Bush Stem Cell Bill Veto Another Christian Right Victory Over Common Good

Interview with Esther Kaplan, author of "With God on Their Side," conducted by Scott Harris

The Republican Party has in recent years come to increasingly rely on its conservative Christian fundamentalist base to turn out votes in critical elections. The GOP's ability to mobilize Christian right voters on issues such as abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research is credited with victories in presidential, congressional and statewide races. Many political observers believe that Christian conservatives now virtually dictate GOP, and hence national public policy.

When the U.S. Senate joined the House in approving the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, President Bush, for the first time in his presidency, vetoed a congressional bill. Neither the House or Senate had enough votes to override the veto. The legislation would have expanded federal funding for human embryonic-stem-cell research by developing new stem cell lines from embryos used in fertility treatments and destined to be discarded. The president's veto was a set back for potential cures for diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, diabetes and spinal injuries that affect millions of people in the U.S. and around the world.

White House press secretary Tony Snow initially said that Bush believed stem-cell research amounted to "murder," but later made a vague correction by asserting the president opposed using federal funds for such research because it involves "a destruction of human life." Between the Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Esther Kaplan, author of the book, "With God on Their Side," who discusses President Bush's veto of stem cell research and the Christian fundamentalist movement's growing influence on U.S. public policy.

Esther Kaplan is author of the book, "With God on Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Trampled Science, Policy, and Democracy in George W. Bush's White House." For more information on organizations supporting the constitutional separation between church and state visit People for the American Way's website at www.PFAW.org

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