Yahoo! News - STEM CELL DEBATE IS RIDDLED WITH DISHONESTY

Yahoo! News - STEM CELL DEBATE IS RIDDLED WITH DISHONESTY:

By John Leo

"John Kerry has repeatedly spoken of President Bush's 'ban' on stem cell research. Kerry knows very well it isn't a 'ban' or that Bush isn't 'shutting down' research. But 'ban' is a powerfully emotional word. It has more impact on swing voters than 'allowing private research, but not using taxpayer money for work on stem cell lines derived after Aug. 9, 2001.'

John Leo

Congressional Democrats have used this maneuver before, accusing Republicans of plans to 'cut' Social Security (big emotional impact there) when the Republicans actually just wanted to reduce the rate of increase in funding. 'Cut,' like 'ban,' wasn't truthful, just useful.

The fact is that stem cell research is swimming in readily available funds. With luck, the elite press corps will discover this some time in October, and maybe even ask Kerry about it. The federal government is providing $24.8 million in research funds, which is $24.8 million more than President Clinton (news - web sites) offered. Money is pouring in from state governments, universities and pharmaceutical companies. If Kerry thinks this financial gusher still amounts to a ban, maybe he could get the Heinz Foundation or George Soros to pitch in.

Kerry spins the stem cell issue by saying, 'Here in America, we don't sacrifice science for ideology.' This is a line he has been using for weeks. It delivers two messages, both false: (1) there is no legitimate moral issue here (though plenty of bioethicists and plenty of Kerry supporters think there is); and therefore (2) this is a one-sided issue"

A worth-while read! >>>