Almost no one was surprised this week when President Obama lifted restrictions on stem cell research that involved the destruction of human embryos. Even jaded Washington watchers are adjusting to the idea that this is a president with an eerie determination to do exactly what he said he would do during his campaign.<\/p>\n
Those who approve such research applauded Mr. Obama\u2019s action. (\u201cFantastic,\u201d\u009d said one stem cell scientist on PBS.) Those who disapprove condemned it. (\u201cDeadly,\u201d\u009d said an anti-abortion leader in The New York Times.) But some commentary focused at least as much on the nature of the president\u2019s moral argument as on the specific conclusions he reached.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the controversy over human embryonic stem cell research, moral argument has not been much in evidence. The president spoke of a popular consensus in favor of it reached \u201cafter much discussion, debate and reflection.\u201d\u009d That is a kindly description of the hype, exaggeration and denunciation that have dominated the controversy.<\/p>\n