"Who Wants an Ugly, Stupid Kid?"

In lieu of covering '08 Presidential hopefuls' responses to the Bush administration's plan to increase the number of troops in Iraq, I think I'd like to write a little bit about the American dream.
Actually, before I get started, if anyone sent a comment over the past few weeks, please send it again. I had 234 waiting for me, and upon reading the first few wonderful smut-site offers, I just deleted them all. Forgive me.

Jennalee Ryan is a businesswoman. But more than that, she yearns to aid mothers create the most perfect thing any mortal can claim to create. That's right, a little one. Jennalee Ryan strives for something more, though. Something more perfect. Perfectest, if you will.
According to the AP story, Ryan, who runs the aptly named Abraham Center of Life in San Antonio, had her household investigated by Food and Drug Administration officials on Friday.

Why would they want to investigate this miracle granting charity?

Well, Ryan's business sells M.T.O. style embryos to prospective parents for 5,000 bones a pop.

She fertilizes the egg with the sperm to create favorable mixes. Sperm donors must have doctorates, the AP reports, and egg donors must be "young, intelligent and attractive" to qualify. Potential parents review the donors' personal facts - ethnicity, education and often their pictures - as to pick the little embryo they like best.

Kind of like dog breeding.

After all, as Jennalee Ryan told AP writer Elizabeth White, "Who wants an ugly, stupid kid?"

Not me. Forget ethics for a second and let's review the possibilities.

PROSPECTIVE DAD: Hmm, well, this sperm comes from a 6'9" Penn State grad. I bet he was an athlete!

PROSPECTIVE MOM: I don't know hun. I always wanted a little Cambodian baby like Angelina. This one is half Burmese. That's close, right?

P.D.: But wouldn't it be nice to go to Chapel Hill to watch our son play basketball?

P.M.: What if it's a girl? We just don't know yet.

P.D.: Don't you underst... wait, this one belongs to Heath Shuler!

P.M.: Ted...

P.D.: HEATH SHULER!!!

I bet the world would be very different if we just let the smart and beautiful people make all of the babies. Imagine if all parents could've had the the chance to shop for their children.

I understand that these embryos are going to couples who are unable to have their own children. If they want children, then they have every right to pursue any opportunity they can. But, "Who wants an ugly, stupid kid?" The least she could do is make her cause seem a little less obnoxious. It's a blow to her credibility, and that's a problem when she states that money has no influence in her career decision.

Maybe that's true, but it's hard not to second guess her motives when you read a statement like that.

Until later all you ugly, stupid kids, I'm gone.