Stem-Cell Research and the Media

Stem-Cell Research and the Media

Biomedical technology is getting much press due to the stem-cell debate. A controversial topic in itself, with the President of the United States taking a stand on the issue for funding purposes, the topic has received even more press over the consequences resulting from President Bush's decision. With the President's approval rating well over 80 percent since the September 11th attack, those who contest any of his decisions have been receiving feelings of anger from those who support him. I, however, would like to take a stand and contest Bush's decision to limit the stem cell research funding. This paper presents two articles that examine Bush's decision in different ways; one looks at the consequences from the point of view of stem cell researchers, and the other presents an avenue for the Presidential administration to defend their decision, which happens to be contradictory to their claim to be concerned with the science behind stem cell research. While the Janesville Gazette article is supposedly a defense of Bush's decision, analyzing the claims and actual behaviors of Tommy Thompson and President Bush exemplifies their weak argument.

The Newsweek article by Begley (2001) conveys information about the consequences of President George W. Bush's decision to limit the federal funding for stem-cell research to the 64 colonies already in existence. The article does not explicitly state President Bush's decision to limit the funding of the research to the current 64 colonies, but only states that the President announced, "there were scores of stem-cell colonies around the word that federally funded scientists would be allowed to study." Begley's way of co...

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...n's position, a careful analyzer can see major contradictions between his claims to use science to make the decision and his actual decision obviously not being based on science. By also examining and article which roots itself in the people involved daily with stem cell research, and by capturing their concerns with the President's funding decision, this paper serves as a well rounded critique of Bush's stem cell research funding decision in a time when patriotism does not allow for easy critiques of the current administration.

References

Begley, Sharon. (2001, September 10). In search of stem cells: It turns out many of the 64 lines may be unusable. Newsweek, p. 57.

Stem cell decision defended: Thompson" Number of developed lines mad no difference to Bush. (2001, September 7). The Janesville Gazette, pp. A1, A8.