Obama takes the science test. Will McCain or Palin?

[kjoe]

The questions seem difficult to me. I will add one additional post giving Obama's answer to number 8 of the 14 questions.

Obama and Science & Technology

By clearthinker - August 30, 2008, 5:59PM

In this campaign, both the Dems and the GOP have been disappointingly willing to treat matters associated with religious doctrine of higher importance than those associated with science.

Sciencedebate 2008 tried to rectify that during the primary season but Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain turned down the opportunity to address science concerns as part of the debates. (This should tell you something disturbing about our country -- particularly when these questions naturally overlap the general din of "health care" and "alternative energy".)

Sciencedebate 2008 is a concerned citizens initiative and is cosponsored by the National Academy of Science, National Academy of Engineering, AAAS, and other major US Organizations. It's petition has been co-signed by a tremendous number of institutions and individuals representing the best of American Science and Technology.



Obama has finally answered the 14 questions posed, McCain is expected to do as as well. From the press release:

The top 14 questions address energy policy, national security, economics in a science-driven global economy, climate change, education, health care, ocean health, biosecurity, clean water, space, stem cells, scientific integrity, genetics, and research.

The 14 questions were developed from over 3,400 questions submitted by more than 38,000 signers of the ScienceDebate2008 initiative. The questionnaire is a joint effort led by ScienceDebate2008, with Scientists and Engineers for America, AAAS, the National Academies, the Council on Competitiveness, and several other organizations, together representing over 125 million voters.

[kjoe]

8. Stem cells. Stem cell research advocates say it may successfully lead to treatments for many chronic diseases and injuries, saving lives, but opponents argue that using embryos as a source for stem cells destroys human life. What is your position on government regulation and funding of stem cell research?

Stem cell research holds the promise of improving our lives in at least three ways—by substituting normal cells for damaged cells to treat diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury, heart failure and other disorders; by providing scientists with safe and convenient models of disease for drug development; and by helping to understand fundamental aspects of normal development and cell dysfunction.

For these reasons, I strongly support expanding research on stem cells. I believe that the restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations. As president, I will lift the current administration’s ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines created after August 9, 2001 through executive order, and I will ensure that all research on stem cells is conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight.

I recognize that some people object to government support of research that requires cells to be harvested from human embryos. However, hundreds of thousands of embryos stored in the U.S. in in-vitro fertilization clinics will not be used for reproductive purposes, and will eventually be destroyed. I believe that it is ethical to use these extra embryos for research that could save lives when they are freely donated for that express purpose.

I am also aware that there have been suggestions that human stem cells of various types, derived from sources other than embryos, make the use of embryonic stem cells unnecessary. I don’t agree. While adult stem cells, such as those harvested from blood or bone marrow, are already used for treatment of some diseases, they do not have the versatility of embryonic stem cells and cannot replace them. Recent discoveries indicate that adult skin cells can be reprogrammed to behave like stem cells; these are exciting findings that might in the future lead to an alternate source of highly versatile stem cells. However, embryonic stem cells remain the “gold standard,” and studies of all types of stem cells should continue in parallel for the foreseeable future.

Rather than restrict the funding of such research, I favor responsible oversight of it, in accord with recent reports from the National Research Council. Recommendations from the NRC reports are already being followed by institutions that conduct human embryonic stem cell research with funds from a variety of sources. An expanded, federally-supported stem cell research program will encourage talented U.S. scientists to engage in this important new field, will allow more effective oversight, and will signal to other countries our commitment to compete in this exciting area of medical research.

[kjoe]

Obama is such an empty suit. Sure, he can give a good speech, but what does he really say? Where are the details?
We have no idea what his positions are.

[lazydaze]

are you taking requests?

[kjoe]

are you taking requests?

No. Just futilely raging against the constantly repeated bullshit that people do not know enough about what Obama really says compared to other candidates.

[blue zone]

Calling Obama an "Empty Suit" describes him as a man, not as the positions he takes.

As far as question 8, as an actual scientist, I have mixed opinions on the matter. I agree that the use of embryonic stem cells should be an avenue considered for pursuit. However, I would not call them the"Gold Standard" of anything as far as research goes. Scientists are likely better bullshitters than just about anyone, we use big fancy words and go out of our way to confuce you just so you understand how very much smarter we are than you could ever be.

As a point of opinion, Obama saying that he doesn't agree with anything being presented in a field he likely understands absolutely nothing about is the height of smug stupidity.

[madyaks]

She is for teaching creationism in school, I'm thinkin she isn't taking the test.

[Moon Man]

As far as question 8, as an actual scientist, I have mixed opinions on the matter. I agree that the use of embryonic stem cells should be an avenue considered for pursuit. However, I would not call them the"Gold Standard" of anything as far as research goes. Scientists are likely better bullshitters than just about anyone, we use big fancy words and go out of our way to confuce you just so you understand how very much smarter we are than you could ever be.

An 'actual' scientist? Well, I'm certainly confuced.

Moon

[Jeffro]

She is for teaching creationism in school, I'm thinkin she isn't taking the test.

*facepalm*

[chiguy]

As a point of opinion, Obama saying that he doesn't agree with anything being presented in a field he likely understands absolutely nothing about is the height of smug stupidity.

You're insane if 1) you don't think political positioning is part of the answer regardless of what he thinks and 2) that the bulk of the answer wasn't written in close consultation with a scientist. In short, there is nothing smug or stupid about what he did; politics intervenes (giving the air of stupidity) and science participates (giving the air of smugness). Said scientist likely knows more about it than 95% of most scientists out there too. By the by, McCain will use exactly the same process. This isn't partisanship, its just how things work.


All these kinds of things are good for is shedding some light on the relative balance between scientific and political considerations, as well as a general orientation towards science. That's useful, but it seems silly to me to make conclusions about someone's character on that basis.

[chiguy]

An 'actual' scientist? Well, I'm certainly confuced.

Moon

Shouldn't you be drinking horse milk?

[Moon Man]

Shouldn't you be drinking horse milk?

You know, Ed didn't tell the whole story - camel's milk is big here too. I'm gonna kill two birds with one stone!

Moon

[madyaks]

*facepalm*

I did *faceforehead* and said D'oh when I heard he picked someone wanting to teach religion in school.

[chiguy]

You know, Ed didn't tell the whole story - camel's milk is big here too. I'm gonna kill two birds with one stone!

Moon

Sounds...um, tasty.