President Bush is out of touch with his constituency.

Among other things, this was evidenced by his veto Wednesday of a stem cell research funding bill.

Currently, there is no federal funding to create new stem cell lines. States and private parties can still fund these projects, though the federal government has substantially deeper pockets.

Stem cells have amazing potential to save lives. Research has shown stem cells can help treat degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as diabetes, cancer, incontinence and a number of other afflictions.

With these kinds of possibilities, it comes as no surprise that a large number of Americans support conducting research on stem cells. The Christian Post reports that 60 percent of Americans favor reducing restrictions on stem cell research. Congress has reflected public opinion with their recent vote: 63 percent of the U.S. Senate and 58 percent of the House of Representatives approved this bill.

Bush claims to have the moral high ground on this issue. Rather than providing federal funds for new stem cell lines, Bush says he “will not allow our nation to cross this moral line.” As though he is the moral authority.

Bush has burned through the “political capital” he says he earned in the 2004 election, and it’s time for this president to face his approval rating. A Newsweek poll places only 26 percent of Americans in approval of Bush, a rating that has been bested only once in the last 35 years – by former President Richard Nixon, of Watergate infamy, who received a low of 23 percent in January 1974.

Bush started his second presidential term with a decree that he had a mandate from the American people, and proceeded to push numerous conservative initiatives through a then-Republican Congress. Now, the legislative majority and the American populace are no longer on his side.

Bush’s political base is shrinking every week, and support for stem cell research has been growing steadily: up from 61 percent in 2001 to 73 percent in 2004, according to a Harris Interactive poll.

Congress does not yet have the votes necessary to override a presidential veto, but it’s clear Congress is doing its job in representing the American people. Bush needs to respect the will of the people and allow the next stem cell funding bill to pass.

It’s time for Bush to realize that America, by and large, does not stand on the same moral platform that he does.