More on the radicalism of the GOP's platform on embryonic stem cell research. The party is now formally committed not just to forbidding government from funding research, but also to banning private funding for such research. I'm unaware of any previous commitments to banning private scientific research because it violates Christianist doctrine. But this assault on scientific inquiry is of a piece with the logic of Christianism. Why isn't McCain asked about this? Why is this not a major story? Not as vital as whether a campaign set is Greek or Roman or just, well, columns for large TV screens?