Ron Reagan makes pitch for stem-cell research

By Thomas Frank
Newsday

ED REINKE / AP Ron Reagan gestures before addressing the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Boston yesterday.

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Ron Reagan, the former president's son, swore his speech was not political. Strictly speaking it wasn't, but his prime-time presence at the Democratic National Convention night drew a raucous cheer when he took center stage and declared, "A few of you may be surprised to see someone with my last name showing up to speak at a Democratic convention."

"When you have the son of one of the most prominent Republicans of this century say there's something wrong with the party that my father's all about, it's a pretty profound statement," said New Jersey delegate Joe Ferriero.

Or, as delegate Sally Garcia of Dallas said, "We love it."

Reagan, who lives in Seattle with Doria, his wife of more than 20 years, is a self-proclaimed progressive whose avowed atheism and outspoken advocacy have long defied his father. Last night he turned to an issue that some believe could have helped his father: stem-cell research and its potential to yield treatments for diseases like Parkinson's, diabetes, and perhaps, Alzheimer's, which afflicted the former president.

"We may be able to put an end to this suffering," Reagan said in a low-key matter-of-fact voice. "We only need to try."

Standing before thousands of delegates, Reagan targeted conservatives who oppose the research, which they compare to abortion because human embryos must be destroyed to cultivate the cells needed for the research.

"A few of these folks, needless to say, are just grinding a political ax, and they should be ashamed of themselves," Reagan said, drawing applause in a speech that focused on the science behind and potential use of the research.

Mostly, Reagan talked about the medical possibilities of stem-cell research after being introduced by Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., who has been a paraplegic since a shooting accident when he was 16 and who called Reagan "another heroic dreamer" for his advocacy of the research. But toward the end of his speech, Reagan directly targeted President Bush. Three years ago Bush signed an executive order limiting federal funding for stem-cell research in a way that critics say will unduly hamper it.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry as well as several Republican senators and Nancy Reagan, the late president's widow, favor loosening the restrictions.

"In a few months, we will face a choice. Yes, between two candidates and two parties, but more than that," Reagan said. "We have a chance to take a giant stride forward for the good of all humanity. We can choose between the future and the past, between reason and ignorance, between true compassion and mere ideology. This is our moment, and we must not falter. Whatever else you do come November 2nd, I urge you, please, cast a vote for embryonic stem-cell research."
 
Nancy Reagan has lobbied for more research. The late president's other son, Michael, has opposed it.

Democrats believe they have a winning issue in stem-cell research, even if one not at the top of most voters' lists. They released a poll yesterday that showed 69 percent of voters, including 60 percent of Republicans, support stem-cell research.

Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt dismissed Reagan as a critic and said, "President Bush is the first president to provide funding for stem-cell research, doing so in a way that addresses the profound moral and ethical implications that surround it."

As for Reagan, who is providing commentary on the convention for MSNBC, Schmidt added, "It's appropriate for an avowed liberal to speak at the Democratic convention. I think that most people know that he has a different political philosophy and a different party preference than his father did."

Material from Knight-Ridder Newspapers is included in this report.