GOP stem cell split may have consequences

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/18/06 | Liz Sidoti - ap

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential hopefuls split on whether to provide more federal dollars for embryonic stem cell research, reflecting a GOP rift on an issue that could have political consequences in this year's midterm elections and in 2008.

"President Bush and I do not differ about the need for strong guidelines governing stem cell research," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. However, the heart surgeon added: "The limit on cell lines available for federally funded research is too restrictive."

Frist and Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., abortion opponents who are considering presidential bids, broke with Bush — and the social conservatives who are crucial to the GOP — when they voted Tuesday for a bill that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

Three other potential Republican presidential candidates — Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and George Allen of Virginia — opposed the bill.

"We're talking about fragile early human life. It should be treated as sacred," Brownback said.

Bush has promised a veto — his first — as the White House contends the bill would use federal taxpayer dollars to "support and encourage the destruction of human life for research." Congress lacks the votes to override the veto.

The bill has rankled a faction of conservatives within the GOP — religious voters who oppose abortion and gay marriage and have grown disgruntled with the president's insistence for a guest-worker program in immigration legislation.

Bush, congressional candidates and presidential hopefuls who oppose the bill could end up scoring points with that dissatisfied GOP faction. But the president and his followers also risk alienating many Americans — and a chunk of their rank-and-file — who support stem cell research using human embryos.

Recent Gallup polls show that a majority of Americans say such research is morally acceptable and support federal funding for it. Polls found Republicans more conflicted, with just 51 percent calling embryonic stem cell research morally acceptable and only four in 10 favoring federal funding of such research.

GOP strategists say the differences that the stem cell debate exposed doesn't make life any easier for Republicans trying to maintain their grip on Congress, especially moderates in Democratic-leaning districts.

"The focus is not on the Democrats who opposed the president on stem cells, now it's on the divisions in the Republican Party," said Tony Fabrizio, a GOP pollster.

The vote was 63-37 with 19 Republicans siding with all but one Democrat — Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson (news, bio, voting record), who is trying to win re-election in a Republican state.

"I think politically it's stupid to have this debate now," Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said last week. "He (Bush) will cast his first veto over this, which people will interpret as that he doesn't care about the curing of chronic disease. Nothing could be further than the truth."

Seeking to minimize exposure of GOP fissures and appease critics, Republican leaders orchestrated votes on two other, less controversial bills that the rank-and-file could embrace and cite in their fall campaigns. Those measures passed with no opposition.

In some midterm races, the stem cell issue looms larger.

In Missouri, Republican Sen. Jim Talent (news, bio, voting record) faces a tough challenge from Democrat Claire McCaskill while an initiative promoting stem cell research likely will be on the state ballot. Talent opposes the initiative; McCaskill supports it.

On Tuesday, McCaskill previewed a possible line of attack.

"I think it will be difficult to explain to the majority of people who want our country to continue to be a beacon of hope to the world," she said of those in opposition.

The issue also has surfaced in Senate races in New Jersey and Tennessee.

Stem cell research funding is all but certain to be a political issue heading into the 2008 presidential campaign as many scientists continue to press the federal government to act because existing stem cell lines are unsuitable for clinical trials.

Lobbying lawmakers, including McCain, was former first lady Nancy Reagan, an advocate of the research whose husband, the late President Reagan, suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

"I always just do what I think is right," McCain said explaining his vote and brushing aside suggestions that his position could hurt his standing with conservatives.

[NormsRevenge]

Senator ExSPECTERate's comments/soundbite about all the unlimited potential of embryonic stem cell research was perhaps the most bone-headed uttered today, imo.

[tobyhill]

More MSM BS Propaganda.

[NormsRevenge]

Quotes: The embryonic stem cell debate
The Associated Press

Quotes from lawmakers and others weighing in on congressional debate over stem cell legislation:

__

_

"The president believes strongly that for the purpose of research it's inappropriate for the federal government to finance something that many people consider murder. He's one of them," White House spokesman Tony Snow.

___

"What this bill does is it allows people who are donors of embryos to allow those embryos to be used for life-giving research. So you either use these embryos for research that will help cure people of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and Lou Gehrig's Disease, or you discard them," Sen. Tom Harkin (news, bio, voting record), D-Iowa.

