Congress Fails To Override Bush Veto
“[The veto] paints us in a corner as more and more single issue, and more and more unreasonable,” said Ed Rollins, a Republican strategist. “This is the line that the president certainly doesn’t want Republicans to cross, but I think an awful lot of Republicans say this goes across common sense, this research has the potential of saving my father, my mother, or a friend, or curing cancer.” (cite)
The bi-partisan bill, HR810, passed the House 238-194 and the Senate 63-37. Voting to override: 51 Republicans, 183 Democrats and 1 independent. Four Democrats joined 179 Republicans to sustain the veto. The bill counters an executive order signed by President Bush in August 2001.
Until this week, Bush enjoyed a unique place in the history of the modern Presidency. Only seven other presidents failed to veto a piece of legislation. All served prior to 1881 and only three were full-term presidents: John Adams (2nd president), Thomas Jefferson (3rd president) and John Quincy Adams (6th president).
Overview
The issue -- using embryonic stem cells in federally-funded research -- is being cast as politics versus science. Scientists tell the Houston Chronicle that politicos have created a false choice between research using adult cells and research using embryonic cells. Both fields of study are young and both are needed:
And Dr. James Willerson, president of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, said he is optimistic his institution will advance stem-cell research.
Willerson, whose research has shown adult stem cells can help failing hearts, said it is important to conduct research on both embryonic and adult stem cells "to identify the risks and benefits of both, and what they can do and not do."
That hasn't been the focus of the political debate. Bush's supporters on the issue called into question the hype surrounding embryonic stem cells and, instead, touted the promise of adult stem cells. The bill's advocates accused the other side of exaggerating adult stem cells' promise and said embryonic stem cells are the answer.
At the heart of the debate is the fate of 5-day-old blastocysts -- what the Miami Herald has called "clusters of cells in a petri dish."
Left over after fertilization treatments, embryos await their fate, which is usually to be destroyed should the family decide not to proceed with an attempted pregnancy. Should the family be allowed to voluntarily donate these embryos to federally-funded scientists - not unlike donating one's body to science upon death - or should they be prohibited from doing so? Your answer to this question sheds light on how you view HR 810.
See:- Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy - Clinton (pdf)
- Pros and Cons : US Conservatives Guide and US Liberals Guide
- Veto Process
- Veto Statement
- President Pledges Veto of Stem Cell Bill
- Sen. Bill Frist on Stem Cell Research
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