Dragom Dragom:
The reason Science is taking a beating from Politics and Religion right now is because this is the start of the Era of genetic engineering.
What genetic engineers need is enough leeway to make red, blue and yellow sheep, 20 different varieties of wheat that doesn't die in an early frost, 12 kinds of fast growing pine that are resilient to pine beetles and a retro virus that can cut Muscular Dystrophy out of a fetus's genes in the first month of development.
A few of those things are already being researched, specifically GM crops. I don't think religious individuals are opposed to research into GM crops, or genetically modifying fetuses to protect them from diseases or cancers. I do think though, that religious individuals, myself included, are wary of making trees that can grow apples, oranges, pears, lemons, plus and dates all at once, or cows that can also produce wool. I don't think, in my personal opinion, that this is healthy for nature
Religious individuals are wary of SOME scientific progress, which I think is healthy for humanity and science. At what point do we lose our humanity to become Ubermensch or the Borg? When do we cross the line from stopping unborn babies from being born with psoriasis, and then start having babies born exactly the way the parents want?
Science, religion, politics, and philosophy will always mix and mingle together. All keep the other in line. Science makes religious extremists look foolish, religion keeps science from turning us all into cyborgs or batteries for the Matrix.
Genetic engineering will have leeway to conduct some experiments, but considering the effects of genetic engineering would have on all of humanity, it should have some limits. If you're comfortable with having no limits on genetic engineering, that's fine. But I think there should be some limits. Much like I want limits on how far medical science can experiment on humans.
$1:
Now what research or application exactly would Manning legalize or fund to prove his status as a right wing religious supporter of science?
A right wing religious supporter of science? I'm sure he'll support what he is ethically and politically comfortable with. No offense, you are coming off like you have hugely preconceived notions of religious individuals' opinions over science. The only way anybody can truly know what he'd be comfortable supporting is asking him.
If you were asking me, I'd support:
The creation of genetically modified wheat and trees to help protect them against the dangers of nature.
The genetic alteration of fetuses to prevent them from getting physical or mental diseases.
HOWEVER. The problem with GM crops is that it's very rare to get 20 varieties of wheat, or 12 varieties of trees, but rather one type of tree and one type of wheat that is resistant, thus removing the natural diversity, and making us even MORE dependent on that crop's success or failure.
Also, with the fetus development. I'm for altering genes to prevent diseases, but not for the altering of hair/eye color, or personality traits (unless you consider psychopath/sociopath a personality trait) to make the perfect accessory to match some rich snob's purse.
CKA Super Elite 
