Leavitt for the defense
Wednesday's USA Today editorial debate examined both sides of the stem cell research issue. Speaking for the administration was Mike Leavitt, former Utah governor, now secretary of Health and Human Services.
That newspaper was wise enough to agree with my newspaper that the bill passed by Congress does not deserve the veto that, by the time you read this, President Bush may already have issued.
USA Today said:
Steadfastness can be an attractive quality in a president. Stubbornness in the face of new information is not. The price of Bush's threatened veto might well be paid in the suffering of millions of people. It's hard to believe that he, and those in Congress who support his stance, consider this to be the "pro-life" position.
Leavitt said:
The bill passed by Congress would overturn the president's stem cell policy and for the first time use taxpayer dollars to offer an incentive for the present and future destruction of human embryos. This bill crosses the moral line the president drew, and he has made clear his intent to veto it.
I'd say Leavitt had a weak case to make, and did about as well with it as could be expected. But have a look for yourself.
-- George Pyle
That newspaper was wise enough to agree with my newspaper that the bill passed by Congress does not deserve the veto that, by the time you read this, President Bush may already have issued.
USA Today said:
Steadfastness can be an attractive quality in a president. Stubbornness in the face of new information is not. The price of Bush's threatened veto might well be paid in the suffering of millions of people. It's hard to believe that he, and those in Congress who support his stance, consider this to be the "pro-life" position.
Leavitt said:
The bill passed by Congress would overturn the president's stem cell policy and for the first time use taxpayer dollars to offer an incentive for the present and future destruction of human embryos. This bill crosses the moral line the president drew, and he has made clear his intent to veto it.
I'd say Leavitt had a weak case to make, and did about as well with it as could be expected. But have a look for yourself.
-- George Pyle
1 Comments:
The majority of people, according to polls, disagree with the President's position on stem cell research. The crime here, is that a Democrat chose to hold up a bill for additional funding of adult stem cell research. Adult stem cells have proven research and are being used today for many diseases. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are also promising. Since the embryonic stem cell bill was killed, what is the sense of stopping federal funding of other important programs? Let's hope Congress doesn't hold up money for research they know can get passed, and move on. Unfortunately, the new embryonic stem cell bill is dead.
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