Yes, Bill Plante did acknowledge that the stem cell issue has “deep moral and political implications.” And yes, we did hear from a representative of the Family Research Council speaking in opposition to Pres. Obama’s decision to lift the Bush-era ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

But that said, was it right for the Early Show to air this highly inflammatory accusation against Pres. Bush?  Recounting the story of a young boy who died of a rare and fatal genetic disease, Plante stated that the boy’s parents: “believe their son’s chance of survival ended when President George W. Bush signed an executive order in August, 2001, banning the federal government from funding embryonic stem cell research.”

As Plante spoke, CBS flashed footage of a smiling [message: heartless?] Pres. Bush striding across the White House lawn.

The boy in question, Henry Strongin-Goldberg, was six years old when the ban on federal funding went into effect. He died about a year later.  There is no indication that there existed any promising line of research that might have resulted in a timely cure for Henry that was cut short by the Bush executive order. And bear in mind that the Bush order did not ban embryonic stem cell research–it only ended federal funding of it.

Grief-stricken parents are entitled to their beliefs.  But was it proper for CBS to give vent to such beliefs–which come close to accusing Pres. Bush of responsibility for the death of their child–particularly when there is no evidence that the accusation is well-founded?