The Politics of Science: Bush and Kerry Battle It Out
by Roddy Scheer
E/The Environmental Magazine

September 29, 2004—Nature, a leading international science periodical, has published written responses from President Bush and challenger John Kerry to questions regarding their respective stands on various scientific issues, including stem cell research, global warming, genetically modified crops and nuclear weapons development. As might be expected, the candidates rarely agreed on what should be done regarding federal policy on most matters of science.

In general, Bush came down on the side of preventing research on new stem cell lines, waiting and seeing regarding global warming, allowing the free market to regulate genetically modified foods, and continuing the development of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Kerry wants to lift restrictions on stem cell research, restart international negotiations regarding climate change policy, watch genetically modified foods more closely and stop all nuclear weapons development.