Most Oppose Bush’s Stem-Cell Policy Decision
President Bush’s decision to allow only funding for research
involving stem cell lines already extracted from embryos has
relatively little support. Even among those who indicated that they
voted for Bush most do not agree with his decision.
The key point of contention involves whether or not to fund research
that involves extracting stem-cells from the hundreds of thousands of
frozen embryos that were created as part of attempts at in-vitro
fertilization. Those embryos are now considered surplus and are now
stored in liquid nitrogen. They are eventually to be discarded.
Most who disagree with Bush’s decision feel that frozen embryos that
were to eventually be discarded anyway are fit subjects for medical
research. This position was taken publicly (prior to Bush’s
announcement) by a number of prominent abortion opponents such as
Senator Hatch of Utah. A small number of poll participants felt that
Bush should not have even allowed any funding for research involving
stem cell lines already extracted from embryos.
The participants were asked the question: What is your view of
President Bush’s decision to allow only funding for research
involving stem cell lines already extracted from embryos?
The Latest Results are: (% of total answers)
Bush is correct in not allowing funding for extracting stem cells for
medical research from surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be
discarded.(14.64%)
Surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be discarded should also
be used for research to develop cures for ailments such as diabetes
and Parkinson’s disease.(46.45%)
There should not even be any funding for research involving stem cell
lines already extracted from embryos.(8.14%)
No opinion or would rather not answer that question. (30.77%)
The results can be broken down by how the participants voted for
president. Which shows, for those who indicated that they voted for
Bush in 2000:
The answers were: (% of total answers)
Bush is correct in not allowing funding for extracting stem cells for
medical research from surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be
discarded.(27.55%)
Surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be discarded should also
be used for research to develop cures for ailments such as diabetes
and Parkinson’s disease.(36.73%)
There should not even be any funding for research involving stem cell
lines already extracted from embryos.(13.27%)
No opinion or would rather not answer that question. (22.45%)
For those who indicated that they voted for Gore in 2000:
The answers were: (% of total answers)
Bush is correct in not allowing funding for extracting stem cells for
medical research from surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be
discarded.(2.04%)
Surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be discarded should also
be used for research to develop cures for ailments such as diabetes
and Parkinson’s disease.(76.53%)
There should not even be any funding for research involving stem cell
lines already extracted from embryos.(6.12%)
No opinion or would rather not answer that question. (15.31%)
The results can be broken down by the participant’s position on the
abortion issue.
Which shows, for those who indicated that they consider themselves
the pro-life on the abortion issue:
The answers were:
Bush is correct in not allowing funding for extracting stem cells for
medical research from surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be
discarded.(29.70%)
Surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be discarded should also
be used for research to develop cures for ailments such as diabetes
and Parkinson’s disease.(29.70%)
There should not even be any funding for research involving stem cell
lines already extracted from embryos.(19.80%)
No opinion or would rather not answer that question. (20.79%)
For those who indicated that they consider themselves the pro-choice
on the abortion issue:
The answers were:
Bush is correct in not allowing funding for extracting stem cells for
medical research from surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be
discarded.(9.14%)
Surplus frozen embryos that would otherwise be discarded should also
be used for research to develop cures for ailments such as diabetes
and Parkinson’s disease.(69.89%)
There should not even be any funding for research involving stem cell
lines already extracted from embryos.(4.30%)
No opinion or would rather not answer that question. (16.67%)
Further Interesting Aspects of the Results
The only subgroups in which more people agreed with President Bush’s
decision were men who had voted for Bush and men who identified
themselves as pro-life regarding abortion. 35.29% of men who voted
for Bush said Bush’s decision was correct while a third of male Bush
voters favored funding for medical research on stem-cells extracted
from surplus frozen embryos. Only 15.69% of male Bush voters said
that there should not even be any funding for research involving stem
cell lines already extracted from embryos.
A third of female Bush voters favored funding for medical research on
stem-cells extracted from surplus frozen embryos compared to only
23.33% who supported Bush’s Decision. Only 16.67% of women who had
voted for Bush said that there should not even be any funding for
research involving stem cell lines already extracted from embryos.
Among pro-life men: 39.34% said Bush’s position was correct compared
to 26.23% who favored funding for medical research on stem-cells
extracted from surplus frozen embryos and 18.03% which opposed any
funding for any embryonic stem-cell research.
A third of women who identified themselves as pro-life on the
abortion issue favored funding for medical research on stem-cells
extracted from surplus frozen embryos which was twice as many as
those who agreed with Bush’s decision. 29.17% of pro-life females
opposed any funding for any embryonic stem-cell research.
Those who voted for Gore overwhelming favored funding for medical
research on stem-cells extracted from surplus frozen embryos. 76.53%
of Gore voters had that position while only 2.04% of Gore voters
supported Bush’s decision. Only 6.04% of Gore voters said that there
should not even be any funding for research involving stem cell lines
already extracted from embryos.
There was very little difference between male and female Gore voters.
77.78% of men who voted for Gore and 75.00% of women who voted for
Gore favored funding for medical research on stem-cells extracted
from surplus frozen embryos