Stem Cell Editorial Comments

I am writing regarding the recent decision by President Obama to ignore the bipartisan ethical line President Bush drew on stem cell research in 2001. President Bush's ethical line established the first time federal funding was used for embryonic stem cell research. His August 9, 2001 address changed the 1996 Clinton-era ban on federal funding of the research. The NIH (National Institutues of Health) resource for stem cell research states that 71 individual, genetically diverse blastocysts met the former President's criteria and from those privately-funded sources, about 60 stem cell lines were derived. Many scientists have been experimenting with these embryonic stem cells to no avail.

The primary reason for the federal limitations was described as "human cloning". Ironically, President Obama also stated in his decision that he is against human cloning.

As former President Bush stated "The initial stem cell researcher was at first reluctant to begin his research, fearing it might be used for human cloning. Scientists have already cloned a sheep. Researchers are telling us the next step could be to clone human beings to create individual designer stem cells, essentially to grow another you, to be available in case you need another heart or lung or liver. I strongly oppose human cloning, as do most Americans."

It is Obama's basic lack of scientific understanding that has led him to remove this bipartisan ethical line President Bush drew in 2001. He has done it under the guise of making science "non-political". Nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. President, when you remove something bipartisan and ethical, it becomes partisan and unethical.