Upset with Obama's stance on stem cells

Our president said the stem cell bill is "about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted and manipulated to serve a political agenda - and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."

Fact. Adult stem cell research is already being used to treat over 70 diseases and conditions. Not one therapeutic application has come from embryonic stem cell research. That is why you say don't expect any cures soon with this bill.

There are no moral questions about adult stem cell research. If taxpayer dollars are going to be spent on stem cell research, that's where it ought to go. As long as scientists are unsure when human life begins, we should err on the side of caution.

Our president uses emotive negative words about honest, moral concerns many citizens have, re: the use of embryos, saying his bill ensures scientists can now "do their jobs free from manipulation or coercion." Yet in the same speech he says human cloning is "profoundly wrong and has no place in our society."

Doesn't this keep scientists from doing their jobs free from manipulation and coercion? It can't be both ways. If the ends justifies the means in regards to embryonic stem cell research, the door has already been opened to human cloning. That he knows morals cannot be separated from these decisions is clear in what Obama says about human cloning.

Obviously, embryonic stem cell research is being pushed for political, ideological and financial reasons. The bottom line is money. Who will get a bigger piece of the pie?

Janet Kotynski

North Aurora