Obama Must Avoid 'Tripwires' On Abortion, Bioethics Issues, Washington Post Opinion Says

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Stem Cell Research;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 18 Nov 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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Although President-elect Barack Obama "seems to be preparing for office with characteristic care and seriousness," he "need[s] to be aware of ... certain tripwires that could trigger explosive controversy," including issues regarding embryonic stem cell research and abortion rights, columnist Michael Gerson writes in a Washington Post opinion piece.

According to Gerson, given "recent, ethnically sound progress on deriving useful stem cells from adult sources," an executive order reversing Bush's ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research would be "unnecessary." While such an order "would also be popular and unlikely to cause much backlash," Gerson adds that "it would be a mistake for Obama to push further, using government to promote the destruction and manipulation of developing life."

In addition, Gerson writes that there "are at least 16 provisions passed routinely by Congress that limit governmental involvement in abortion and other life issues -- measures that prevent the domestic funding of abortion, forbid the use of international family planning funds for abortion, protect the rights of medical professionals to refuse involvement in the procedure and prohibit the patenting of human life." According to Gerson, "Removing this firewall between government and abortion would seem -- and be -- a massive assault on the pro-life movement. Even many Americans who consider themselves pro-choice see the use of their tax dollars to promote abortion as radical." He continues, "By abandoning government neutrality on abortion, Obama would permanently embitter most with pro-life views" (Gerson, Washington Post, 11/15).

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