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Summary

In August 2001, President George W. Bush announced with fanfare that federal funds would be made available to scientists conducting research on human embryonic stem cell lineswith restrictions. Reading his words, not his lips, was Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Colorado's First Congressional District, and what she read was this: aban. "As a practical matter," scientists could no longer pursue such work "in any lab that had received any federal funding, at any time, for any reason. That one declaration severely constrained stem-cell research in this country." In Sex, Science, and Stem Cells, Congress's leading advocate of stem-cell research presents a blistering indictment of the politicization of scienceand sexby the Bush administration, the Republican leadership, and the religious right. Addressing not only stem-cell research but also birth control, HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, abortion, and sex education, Congresswoman DeGette takes the Bush White House and its fundamentalist allies to task for subverting any real discussion of human sexuality and reproduction. DeGette writes from experienceand hard-earned frustration. During fifteen years in office, her fight for sound public policy for ethical, cutting-edge scientific research has consistently been foiled. Pulling no punches in her scrutiny of a Republican leadership that has long shirked matters relating even remotely to human sexuality, she concludes that many of America's elected officials are simply too blinded by religious dogma to think rationally about sex. InSex, Science, and Stem Cells, she dares to do what they can't, or won'topening the door to responsible, fact-based legislation going forward.

Author Biography

Congresswoman Diana DeGette is serving her sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives as the representative for the First District of Colorado. She is the chief architect of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which passed the House and Senate in both the 109th and 110th Congresses with broad, bipartisan support, but was vetoed by President Bush on each occasion. Congresswoman DeGette lives in Denver, Colorado.

Daniel Paisner is the author of more than forty books, on topics ranging from business and sports to politics and entertainment. He lives in Port Washington, New York.

Acknowledgments	p. viii
Introduction: What in God's Name ...?	p. ix
Where I Stand	p. 1
The Bubble Bill	p. 21
Ms. DeGette Goes to Washington	p. 39
Charting the Course	p. 56
Francesca	p. 73
Angels Dancing on the Head of a Pin	p. 88
Snowflake Babies	p. 117
Send in the Clones	p. 138
Abstinence Only	p. 156
Whatever It Is, I'm Against It!	p. 173
An Ounce of Prevention	p. 185
"Through No Fault on Anybody's Part"	p. 203
A Foolish Consistency	p. 216
Afterword: Closing Arguments	p. 228
Index	p. 235
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Excerpts

An excerpt from Sex, Science, and Stem Cells

Over time, I realized that the politicization of science by the Republicans and the religious right was at its most insidious over any issue relating to human reproduction. This brought me to the inevitable conclusion that too many of our elected officials are simply incapable of thinking rationally about sex. I could think of no other explanation. The disconnect was so transparent that some of our older male politicians couldn’t even talk about any aspect of human sexuality without biting their lips to avoid snickering like schoolboys. There was a general and widespread discomfort in talking about sex, except in the form of bawdy jokes passed around by some of my male colleagues.

Excerpted from Sex, Science, and Stem Cells: Inside the Right Wing Assault on Reason by Diana DeGette, Daniel Paisner
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.