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From: LexisNexis(TM) Print Delivery <[log in to unmask]>
FROM: The New York Times
April 11, 2002, Thursday, Late Edition - Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 28; Column 1; National Desk
HEADLINE: Bush Makes Fervent Bid to Get Senate to Ban Cloning Research
BYLINE: By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
DATELINE: WASHINGTON, April 10
Warning that "advances in biomedical technology must never come at the
expense of human conscience," President Bush today delivered his
strongest
condemnation of human cloning experiments in a speech designed to
persuade a
sharply divided Senate to ban the research.
"As we seek to improve human life, we must always preserve human
dignity,"
the president told an audience of nearly 200 lawmakers, religious
leaders,
bioethicists, scientists and patients gathered in the White House. "And
therefore, we must prevent human cloning by stopping it before it
starts."
It was Mr. Bush's second major address in eight months on morality in
science. In August, he announced that the government would finance
research on
stem cells derived from human embryos, but limited the studies to cells
that had
already been established in laboratories. It was a careful compromise
that
angered many social conservatives, who oppose any stem cell research and
who
make up an important part of Mr. Bush's political base.
Now that cloning is before the Senate, the president's advisers say,
Mr. Bush
feels compelled to speak out, not only to reassure conservatives but also
because he is deeply troubled by the science. Unlike embryonic stem cell
studies, which can be conducted on embryos left over from infertility
treatments, cloning for research involves creating and destroying embryos
for
the express purpose of experiments.
"He thought stem cells was a very difficult call, morally," said one
outside
adviser to the White House. "And I think he was genuinely agonized about
that. I
think he thinks if he can't draw this line, no one is ever going to draw
any
lines."
Cloning involves creating embryos that are, in effect, genetic
replicas of
adults. Agreement is widespread that reproductive cloning, in which the
embryos
are implanted into a woman's womb to grow into babies, should be banned.
The House has passed a far-reaching bill that would prohibit human
cloning
for either reproduction or research, and outlaw the importation of
medical
therapies developed from cloning technology. If the Senate does the same,
Mr.
Bush has said, he will sign the bill into law.
Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, joined by more than two dozen other
Republicans and one Democrat, Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana, has
introduced
legislation that is identical to the House bill. Both sides say the
Senate is
split 40-40 on the Brownback measure, with 20 senators undecided. But
Senate
Democrats, led by Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, are drafting an
alternative that would ban reproductive cloning only. A vote is expected
before
the Memorial Day recess.
Many scientists and advocates for patients say therapeutic cloning
holds vast
promise for the treatment of spinal cord injuries, juvenile diabetes,
Parkinson's disease and other disorders. They view therapeutic cloning as
a way
to realize the promise of stem cell research, because the cloned embryos
can
generate stem cells that are a perfect DNA match for patients.
Today, 40 Nobel laureates released a letter warning that a
far-reaching
cloning ban "would have a chilling effect on all scientific research in
the
United States."
But the president, invoking language frequently used by cloning
opponents,
warned that the research would inevitably lead to "embryo farms" and "a
society
in which human beings are grown for spare body parts and children are
engineered
to custom specifications." His 15-minute speech was interrupted 10 times
by
applause.
Among those invited to the event were three people in wheelchairs,
including
Steven McDonald, a New York City police detective who became a
quadriplegic 16
years ago when he was shot while on patrol.
With his 15-year-old son, Conor, by his side, Detective McDonald,
breathing
with the assistance of a mechanical ventilator, spoke of how he and his
son had
never shared the pleasure of a game of catch. But even if it means he
will never
play catch with his son, he said, "I don't want to destroy innocent human
life."
As Mr. Bush spoke today, Senate Democrats were busy courting one of
the most
powerful undecided lawmakers, Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah. Mr.
Hatch
broke with his fellow abortion opponents last summer to help persuade
Republicans to support federal financing for embryonic stem cell
research.
Mr. Hatch has so far remained closed-mouthed on cloning, but one
Democratic
aide said today that the senator asked Mrs. Feinstein to hold off on
introducing
her legislation, "with the hope that he could support it." A spokeswoman
for Mr.
Hatch said the senator is still reviewing the issue.
Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the Senate majority leader, today
reiterated his
support for therapeutic cloning, saying, "Do we impede progress in some
of the
most debilitating diseases known to man, or do we allow research to go
forward
as long as we ban human cloning?"
http://www.nytimes.com
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