Embryonic vs Adult Stem Cell Research

President Bush made his first veto yesterday, rejecting a bill that would have advanced embryonic stem cell (ESC) research. Sometimes people merely say "stem cell research holds the promise for curing intractable diseases." But such statements are illusive because they are ambiguous. Then they can make conservatives look bad by saying they "oppose important research that has the potential to save lives."

Michael Fumeno notes that adult stem cells (ASCs) from numerous places in the body as well as umbilical cord blood and placenta – are curing diseases here and now and have been doing so for decades. But this actually angers those who support embryonic Stem Cell Research.

See Fumeno's informative and persuasive essay for more details.

In an earlier post I linked to a Joe Carter essay from the same perspective.

I think that Fumeno and Carter are correct regarding this issue, and so am pleased with Bush's veto. I'd love to hear any comments on why you think so many Republicans supported the bill, including presidential-candidate Bill Frist.