The President's Moral Decision Pays Off

When we heard President Bush's 2001 speech explaining his position on stem cell research, we appreciated the fact that he had obviously done a lot of thinking on a an extremely difficult issue. Even as we recoiled at the idea of experimenting on embryonic stem cells, we lamented the fact that not funding the research meant not giving scientists the opportunity to discover cures and treatments for deadly diseases. Now -- 6 years later -- comes the news that James A. Thomson, the scientist who first isolated human embryonic stem cells, and his colleague, Shinya Yamanaka, have developed a procedure for producing genetically matched stem cells without the use of embryos. We have not heard the reaction of his Democratic opponents, but we're sure they will not take pleasure into what amounts to a great victory for G. W. Bush. Charles Krauthammer has an excellent commentary explaining how, in this case, technology vindicates morality.

If you're interested in reading or hearing (both text and audio are available) the president's August 2001 speech, delivered from the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas......here's the link.