Rick Santorum. Expert on science and research funding?
For the most part people would say “heck, no!”
However, in fact, Santorum had a strong track record as a senator in supporting NIH funding. That’s a fact.
But now Santorum has gone off the deep end.
The former GOP Senator and Presidential primary hopeful is not exactly known for his moderate views. However, his new video (below) contains some of the most extreme statements I’ve ever heard him make.
His YouTube video promotes his definition of “ethical” stem cell research via the John Paul II Research Lab.
At the end of this video, Santorum says something truly astonishing.
Santorum claims that no governmental funding at all for any kind of stem cell research is needed.
No federal funding of embryonic stem cell research is needed, says Santorum, and he goes on to say we don’t need funding of adult stem cell research.
Holy cow.
“Let’s do it ourselves” he says. Santorum also says more broadly “We don’t need government”.
Really?
The required amount of stem cell research of various kinds that needs to be done, in my opinion based on following the field for years, requires funding in total of at least $1 billion a year.
Of course government funding of both adult stem cell research and ES cell studies are required. I’m very surprised that Santorum opposes both in this odd new video….it is possible this video will be taken down and re-shot or edited, but for now Santorum clearly opposes research funding for adult stem cell research.
The lunacy and ignorance of his statements is absolutely astounding! He is suggesting that we start over and throw away regulatory SOP’s of safety that continue to evolve and were established over several decades through the NMDP/NIH/ FDA, created with billions of tax payer dollars through HRSA. This babbling fool IS the death panel, bent on burning the village and reinventing the wheel.
Give Cures is a delusional Tea Party, saber rattling non starter with out a clue how the model works. And by the way Ricky there is no “Iowa University”. My Alma mater is called the University of Iowa and wants nothing to do with your guano crazy plan. Any idiot can sign a lease and only the most delusional believe proximity affords them validity; Case in point.
The best argument for keeping government from funding stem cell research is that it means that legislators like nut job Santorum won’t have any control over the field.