The New York Times put Hwang on its front page today. That is good. The paper predictably covered the story following the general line taken by cloning advocates. The Washingto Post has another story as well, again by Rick Weiss. It ran on the San Francisco Chronicle’s front page.
These reporters and the analysis I read in the Times still are not asking the truly pertinent questions about how this happened. Nor are we yet seeing the skeptical and aggressive reportage that led to Hwang’s downfall in South Korea. They quote the editor of Science on the issue, which is fine, but they fail to note that he too has a lot of explaining to do, for example, why initially Science took the blame for publishing what turned out to be forged photographs, claiming the matter was a production problem within the journal.
This story should get much bigger. We’ll see if it will or whether the MSM will circle the wagons around therapeutic cloning. That’s my prediction.
I will have my own take on it in the next Weekly Standard and will post a few quotes here when it is out.
Time is short, so I’ll be direct: FIRST THINGS needs you. And we need you by December 31 at 11:59 p.m., when the clock will strike zero. Give now at supportfirstthings.com.
First Things does not hesitate to call out what is bad. Today, there is much to call out. Yet our editors, authors, and readers like you share a greater purpose. And we are guided by a deeper, more enduring hope.
Your gift of $50, $100, or even $250 or more will bring this message of hope to many more people in the new year.
Make your gift now at supportfirstthings.com.
First Things needs you. I’m confident you’ll answer the call.
