Crossing a moral boundary
President Bush vetoed legislation to expand embryonic stem cell research today.
“It crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect, so I vetoed it,” Bush said of the research that involves the use of tiny human embryos. The bill he vetoed would have expanded the number of stem cell lines available for federally funded science. “Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value,” Bush said.
Bush also signed into law a non-controversial bill that outlaws “fetus farming” or creating a pregnancy for the purpose of harvesting the fetus for its cells or tissues. “I made it clear to the Congress that I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line,” he told a White House audience including women who had children after adopting and gestating “spare” embryos from fertility clinics. “I felt like crossing this line would be a mistake and once crossed we would find it almost impossible to turn back.”
The issue of stem cell research is one of close debate, but no matter where you come down on the issue, you have to respect the President’s stand and his unwavering support for defending life. Polls show that most Americans support the research that could lead to new treatments for conditions ranging from diabetes to paralysis.
Perhaps this veto will lead to a compromise that will allow research and respect life. We need to balance the two. The president had hoped to sign a second bill that would encourage alternative stem cell research, but House Democrats blocked it on Tuesday, saying its only purpose was to provide political cover for conservatives.
Democrats need to cross a boundary… and join with other House members to get a balanced piece of legislation going for those who really need it.
