One of the few good elements of George W. Bush’s presidency was his ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, despite strong pressure from both ranking Democrats and Republicans in Congress to permit the funding. This past election cycle we had two pro-death candidates for president, and we knew that this ban would fall under both men. John McCain likely would have waited until another bill for funding passed through Congress (he supported the first two). President Obama had no such patience. Today, by executive order, the president lifted Bush’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Will there be outcry from the Republican Party? If there is any, most of it will be describing the executive order as a “distraction.” The moral voices have faded in the GOP. There are virtually none in the Democratic Party. This is the world we live in now–conservatives and liberals willing to permit the experimentation on human persons for purely utilitarian ends.
UPDATE: Democrats for Life released the following statement today:
“Democrats For Life of America disagreed with the Mexico City Policy reversal but had an opportunity to air our concerns with representatives of the Administration. But the announcement that President Obama would allow expanded use of embryonic stem cells came as a surprise. DFLA has had a productive relationship both with the campaign and the early stages of the new Administration. To have no opportunity to weigh in on this controversial issue signals a cooling of our relations. DFLA is against President Obama’s decision, period. There are workable and successful options available to private sector research operations that use umbilical cord blood and non embryonic stem cells. To frame this decision as a necessity to cure finding medical research is not accurate. While we have zero confidence that a call for reversal of this Executive Order will prevail, we are hopeful that the President will heed our call for common ground solutions in dealing with pro-life Democrats.
One issue we can find agreement on is the Pregnant Women’s Support Act . We believe this should be put on the front of the legislative burner. We will work with the President to pass this landmark abortion reduction bill and we are hopeful that he will see the PWSA is a far better way to work with pro-life Democrats than focusing on divisive issues that highlight our differences on issues dealing with life and the unborn.”
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