___

"It is human, and it's alive, and under H.R. 810 we say that the federal government is going to fund the destruction, the killing, of that embryo," Sen. Rick Santorum (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa. __

_

"I do not believe that a frozen embryo in a fertility clinic freezer constitutes human life. Now, I believe that being pro-life involves helping the living. Regenerative medicine is pro-life and pro-family," Sen. Orrin Hatch (news, bio, voting record), R-Utah. _

__

"I strongly believe neither Congress nor independent researchers nor any human being for that matter should be allowed to, in effect, play God by determining that one life is inherently more valuable than another," Sen. David Vitter, R-La. ___

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"I fear that without national standards and national legislation, this could be conducted outside of the public eye without national and international scrutiny, where dark and ghoulish things could occur," Sen. Barbara Mikulski (news, bio, voting record), D-Md.

______

"I urge you not to make the first veto of your presidency one that turns America backwards on the path of scientific progress and limits the promise of medical miracles for generations to come," California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a letter to President Bush.

[firewalk]

Frist and Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., abortion opponents who are considering presidential bids, broke with Bush — and the social conservatives who are crucial to the GOP — when they voted Tuesday for a bill that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

all I needed to know

[MikeA]

Oh please, few if anyone will be voting on this issue. If anything, it's a net plus for the GOP if Bush vetoes this bill because it will consolidate his base. The simpletons in the media think Americans have equal passions for all issues. They don't. They may support something, or even be against something, but their passion behind it is muted and thus not something that impacts how they vote on election day. This is one of those issues.

[don-o]

"I do not believe that a frozen embryo in a fertility clinic freezer constitutes human life. Now, I believe that being pro-life involves helping the living. Regenerative medicine is pro-life and pro-family," Sen. Orrin Hatch (news, bio, voting record), R-Utah. _

Just confirms my take on Hatch - Weasel.

I'll say with all my misgivings about W's performance - this veto weighs the balance in his favor.

[don-o]

With respect, MikeA, you are wrong. Hide and watch when the Pubbies run out a Guliani, McCain, Frist (doh!)

Hide and watch the Pubbies flame out.

[NorCalRepub]

....just because you disagree with Hatch on this does not make him a weasal.....hell,.....many people hate Hagel here but he voted with you.....using your logic then, he is a mighty champion of the right....lucicrous.....it is a simple disagreement...pure and simple....

[msnimje]

Adult stem cells work, have worked in the past and continue to work today. Embryonic stem cells have cured nothing, improved not one person.

Embryonic stem cell research has been going on for almost 30 years.

The argument is that embryonic stem cells have the POTENTIAL to do SOMETHING in 20 or 30 years from now??

People who are pushing this are trying to keep the abortion industry alive by offering false hope to people. Shame on them all. ESPECIALLY the Republicans because we expect no better of the Democrats.

[don-o]

Nope. It's not right and left. It's life and death. Simple.

I have no clue why Hagel voted as he did.

[firewalk]

watch when the Pubbies run out a Guliani, McCain, Frist (doh!)

rudy doesn't claim to be pro-life...

[madprof98]

Frist and Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., abortion opponents who are considering presidential bids, broke with Bush — and the social conservatives who are crucial to the GOP — when they voted Tuesday for a bill that would expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

You mean JOHN MCCAIN didn't stand up for life?!? I'm shocked.

[NormsRevenge]

Speak of the weasels..

US. Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, right, and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., appear during a press conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, July 18, 2006, in Washington. The Senate, including Harkin and Specter, passed House Resolution 810, 63-37, four votes short of the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override President Bush's promised veto. The president left little doubt he would reject the bill despite late appeals on its behalf from fellow Republicans Nancy Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

[madprof98]

I'll say with all my misgivings about W's performance - this veto weighs the balance in his favor.

My thought exactly. I'm going out tonight to pick up a copy of Godless. It fits my angry mood.

[sinkspur]

Oh please, few if anyone will be voting on this issue.

Nobody in their right mind will be voting on the basis of stem cell research.

If embryonic stem cells were promising, private funding would be kicking in, big time.

[NorCalRepub]

Hatch has been a great senator for many years....and you call him a weasal because of one vote?....Does someone have to agree 100% to win favor??????....

[MikeA]

I think you misunderstood my point. I was talking about the stem cell issue and the upcoming election, not the slate of candidates for the 08 election. My point stands. Few people will be voting against the GOP because they're pissed off at Bush's veto.

[don-o]

Nobody in their right mind will be voting on the basis of stem cell research.

Give it a think, sink. (I like that)

W is cashing a big check here - on principle. His action will resonate with the Religious Right. Get the Bishops in board, get the right nominee, and we might keep Hillary out of the WH

[MikeA]

So tax cuts, conservative Supreme Court and federal court appointments, a strong national security and strong response to terrorism, remaining firm on finishing the job in Iraq, a strong economy, the signing of the PBA ban, 2 conservative attorney generals, etc. weren't enough to tip the balance on Bush's performance to the favorable side for you?

[MikeA]

Welcome to the world of the small minded...