Brendan Nyhan

The return of “ban” rhetoric from Kerry on stem cells

Kerry is back to the rhetoric about stem cell research being banned:

Three years ago, George W. Bush put in place a ban on federal funding for stem cell research – a ban that’s tied the hands of our scientists and shut down some of our most promising work on spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Parkinson’s and other life-threatening diseases.”

… And right now, there is such possibility for treatments that could transform our lives – but because of the stem cell ban, they are still beyond our reach.

…When I’m President, we’re going to stop saying no. We’re going to say yes. We’re going to lift the ban on federal funding for stem cell research once and for all.

Don’t believe him. Federal funding for stem cell research is not banned – Bush simply limited the number of lines that are available for federally funded research. Whatever you think about the issue, those are not the same thing.

Update (10/21): He did it again today.