Right On The Right

Update: Embryonic stem cells haven't caused cancer in lots of folks, as I first claimed, but in clinical tests in rats and other lab animals.

Some people, even on the right, are upset that President Bush has vetoed another funding bill for embryonic stem cells. I for one, am happy he did so. I believe he is in the right on this issue, and if you look at his actions following the veto, you can see why:

WASHINGTON -- President Bush vetoed a bill easing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research today, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said.

At an East Room event later this afternoon, Bush plans to issue an executive order directing the Health and Human Services Department to promote research into "pluripotent" stem cells that might regenerate cell types and body tissues without use of embryonic stem cells, making them prime weapons in the war against diseases.

Adult stem cells, cord blood cells, and other non-embryonic cells can be used to do the same things that many scientists believe embryonic cells can do. In fact, scientists have had considerable success using non-embryonic stem cells, and practically no gains have been made using embryonic stem cells. We have to remember that private funding is still pouring into the embryonic stem cell research field, and it's just federal money that the President is blocking. Case in point on using adult cells, this discovery that opens a lot of doors:

Science Daily — A new type of hybrid cell created at Harvard University couldeventually solve the mystery of how embryonic stem cells develop intospecialized adult cells, and provide genetically tailored treatments for many human diseases.

Let's not walk on the moral slippery slope when unnecessary, especially when the ethically sound science is yielding more results. We need to keep pursuing non-embryonic research, because it's both ethical and more effective.