Sophoan Sorn

two.5 (two votes)

Healthcare Prof:

Although President-elect Barack Obama “seems to be preparing for office with characteristic care and seriousness,” he “need[s] to be aware of … certain tripwires that could trigger explosive controversy,” including issues relating to embryonic stem cell research and abortion rights, columnist Michael Gerson writes in a Washington Post opinion piece.

According to Gerson, given “recent, ethnically sound progress on deriving useful stem cells from adult sources,” an executive order reversing Bush’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research would be “unnecessary.” While such an order “would also be popular and unlikely to cause much backlash,” Gerson adds that “it could be a mistake for Obama to push further, using government to promote the destruction and manipulation of developing life.”

In addition, Gerson writes that there “are at least 16 provisions passed routinely by Congress that limit governmental involvement in abortion and other life issues — measures that prevent the domestic funding of abortion, forbid the use of international family planning funds for abortion, protect the legal rights of health care specialists to refuse involvement in the procedure and prohibit the patenting of human life.” Based on Gerson, “Removing this firewall between government and abortion would seem — and be — a massive assault within the pro-life movement. Even many Americans who consider themselves pro-choice see the use of their tax dollars to promote abortion as radical.” He continues, “By abandoning government neutrality on abortion, Obama would permanently embitter most with pro-life views” (Gerson, Washington Post, 11/15).

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