Joe Snowden – 10/20/04

This page was last updated on October 20, 2004.

Hold Bush accountable; Joe Snowden; Beaver County Times; October 20, 2004.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

‘I’m not usually one to express my political, ethical, or spiritual views on other people, but when I read a letter on Friday by Jennifer Chinchilla (‘Kerry disregards human life,’) I felt compelled to respond.

“She bashes Kerry for ‘not imposing his beliefs on the legislative process.’ Therefore, he will not ban partial birth abortions and gay marriages and will fund embryonic stem cell research.

“She is right. It doesn’t say anything in the Bible about separating our personal and professional lives when living a life for Jesus Christ. However, nobody in government can impose his religious beliefs on the people of this free country.”

[RWC] In case Mr. Snowden missed it, most of our basic laws have their origin in religion. Remember those little ditties, “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal,” et cetera?

“Not all Americans are Christians. Embryonic stem cell research has not saved any lives yet, but with funding and more cells, the sky is the limit.

“President Bush provided funding for 70 embryonic stem cells. Only 20 can be used because the other 50 are contaminated. A vast majority of these embryos that can be used for this practice are destroyed.

“Now, what is more important to human life, saving the embryos, or exploring the possibilities that this practice has at the dissection of embryos that will otherwise be destroyed? As for the safety of our country, we are not safe.”

[RWC] I can’t read President Bush’s mind, but I believe this is the issue. Once we provide federal funding for new embryonic stem cells, what’s to stop the intentional farming of embryos? Remember, the law of the land permits abortion on demand. While I have no objection getting stem cells from embryos that are certain to be destroyed for “legitimate” reasons, I do have a problem with intentionally producing embryos to harvest their stem cells. I believe most people have a problem with this and I don’t believe we should use taxpayer dollars for this purpose. I don’t believe we should use any dollars for this, but there is nothing to stop the practice in the private sector.

Mr. Snowden doesn’t want you to know – or doesn’t know himself – President Bush only denied federal funding for new embryonic stem cell lines. There is nothing to stop private funding. Also, President Bush is the first president to provide any federal funding for stem cell research. Rather than give President Bush credit for his overall vision for stem cell research, his critics vilify him because his policy is not “perfect” in their eyes. My guess is we wouldn’t hear this criticism if Jimmy Carter or Bill Clinton had made the same decision.

If Mr. Snowden ever thought we were safe, he had his head buried in the sand. To be fair, Mr. Snowden wasn’t alone. We weren’t safe long before President Bush took office and we won’t be safe long after he leaves in a little over four years from now. The only fair question is, “Are we safer?” The answer is yes.

“Ninety-five percent of cargo coming from overseas is not inspected. Cargo areas of commercial airlines are not X-rayed. Osama bin Laden roams free while we were told Iraq had WMDs.”

[RWC] I’m sure we can make progress, but not being perfect isn’t the same as not making progress. What Mr. Snowden didn’t mention is that the United States works with many of our trading partners to inspect cargo before it is shipped to the United States. Once cargo gets here, it’s a little late to do the inspection.

I’m not sure hiding in the mountains of Afghanistan and/or Pakistan qualifies as roaming free. Bin Laden hasn’t been seen or heard from even on tape for over a year.

“Only two years before the invasion of Iraq, Bush and his cronies said that Iraq was isolated and didn’t have the capabilities of producing WMDs.”

[RWC] I doubt this statement is true. If it were, it would mean President Bush was just about the only person on the planet to take this position. Nearly everyone in the Bush administration national security area was in the Clinton administration and they said all along Iraq had WMD. As recently as December 2003, even Bill Clinton said he believed WMD existed in Iraq when he left office.

“Now who is the one who needs to be held accountable?”

[RWC] The person who repeats Democrat talking points.