The Animal-Human Hybrid President
Toward the end of his State of the Union address when even the staunchest Bush supporters had to be entering the early stages of coma the President threw out this little aside:"Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research: human cloning in all its forms, creating or implanting embryos for experiments, creating human-animal hybrids, and buying, selling, or patenting human embryos. Human life is a gift from our Creator -- and that gift should never be discarded, devalued or put up for sale."
Turns out the next day one of the most googled terms on the web was animal-human hybrids. Not many people seemed to know what the President was worried about. 
A few like Jay Leno speculated that he was out to ban werewolves. Is the President positioning himself to mediate conflicts between the Lapiths and the Centaurs having given up on Hamas? Will he be trying to round up and send all Harpies, Mermaids, satrys, and minotaurs to Guantanamo? Where is Peter Singer when we need him?
For those who are not going to take this sort of thing without a fight, take heart that there is help at Boing Boing.
- Art Caplan
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I don't even think he knew what he was talking about, how are we? Can anyone tell me what he was meant? Embryos are hybrids? I don't follow.
- by Angie on Feb 10, 2006 at 8:25 PM | link
He doesn't want scientist to use these hybrids for experiements. I recently read that they grew mice with human brains to get a better grasp on the effects of human medication.
I think the president has a way with words...for the worse. However, that is another forum all in itself. ISn't one of the first things that you learn in a speech class is be on the level with your audience.
I think he should be more worried about other things in our country rather than worrying about animal-human hybrids!
- by LeahChim on Feb 11, 2006 at 6:52 PM | link
"Toward the end of his State of the Union address when even the staunchest Bush supporters had to be entering the early stages of coma..."
As usual Dr. Caplan, you take the high road in your criticism, always refraining from the ad homenim and choosing to make arguments instead of jokes.
I just wish I could be as mature and intelligent about medical ethics issues in politics as you are. You certainly aren't curlish in your statements like us right-wingers are.
And, to end on a note of non-sarcasm, the ethics of making hybrids has been debated in these journals for the better part of the last decade, if not longer (in fact, I think Fletcher called for their creation soley so they could be our slaves and do all of our menial work). It is preposterous to say that Bush is coming out of left-field in wanting to ban their creation. This is hardly any more an obscure discussion to the average American voter than just about eveything else that is discussed on this site.
Thanks for being sophomoric guys, you always meet my low expectations of you.
- by Bradford Short on Feb 11, 2006 at 6:59 PM | link
For once I agree with Mr. Bush. If this sort of experimentation is going on it should be stopped. In addition to the ethical issues, there are the financial considerations. Millions of dollars wasted that could be put to better use.
- by Cindy on Feb 12, 2006 at 8:53 PM | link