When George W. Bush placed restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research, he was accused of being anti-science. It was an unfair accusation, but for Bush opponents, this accusation has served as a convenient political tool. In August 2004, in reference to Bush's policies on stem cell research, John Kerry called the Bush administration "one of the most anti-science administrations in our nation's history" and said that as president he would "stand up for science."
"At this very moment, some of the most pioneering cures and treatments are right at our fingertips, but because of the stem-cell ban, they remain beyond our reach," Kerry said. "That is not the way we do things in America. Here in America, we don't sacrifice science for ideology."
Obama used similar language to justify his reversal of Bush's policy: "This Order is an important step in advancing the cause of science in America. [P]romoting science isn't just about providing resources...it is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda - and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."
Apparently, ethical concerns count for nothing. But I digress...back to the main point, as articulated by Guy Benson:
Obama’s “uniter” persona also assured Americans that he’d continue to support “promising research of all kinds, including groundbreaking research to convert ordinary human cells into ones that resemble embryonic stem cells.” This research has proven extraordinarily promising, especially after a dramatic breakthrough in 2007: Scientists in Japan and the US discovered they could engineer human skin cells to mimic embryonic stem cell. This could allow the scientific community to probe the benefits of these cells without actually destroying human embryos. To some, this development rendered the controversy moot, and vindicated President Bush’s moral and ethical caution. At the very least, it was an enormous scientific step forward that all observers could unabashedly celebrate.
For this reason, the previous administration—you know, the divisive ideologues who hated science—issued executive order 13435 in 2007 that directed federal funding toward alternative, non-controversial human pluripotent stem cell research. Although some critics argued this action didn’t go far enough, and that further embryonic stem cell research should also be funded, no one could legitimately oppose the funding of this universally welcomed breakthrough.
That brings us to the nasty, gratuitous, and nearly entirely unpublicized action President Obama took amidst the hoopla of overturning Bush’s policies. Right after he told the country he supported alternative, non-destructive stem cell research, Obama signed the actual order. Buried at the very bottom of the document was this line: “Executive Order 13435…is revoked.” That’s right, he abolished President Bush’s funding for the type of stem cell research upon which everyone could agree. Just like that.
One little question: Why?!
Is Obama sacrificing science for ideology? Is the Obama administration anti-science?
Here is Obama's stem cell policy in a nutshell:
- Obama won't sacrifice science for "ideology."
- When Conservatives express concerns about the ethical implications of government funded stem cell research, what they're really doing is letting ideology (and politics) interefere with scientific progress. This will not be tolerated. Conservatives' concerns will be ignored.
- When Obama expresses concerns about the ethical implications of stem cell research that leads to human cloning, he is simply demonstrating a committment to high ethical standards. But let's be as clear about this as possible: he is NOT letting IDEOLOGY interfere with scientific progress.
- Obama has somehow determined that "the majority of Americans - from across the political spectrum, and of all backgrounds and beliefs - have come to a consensus" that we should spend federal money to pursue human embryonic research. So proceed we will. But let's be as clear about this as possible: he is NOT letting POLITICS influence his science policy.
- Stem cell research that does not involve destroying, discarding, or harming a human embryo or fetus will recieve no support on Obama's watch. Obama reserves the right to give no explanation.
And finally, some interesting observations from a supporter of human embryonic stem cell research:
There are good reasons why society puts ethical boundaries on science. The Nuremberg code is the best-known example of this. Shocked by the horrors of Nazi science, the civilized world agreed that tests should never again be conducted on people who hadn't agreed to take part, and that test subjects should not be knowingly harmed.
Many scientists saw [Obama's lifting of Bush's funding ban] as a victory of science over ethical shackles.
During the Bush administration, "political ideology was used to define how science should be done," said Harvard Stem Cell Institute researcher Douglas Melton in a prepared statement.
John Kessler, director of the Northwestern University Stem Cell Institute called Bush's restrictions a "really, really unwelcome intrusion of politics into science."
Their comments were echoed by researchers around the world — and though understandable, it was wrong. [snip]
...Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem cell funding were legitimate. They represented a moral objection to the destruction of embryos by people who believe that life begins when sperm meets egg. It's not an objection shared by everyone. But characterizing conscientious objectors as anti-scientific is dangerous.
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If you read nothing else today, read this: Obama's Stem Cell Disgrace
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