George Allen: Against Stem Cell Research; For Disease

Virginia Senator George Allen, continuing his career as a cipher for George W. Bush, yesterday voted against a bill to permit federal funding of stem cell research.

Allen's Virginia Republican colleague, John Warner, voted for the bill, reflecting the will of the vast majority of Virginians.

Let's face it, stem cell research is gonna happen. It will be funded outside the U.S., particularly in Europe, Japan and other parts of Asia as we lose our edge in yet another scientific field. Fortunately, it will also be funded in at least some U.S. states whose politics are not dominated by religious ideologues.

Stem cell research holds the promise of improving treatments and even providing cures for dozens of serious diseases. So, if you, a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a neighbor are suffering from one of those diseases, remember it when it comes time to vote in November. Remember that Allen voted for disease over cure.

So just what is Allen up to? Running for President, of course. He hopes to appeal to the hard core Christian right in the GOP primaries while more "moderate" Republicans duke it out in the "center." (Moderate Republican increasingly being an oxymoron.)

Here's a way to give Allen the time he needs to campaign for President outside Virginia: boot him from the Senate in favor of Jim Webb, a truly moderate Democrat who, like John Warner, supports federal funding of stem cell research.