Dancing around stem cells

The Bush administration sent contradictory signals on stem cells last week, and activists on both sides of the issue stepped up their campaigns to influence the White House's decision about maintaining or overturning NIH's decision to fund research involving embryonic stem cells.

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), a conservative opponent of abortion, told HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson that the needs of patients should outweigh any concerns about using embryos for research. Speaking at a budget hearing, Smith said the administration "ought to err on the side of helping people with these hideous diseases. Stem cells may be one of the answers." ...