With roughly three out of four Americans now supporting embryonic stem cell research, you might wonder, where is the opposition coming from?
Here they are: the groups opposing the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. (note: this is self-described as a "partial list". But it has remained unchanged since its original posting more than a year and a half ago, on May 27, 2005. If there were more groups, it seems reasonable they would have been added by now.)
What do they have in common?
GROUPS AGAINST the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act:
The following list was obtained from the RSC Republican Study Committee, Rep. Jeb Hensnarling, (R-TX), Chairman, 132 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515.
Legislative Bulletin...........................................January 10, 2007
Contents:
H.R. 3 — Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007...
(a multi-page description of bill follows here—dr)
Outside Organizations: The following is a partial list of outside organizations opposing (emphasis added) H.R. 3.
National Right to Life Committee
US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Family Research Council
Christian Coalition
Concerned Women for America
Focus on the Family
Christian Medical Association
Eagle Forum
Traditional Values Coalition
Southern Baptist Convention
Susan B. Anthony List
Republican National Committee for Life
Cornerstone Policy Research
Culture of Life Foundation
Religious Freedom Coalition
Coral Ridge Ministries
Center For Reclaiming America
End quote.
Overall:
Thirteen of the seventeen groups are conservative religious lobbying organizations. The remaining four (National Right to Life Committee, Eagle Forum, Susan B. Anthony List, Republican National Committee for Life) are primarily anti-abortion groups.
Two groups were begun by James Dobson, (Family Research Council, Focus on the Family). A similar and perhaps related group, the Family Bioethics Counsel, is currently suing to shut down California’s new stem cell program.
Two groups were begun by evangelist D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Ministries, Center for Reclaiming America).
Two groups were begun by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly (Eagles Forum, Republican National Committee for Life).
One group appears to be defunct. Cornerstone Policy Research has a non-functioning website and non-responsive phone number. I can find no forwarding address.
See www.stemcellbattles.com for a brief description of each group.
Well, there you have it: the opposition groups opposed to embryonic stem cell research. They wield enormous power; Congress is understandably terrified of offending them. Imagine a group which could fund the production and distribution of seventy million voter guides. Think what it would be like to be an elected official, and suddenly to have your office flooded with hundreds of thousands of emails—not to mention going to church and seeing piles of leaflets saying the research you support is an unforgivable sin-- or having the Preacher or Priest attack you from the pulpit.
Will these obstructionist forces prevail? Will the research be delayed, diminished, denied?
That is up to us.
Hint for the day: have you made your phone calls to the "Swingable Seven" Senators yet, asking them to be sure and support Senate Bill 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act?
If not, here is their contact info.
(The ideal is a face to face meeting; those are difficult to arrange, but not impossible. Also huge in impact is local news. Monday I will do something on how to get reporters to cover your story. But one absolutely guaranteed success we can all have is the letter/phone/FAX contact.)
Do please reach out to the following seven individuals:
Lindsey Graham: South Carolina. Phone: (202) 224-5972 FAX: (202) 224-3808
Address: 290 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
http://lgraham.senate.gov/...
Johnny Isakson: Georgia. Phone: (202) 224-3643 FAX: (202) 228-0724
Address: 120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
http://isakson.senate.gov/...
Bob Casey: Pennsylvania Phone: (202) 224-6324. FAX: (202) 228-0604
Address: B-40 Dirksen Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
http://casey.senate.gov/...
Norm Coleman: Minnesota (202) 224-5641 FAX: (202) 224-1152
Address: 320 Senate Hart Office Building, Washington, D. C. 20510
http://coleman.senate.gov/...
John Sununu: New Hampshire Phone: (202) 224-2841 FAX: (202) 228-4131
Address: 111 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
http://www.sununu.senate.gov/...
Bob Corker: Tennessee Phone: (202) 224-3344 FAX: (202) 228-1264
Address: B-40A Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
http://www3.capwiz.com/...
Richard Shelby: Alabama. Phone: (202) 224-5744 FAX: (202) 224-3416
Address: 110 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
senator@shelby.senate.gov
And thank you, very much.