More pressure is being placed on President George Bush to loosen the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Organizations of scientists have been lobbying since the day after Bush made his decision in August 2001, that no more embryonic human beings could be killed for use in stem cell and cloning experiments. Despite heavy pressure from private and government groups, no federal funding is available for this research. Private funding has been slow to materialize since investors are dubious about the commercial value of this untested and often dangerous research.
Since the death of former President Ronald Reagan, calls to make funding available to use more embryos for research have increased. Reagan's wife, Nancy, has strongly endorsed using embryos for Alzheimer's research. Reagan suffered from the brain-wasting disease for the last ten years of his life.
Unlike her pro-life husband, Nancy Reagan has held the pro-abortion position popularized by New York Governor Mario Cuomo: that she was personally opposed to abortion, but thought a woman ought to have “a choice.” Reagan's advocacy has been joined by that of John Kerry and a group of 57 other senators who, shortly before the former president's death, asked Bush to relax the embryo experimentation regulations.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush stands by his policy. He said, “The president came up with a policy that will allow us to explore the promise of stem-cell research, and do so in a way that doesn't cross a certain moral threshold that he set.” “And I think he articulated his reasons for arriving at that decision. And that is his position, and that remains his position.”
When asked if the president would consider relaxing the rules if stem cell research started showing more promise, McClellan said, “The president doesn't believe we should be creating life for the sole purpose of destroying life.”
(This update courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.)
