Dean Criticizes Bush Over Stem Cells
By NEDRA PICKLER
The Associated Press
Friday, January 9, 2004; 2:02 PM
ROCHESTER, N.H. - Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean on Friday criticized President Bush for restricting stem-cell research based on religious beliefs even though his own faith affected his decision to extend legal rights to gay couples.
In 2001, Bush limited research that destroyed human embryos. Many Christian organizations and abortion-rights opponents were against the research.
"I think we ought to make scientific decisions, not theological and theoretical decision," Dean told voters at a town hall meeting. "I think that what the president did on stem-cell research was based on his religious beliefs and I think that is why."
Earlier this week Dean said his Christian faith contributed to his decision to sign the civil unions bill four years ago when he was governor of Vermont. The bill gave gay couples the same legal rights as married couples without allowing them to wed.
"The hallmark of Christianity is to reach out to people who have been left behind," Dean told reporters Tuesday night. "So there was a religious aspect to my support of civil unions."
Dean told the town hall meeting Friday that if elected president he would allow stem-cell research. He said he has a nephew with diabetes who could benefit from it.
"We'll give hope back to people with diabetes and other diseases who could be cured by stem-cell research," Dean said.
Bush, in announcing his decision in August 2001, said the use of human embryos had led different people of different faiths to different conclusions. He said he himself had given the question thought and prayer.
"I also believe human life is a sacred gift from our creator," Bush said in a national address. "I worry about a culture that devalues life, and believe as your president I have an important obligation to foster and encourage respect for life in America and throughout the world." Link
In this particular instance Ms. Pickler is technically correct. However, Dr. Dean's endorsement of stem cell research is known to be medically valuable. Mr. Bush's stance on stem cell research is reactionary. Mr. Bush's worldview is not far removed from that which caused Galileo to be a prisoner in his own home until his death.
Ms. Pickler fails to parse the nuanced words of Dr. Dean when he says that, "there was a religious aspect to my support of civil unions." Of course primarily it was a civil rights issue.
Mr. Bush has no medical or scientific background to come to a well-informed reasoned decision about the necessity of embryonic stem-cell research to further medicine and human healing. It is most likely that Mr. Bush does indeed have great personal reservations about embryonic stem-cell research. He also would have to answer tough questions from the 'Christian Right' if he was to do the medically responsible, yet religiously troubling thing and sponsor embryonic stem-cell research.
Essentially, Dr. Dean's position was bolstered by his Christian beliefs, whereas Mr. Bush's decision was formed entirely by his.
Bad reporting by agencies with as much prestige as the AP and WaPo should not go unchallenged.
I was unable to find an AP ombudsman email contact, but did find this: info@ap.org
The Washington Post's online news ombudsman can be reached here.
No comments :
Post a Comment