Mixed Messages From the White House on Stem Cells
Jan. 8, 2007 — -- Mixed messages come from the White House today on news that U.S. researchers have discovered that stem cells in amniotic fluid could offer the same promise as those harvested from embryos.
This morning White House spokesman Tony Snow urged caution, saying the White House is still looking into the findings. He brushed off a question about the potential of amniotic stem cells saying, "Just because you find that there is -- that amniotic stem cells have some medical potential doesn't mean that you run around saying, 'OK, everybody, pony up your amniotic fluid.' I mean, it doesn't work that way." And he offered the measured assesment that, "there will always be concern, but, obviously, there is a difference between using amniotic stem cells that do not, by design, involve the destruction of a human life and embryonic stem cell research which does."
That's a far cry from the enthusiastic language used by the White House communications shop. Just minutes before Snow gave his less-than-sanguine assesment of the news, the White House communications shop, which Snow is also a part of, sent reporters a press release hailing the discovery of amniotic stem cells as a "breakthrough" -- a word Snow seemed careful to avoid. In a mass e-mail entitled "Stem Cell Breakthrough Shows Great Promise" the White House quoted six news sources brimming with a sense of excitement over the potential of amniotic stem cells.
One reason Snow may be watching his words: he was forced to retract back in July when he asserted that the president considered embryonic stem cell research a form of "murder." A few days later he apologized, saying, "I overstepped my brief there." He clarified to explain that "....the President has said that he believes that this is the destruction of human life."
The president has consistently opposed the use of federal funds for stem cell research. On July 19, 2006 Bush used his first and only veto to block legislation that would expand federally funded embryonic stem cell research. In issuing his veto the president said the legislation "crosses a moral boundary that our decent society needs to respect.....we can ensure that science serves the cause of humanity instead of the other way around." No word on the president's reaction to the news of the amniotic stem cell discovery.
Related Stories
ABC News Live