More on Stem Cell Research

It is just as wrong to force people who object to stem cell research to fund it, as to force those who object to animal research to fund that.

"But, but, there's nothing wrong with experiementing on animals! Those who object are extremist nutjobs, putting their weird personal beliefs ahead of the public good!"

But that's not the point. It might be distasteful for libertarians to side with the Religious Right on anything. And it may be for different reasons and reasoning, but that shouldn't cloud our judgment. On the grounds of the rights of conscience, and the Constitution, the Religious Right is, well, right on this one.

Two quotes from the FreedomWatch daily newsletter:

"Confused about whether to vote to force your constituents to subsidize stem cell research? Then consider what Thomas Jefferson had to say on the subject: 'To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.'"

- Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican

[L]et's address the proposed Bush veto. His veto is not based on Constitutional grounds. Bush isn't going to veto this bill because he thinks that the Constitution doesn't provide for government spending money on medical research. He's going to veto it because of his religious beliefs, and to throw a bone to the anti-choice crowd.

"Wouldn't it be nice to have a president who is as concerned with Constitutional principals as he is with religious ones?"

- Talk show host Neal Boortz