Posted on 08/17/2007 10:41:28 PM PDT by EternalVigilance
BOSTON - After a recent discovery by the press, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney appears to be pulling out his investments from two companies that use embryonic stem cell research. The discovery of his investments may have a negative effect on voters who already have doubts over the statesman's inconsistent record on life issues.
Members of the press and campaign opposition recently examined a federal financial statement and found that Romney owns stocks in Novo Nordisk and Millipore Corporation, two companies that use embryonic stem cells in their research, the Boston Herald Reports. Since the discovery was made public, Romney has stated that his investments will likely change to support his views.
"The trustee of the blind trust has said publicly that he will endeavour to make my investments conform with my positions, and I am confident that he will," said Romney. The former Massachusetts governor defended himself by saying that his investments were held in a blind trust which made him unable to specifically direct his funds. To some, however, this justification rings hollow in light of the fact that in 1994, he criticised Senator Edward M. Kennedy for the very same defense during the U.S. Senate campaign.
"The blind trust is an age-old ruse," Romney was quoted as saying at the time, the Herald reports. "You give a blind trust rules. You can say to a blind trust, don't invest in properties which would be in conflict of interest or where the seller might think they're going to get an advantage from me."
According to Romney's trust manager Brad Malt, of the law firm Ropes & Gray, the former governor took none of these precautions when the trust was established in 2002. Nevertheless, Malt also stated that it was impossible for Romney to predict where his money would go, for he "lost that ability once the trust was created."
According to the Herald, Romney owns between $190 and $250 million worth of assets. Out of this, he has between $100,000 and $250,000 invested in Novo Nordisk. On its official website, however, the company clearly states its support of embryonic stem cell research. (Read the Novo Nordisk statements on embryonic stem cell research: http://www.novonordisk.com/science/bioethics/stem_cell_ethic...).
Romney also invested in the Massachussetts-based Millipore Corporation, another company that uses embryonic stems cells for research. (See the Millipore website: http://www.millipore.com/corporate/pressroom.nsf/docs/73alx3).
Despite the fact that Romney appears to be pulling out of the problematic companies, the discovery of his these investments may shake the faith of conservative voters, especially since Romney's past record on life issues has been a slippery see-saw.
Ten years after declaring himself pro-choice, the former governor stated in 2004 that he had a pro-life conversion while discussing the very issue of embryonic stem cell research. He said, "It hit me very hard that we had so cheapened the value of human life in a Roe v. Wade environment that it was important to stand for the dignity of human life." Nevertheless, the recent discovery may once again have people questioning his motives and the reliability of such conservative claims during his run as presidential candidate.
Interestingly enough, however, it has also recently been discovered that the fiercely pro-life Senator Sam Brownback also had a much less sizeable amount of money invested in one of the same embryonic-stem-cell-using companies as Romney (Novo Nordisk), in the form of mutual funds. According to Brownback's financial disclosure records, he has between $1001 and $15000 invested in the mutual fund. Brownback's aides, however, have pointed out that in fact the fund is listed under one of Brownback's dependant children.
"The fund in question was not owned by Senator Brownback or his wife. It was owned by one of his children, who was unaware of the issue. The broker has already been contacted and instructed to sell the fund," said Brownback spokesman Brian Hart.
Romney in Stem Cell Biz, Despite Political Opposition [Sam Brownback, too]
Mitt owns stock in stem cell research
Romney Faces A Credibility Gap
Romney Supports Human Life Amendment, Then Qualifies Stance
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Financier Joins Pro-Gay Fundraiser To Host Mitt Romney San Diego Event
Well, well, it seems Romney wants to be president badly.
It seems he’ll do or say just about anything to win.
I’ve never seen anyone with a worse case of it.
This too shall pass. Romney’s blind trust keepers should have known better.
He must have had a “revelation”.
It’s good that Governor Romney discovered it and I admire him for doing the right thing. It isn’t easy keeping track of ones investments, when one has as many as Mitt, even when one has a mind too.
“”especially since Romney’s past record on life issues has been a slippery see-saw.””
LOL I’ve heard that said about Romney.
I wish I had some blind trusts . . . or any trusts for that matter. Romney has made a fortune by being a good businessman. This is a problem I wish I had - so much money to keep track of.
It is interesting how Sam Brownback’s name came up in this same vein - a guy who went after Romney with a vengeance. It’s interesting, you have to admit.
Good night, sweet princes and princesses.
“Good night, sweet princes and princesses.”
Time for me too, goodnight.
What is it about Romney? I can’t go two days without being reminded of the Bass-o-Matic huckster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Op3OPItH0
But he supports other embryonic stem cell research.
Always trying to play both sides of every issue, from guns, abortion, immigration, foreign policy ....
To whom it may concern
EternalVigilance up to his old obsession with MassRessistance...
This blog is akin to KlanWatch. We are watching the Hate groups in Massachusetts, namely the Massresistance “blog” and Article8.org. While they are the rightest of the right and mainly a fringe group, their hate speech should not go unnoticed. Unlike them, we are not afraid of opposing viewpoints, please feel free to comment.
MassResistance WatchIt now appears that LifeSite News is posting the story of the inaccuracies in the Fox News report but has the correction appeared on Massresistance’s ...
massresistancewatch.blogspot.com/ - 151k - Cached - Similar pages
http://massresistancewatch.blogspot.com/
Come'on, no one wants to be president more than Hillery, she would sell her soul. (Oh, she already did that)
That didn’t take long. Good work, Mr Romney.
What are you talking about this is from the link I posted on their watch
http://massresistancewatch.blogspot.com/
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