Posted on 10/29/2004 10:37:56 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Proposition 71 race has turned into the battle of the Hollywood stars actor after Mel Gibson spoke out against the $3 billion bond measure for stem cell research and offered his help to the opposition campaign.
Gibson appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" Thursday and said he had an "ethical problem" with the proposition, which would make about $300 million available annually for 10 years to fund the controversial research. The measure would allow cloning for medical research only. All told, including interest, it will cost $6 billion in taxpayer money over 30 years.
Gibson also has recorded a 60-second message that he gave to the campaign Thursday. A spokesman for the No on 71 campaign said officials are still discussing how to use the message, which they said arrived unexpectedly Thursday. A spokesman said the campaign already has produced two radio advertisements, which are airing throughout the state.
"It's kind of a last-minute thing but we are glad he could join," said No on 71 spokesman Tim Rosales. "He's a great spokesperson."
Gibson is the first Hollywood celebrity to speak out against a proposition that many of his colleagues are supporting.
Before he died Oct. 10, "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve filmed a television commercial in support of Proposition 71 that is airing throughout the state. "Family Ties" actor Michael J. Fox also appears in a Proposition 71 advertisement.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, star of several action blockbusters, endorsed the measure earlier this month.
Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp., which owns 74 percent of outstanding stock of the Hollywood studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, contributed $250,000 last week. Rob Reiner, director Lawrence Kasdan and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. co-founder David Geffen also have contributed.
New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer contributed $1,000 earlier this month.
In all, proponents have raised more than $25 million, much of it contributed by Silicon Valley venture capitalists and major Democratic donors such as finance executives Herbert and Marion Sandler.
In contrast, the No on 71 campaign has raised a little more than $226,000, including contributions of $50,000 each from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and millionaire evangelical Christian Howard Ahmanson Jr.
In addition, the California Nurses Association, which represents 58,000 nurses and the Center for Genetics and Society both said they support human embryonic stem cell research, but are against the measure because of fiscal issues and concerns about cloning.
Earlier this month, the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family sent a letter to 180,000 families at a cost of about $64,000 urging a vote against Proposition 71. A spokeswoman said the group will air Gibson's 60-second message during its Monday radio broadcast, which reaches a little more than 300,000 listeners daily in California.
"If cloning human embryos for destruction is so promising, why aren't private companies paying the $6 billion," Gibson says on the recording. "Bad science doesn't attract venture capital."
Prop 71 supporters argue that the California measure is needed to fund a promising medical research area hindered by the Bush administration, which provided $25 million for the field last year.
Many social conservatives and women's advocates oppose the research because days-old embryos are destroyed in the process.
Great point.
Good grief. How come the conservatives aren't contributing to this?
Since Bush has been so strong on the front lines regarding abortion (stopping UN funding of abortion, outlawing partial birth abortion) abortion advocates have to resort to back-door issues like this to keep abortion alive.
Repugnant people.
Gibson was interviewed on the Laura Ingraham show yesterday...
He was well informed on the Prop 71 scam...
Gibson evidently called RINOld but RINOld didn't return his call...
Prop 71, 6 BILLION DOLLARS of more debt while the Musclehead runs the state into the toilet!!!
Way to go, Mel! The man's got both looks AND brains!
""Bad science doesn't attract venture capital."
sure it does..look at global warming....and other envirowhacko issues.. look at all the money that's being wasted on "cancer research" that really goes to fund researchers condos... absolutely no progress has been made showing that embryonic stem cells will fix anything..on the other hand, adult stem cells are already helping people.
Has Mel Gibson come out in support of the President yet?
Adult stem cells, on the other hand, are now showing the most promise.
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