The Waterkooler

Some of the stories written about the issue would lead the average person to believe that there is some sort of Bush-led federal ban on stem cell research - and not just the embryonic kind - despite the fact that George W. Bush has never banned stem cell research of any kind in the United States, and that he is the only U.S. president to have ever authorized federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

• Senators urge Bush to lift stem cell ban
  
  
• New Hampshire families and doctors call on Bush to end stem cell ban
  
  
• Bush blocks plan to lift US ban on stem-cell research
  
  
• Kerry pledges to reverse stem cell ban
  
  
• Bush Pressured to lift stem cell ban
  
  
• Clark protests stem cell ban
  

I think it’s fair to say that the individuals who wrote the above stories had an ax to grind over the issue with respect to the current administration. If that is not the case, how then can one explain such headlines, especially in light of the fact that George W. Bush has never banned stem cell research of any kind in the United States, and that he is the only U.S. president to have ever authorized federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?

Related Story: Comparison of Stem Cell Research to Nazi Experiments Stirs Controversy