I'm telling you, and I have from the get-go, who is behind this -- is the -- the militant pro-abortion crowd, because you need abortions to get these. [Emphasis mine.] There are plenty of other stem cells that research is being done on -- umbilical cord stem cells, adult stem cells. Karl Rove got in trouble the other day for telling the truth..
Limbaugh then goes on to quote from the Chicago Tribune:
"When White House political adviser Karl Rove signaled last week that President Bush planned to veto the stem cell bill, the reasons he gave went beyond the president's moral qualms with research on human embryos. In fact, Rove waded into deeply contentious scientific territory, telling The Denver Post's editorial board that researchers have found far more promise from adult stem cells than from embryonic stem cells. Rove's negative appraisal of embryonic stem cell research, echoed by many opponents of funding for such research, is inaccurate, according to most stem cell research scientists, including dozens contact -- a dozen contacted for this story."
So, what we have here is Limbaugh lying to the American public to cover Rove's lying to the American press. It's yet another homemade Right Wing Liars Layer Cake for half-baked fundamentalists to feast upon.
It is not for these people that I give thanks to Media Matters and the Chicago Tribune for crying foul on Limbaugh and Rove. I would challenge them both to publicly correct their statements. A public statement correcting (or even clarifying) one's own misstatements requires both Honor and Integrity. So, I'm not holding my breath.
I cry foul for innocent victims of deadly, incurable illnesses.
I cry foul for my mother who is becoming suspiciously and suddenly forgetful.
I cry foul for my husband who cannot walk, and his parents who listen to Limbaugh as if it's God talking.
I cry foul for doctors and scientists, all graciously and kindly assisting these Unwell -- comforting and giving aid as best they can -- but who TELL THE TRUTH that there is tremendous potential to be explored that might restore their health.
Especially, I cry foul for my otherwise-intelligent severely-diabetic friend who is living her life on a insulin pump while she tells me: "Sure, I'd like to get cured, but I don't want to kill a baby to do it."
For them, let us be clear and concise:
THE EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS THAT HAVE BEEN VETOED DO NOT COME FROM ABORTED FETUSES. These cells are eggs fertilized in a petri dish and stored in freezers. These cells have never been implanted in a womb where they will grow into a fetus. These cells are being thrown out as medical waste in a garbage dump.
Rush? Rove? Would you care to clarify?