[artplumber]

Some of this was explored elsewhere (MJFox thread). There are significant ethical issues with ESC and embryos in general, because the issue of independent viability remains. Example, divorce results after 6 embryos obtained. Custody of the remaining embryos granted to wife who implants two more over her lifetime, does the ex husband have to pay child support? They are his children biologically at least....

That, for example, has nothing to do with the abortion issue. But even if it did there is no clearly/uniformly applied criteria for life. Currently, there is a practical threshold which is "independent" existence (read premature babies), but this is somewhat a joke as independence actually includes heavy dependance on medical technology for survival.

As to the capabilities of embryonic vs adult stem cells or cord blood, although the proponents would have you believe that there is some unique benefit to embryonic cells, that has not proven to be the case. Cross lineage success is possible with adult stem cells as well. Example, bone marrow (the stuff that makes your blood) and circulating hematological stem cells have been used successfully to regenerate the heart after heart attack.

I'm not for or against frankly, but as always, in public this has become a name-calling over-simplified exercise rather than a critical evaluation of the data.