Billions are being spent right now on this research, at the state and private level.

There's a linked paper, too.

The Federal funding issue is primarily a political tool, a bone the Democrats can throw to their supporters. I personally have no real problem with this issue one way or another, but it's irritating to see more of the same "all that is good must flow from Washington" thinking.

But the president was insistent that his order would not open the door to human cloning.

"We will develop strict guidelines, which we will rigorously enforce, because we cannot ever tolerate misuse or abuse," Obama said. "And we will ensure that our government never opens the door to the use of cloning for human reproduction. It is dangerous, profoundly wrong, and has no place in our society, or any society."

"Profoundly wrong?" Why draw the line here? What inherent moral law does cloning violate that is no issue when creating embryos for research? And what is it based on?