What Moral Dilemma?

Sometimes it's a bit too easy to pick on the New York Times, but I couldn't let this editorial pass without comment. In urging the UN to reject a proposed comprehensive ban on human cloning, the Times offers the following insight into the debate:

The United States, the Vatican and a slew of developing countries have endorsed a resolution put forth by Costa Rica that would outlaw all cloning, whether for reproductive, therapeutic or research purposes. That is an extreme measure that seeks to snuff out all research on microscopic entities that religious conservatives consider potential babies but scientists consider mere clusters of cells in a laboratory dish.

Under these terms, what right-thinking person could possibly object to the manufacture of embryos for research purposes? After all, embryos are simply "microscopic entities." True, some (crazed) "religious conservatives" consider them "potential babies." (How exactly are embryos not potential babies?) Thankfully, though, "scientists" (that's right, every single one of them) know that these entities are "mere clusters of cells in a laboratory dish." No worries. Don't let the Bush Administration, the Pope, and the "slew of developing" (i.e., backward) countries fool you. Listen to the Times, and let your moral dilemmas melt away . . .

Rob