Shelby "inconsistent" on biomedical research?

From the Birmingham News:

Sen. Richard Shelby has evolved into a champion of biomedical research, praising the state's universities for cutting-edge, disease-curing research. Over the years he's arranged for Congress to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on such work, especially at UAB, and has spoken publicly of his personal experience with, and admiration of, advanced medical technology.

How, then, to reconcile Shelby's vote last week against increased federal funding for embryonic stem cell research?

"We must not deviate from our strong protection of human life," Shelby said, invoking the conservative platform that embryos are life. "Crossing the boundary medically only calls into question our future protection for life. If we do not draw the line here today, where will the line be drawn?"

The contradiction was not lost on the UAB community.

"I would say, ideally, we wish he had a more consistent position," said Gregory Pence, a professor of medical ethics at UAB who advocates more federally funded research on embryonic stem cells.

It is more than a little disingenuous to call Senator Shelby's position on embryonic stem cell research "inconsistent" and "contradictory." Embryonic stem cell research involves a range of ethical considerations that most other forms of medical research do not. It is entirely appropriate - and "consistent" - to take those issues into account when deciding how to allocated federal dollars. You'd think that a "professor of medical ethics" would understand that.