BCT Editorial – 1/17/07

This page was last updated on January 18, 2007.

Open options; Editorial; Beaver County Times; January 17, 2007.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“The U.S. House last week passed a measure that would greatly expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

“Even if the bill passes, however, President Bush will veto it as he did a similar measure last year.

“Bush is permitting religious ideology to block scientific research that could help millions of Americans suffering such ailments as Parkinson’s disease. The president believes that stem cell research, which results in the destruction of embryos, is morally wrong.”

[RWC] That President Bush did anything “to block scientific research” is a lie and the Times knows it.

Missing from this editorial is acknowledgement that President Bush is the first president to fund stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell research. What President Bush refuses to fund is embryonic stem cell research using stem cell lines generated after August 2001 (when he signed the stem cell funding bill).

“But embryos used in such research are typically those slated for fertility clinic trash bins.”

[RWC] Nice try, but the editorial skirts the issue. For embryos that would be destroyed otherwise, I believe most people would not object to using those embryos for research.

Here’s the problem the editorial intentionally ignores. What is there to stop generation of embryos specifically for research? Is it right to conceive a human life just so he/she can be sacrificed for research? While President Bush doesn’t believe the federal government should fund such a process, he did nothing to stop states or the private sector from funding the process.

“Stem cell research is a viable scientific option, but it shouldn’t be the only one.”

[RWC] Note how the editorial said “Stem cell research,” not “Embryonic stem cell research.” The fact is, there’s quite a bit of research going on using adult stem cells, umbilical cord stem cells, and amniotic stem cells. There are already therapies in use using the fruits of adult stem cell research.

The editorial also leads us to believe embryonic stem cell research can’t proceed without federal funding. That’s not true. Embryonic stem cell research can continue using private funding as well as state funding.

“The United States should explore all the options when it comes to scientific research that could improve the lives of Americans.”

[RWC] President Bush has done nothing to make any form of stem cell research illegal.

By the way, I have a theory about the strong support for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research by liberals, especially the pro-abortion crowd. I believe it comes back to abortion. If we believe it’s wrong to destroy life for potentially lifesaving research, even when that life is “only” an embryo, how can we justify killing an unborn child simply as a belated form of contraception? That’s a connection the pro-abortion doesn’t want us to make.