The many, many people who are not Diana DeGette

At some point during Democratic CD1 representative Diana DeGette's media luncheon, I realized that many people are not Diana DeGette. Like me. And you. And all the people discussed below.

The 106th Congress was not Diana DeGette.

DeGette started by running down the early accomplishments of the 110th Congress. In just the first 100 hours, Congress passed bills to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, increase the minimum wage, improve America's energy situation, and more.

Then DeGette talked about global climate change and Iraq War escalation. And she listed the leadership posts she'll hold in the House.

One goal she won't pursue: The impeachment of George Bush. She said it would be a distraction from issues like healthcare and global warming.

The contrast between the Democrats of the year 2007 and their Republican counterparts from eight years ago couldn't have been clearer. Imagine how much better off America would have been if the Republican-controlled 106th Congress had put aside its petty and nasty partisan games and focused on moving America forward.

George Bush is not Diana DeGette.

DeGette is an advocate of increased protection for children on the Internet. She is drafting legislation that would require ISPs to keep records for one year, making it possible for police to trace crimes back to the perpetrators. Privacy advocates worry that the bill could infringe on the rights of Internet users. But DeGette, herself an ACLU member, envisions safeguards to protect the innocent. Law enforcement officials would have demonstrate probable cause and obtain a subpoena before accessing records. And Internet providers would be asked to retain identifying data only, not communications.

The President has his war on terror. DeGette has her war on online predators. But DeGette has the skill and vision to wage her war without trampling the Constitution. Bush does not.

Tom Tancredo is not Diana DeGette.

I often tell the story of the elderly African-America woman who stopped me on a Denver sidewalk to tell me how much she loved Diana DeGette. I was doing a lit drop for Bill Ritter. And I asked the lady if she would be voting for him in November.

"I will if he's in the same party as Diana DeGette," she answered.

I asked DeGette how she'd managed to engender this sort of loyalty while leading a national campaign to legalize federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. She talked about her roots in Denver and her passion for seeing the West prosper.

Like DeGette, Congressman Tom Tancredo is a national player with a signature issue. But Tancredo's issue has consumed him to the point where he has lost touch with his district. DeGette's has not.

Joe Lieberman is not Diana DeGette.

DeGette represents a district that's sure to re-elect her as many times as she cares to run. Yet she still listens to her constituents. And makes time to reach out to party leaders, liberal activists and the media.

Joe Liberman lost the 2006 Democratic primary not just because of his opinion on Iraq or his fondness for Bush. He was shown the door because he looked the party faithful in the eye and told them he did not care about their opinions. He thought he was above the democratic process.

Despite the relative safety of her CD1 seat, DeGette is still taking risks and earning and re-earning her election. I don't know how much longer she'll serve. But it's hard to imagine a better representative for Denver.

More at SquareState, Daily Kos and Colorado Confidential.

DeGette gains support of freshmen legislators, scientists

A press release from Colorado CD1 representative Diana DeGette states that today "Democratic Members of the 110th Congress' Freshmen class will join the lead sponsor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (H.R.3), Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) to discuss their support for the bill. Many of these new Members campaigned on expanding stem cell research and have signed on as original cosponsors to the bill."

President George W. Bush used the only veto of his administration to dismiss DeGette's first attempt at the legislation.

Recently, some have tried to portray the work of Dr. Anthony Atala of Wake Forest University as a way to render embryonic stem cell research unnecessary. From CNN:

Stem cell researchers reacted with enthusiasm and reservations to a report that scientists have found stem cells in amniotic fluid, a discovery that would allow them to sidestep the controversy over destroying embryos for research. Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported Sunday that the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells.

But yesterday Atala blasted that assertion in a letter, which was provided to me by DeGette's office. Atala wrote:

"I understand that some may be interpreting my research as a substitute for the need to pursue other forms of regenerative medicine therapies, such as those involving embryonic stem cells. I disagree with that assertion... It is essential that National Institute of Health-funded researchers are able to fully pursue embryonic stem cell research as a complement to research into other forms of stem cells.

The right has a long history of twisting science to meet its own ends. (Remember The Competitive Enterprise Institute?) It appears that neither DeGette or the newly elected Congress is going to let partisan politics stand in the way of research that may save millions of lives.