Nobel Winners Back Kerry, Say Bush Ignores Science
Mon Jun 21, 2004 07:16 PM ET
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By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
DENVER (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry picked up the endorsement on Monday of 48 Nobel Prize-winning scientists who attacked President Bush for "comprising our future" by shortchanging scientific research.
"The Bush administration has ignored unbiased scientific advice in the policy-making that is so important to our collective welfare," the 48 scientists, who have won Nobels in chemistry, physics and medicine dating back to 1967, said in an open letter released by the Democratic presidential candidate's campaign.
The scientists, who included 2003 chemistry winners Peter Agre and Roderick MacKinnon, accused the Bush administration of undermining America's future by reducing funding for science and turning away scientific talent with restrictive immigration policies.
"John Kerry will change all this," they said. "John Kerry will restore science to its appropriate place in government."
Kerry, on his first public campaign visit to Colorado, told supporters at a rainy rally in a downtown Denver park that the United States was losing its scientific lead over other nations. He promised to put the country once again "at the forefront of scientific discovery."
The Massachusetts senator argued that greater technological innovation could transform the economy, creating jobs, cleaner energy and medical advances.
"We need a president who will again embrace the tradition of looking toward the future and new discoveries with hope based on scientific facts, not fear," Kerry said, citing his plans to lift barriers to stem cell research, a move Bush has opposed.
Bush came under renewed pressure on the stem cell issue after the death of former President Ronald Reagan, who suffered from a disease, Alzheimer's, that might be cured or treated with stem-cell therapy.
The Bush campaign fired back at Kerry, saying America was the world's scientific leader and the president had boosted research and development funding.
"Only John Kerry would declare the country to be in scientific decline on a day when the country's first privately funded space trip is successfully completed," said Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt.
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