[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              SOME THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN POLITICS

  (Mr. EMANUEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, some things are more important than 
politics. Lifesaving research that has the potential to cure diseases 
and end suffering for millions of Americans ought to be one of them.
  But for President Bush, certain things aren't above politics. The 
President formed his opinion on stem cell research and now he has 
America ensnarled in his political straitjacket.
  The American people see stem cell research as a cure to illnesses 
that plague their family and family members.
  So today, as the President vetoes legislation that is backed by 72 
percent of the American people, he will attempt to fool the American 
public and soothe his conscience with a symbolic gesture that is empty 
of medical value.
  The American people will not be fooled. They know that the President 
has failed to lead and, instead, made a decision that is a crushing 
blow to millions of Americans suffering from diseases like Parkinson's, 
Alzheimer's and ALS.
  Sixty years ago, when America was plagued with polio, this Nation and 
its political leaders rose to the challenge and took on the medical 
challenge of their time. Thank goodness we are not facing that 
challenge now, and we had leaders then who put medical science ahead of 
political stance.

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