Government Grants

We have often heard the argument that privately funded research is suspect because the scientists who are employed by private firms have a profit motive, and that they are predisposed to give answers consistent with their bosses’ goals. But isn’t that also true of scientists who are funded by government grants? Are they not motivated by the grant money and predisposed to give answers consistent with the goals of the grantor?

Your thoughts?

(I am posting this in two categories: politics and science. I’m interested if the science community has a different general opinion from the more politically inclined.)

Gloria