Supporters Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Question McCain's Support, The Hill Reports

Main Category: Stem Cell Research
Also Included In: Abortion
Article Date: 14 Aug 2008 - 6:00 PST

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Supporters of increased federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research are concerned that Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) would do an "about-face" on the issue to appeal to abortion-rights opponents if he is elected, The Hill reports.

According to The Hill, many supporters of the research are questioning whether McCain, who says he supports embryonic stem cell research, would sign legislation expanding the research if elected. Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.), the main Republican sponsor of stem cell bills that have been vetoed by President Bush, said that "[b]ased on [McCain's] votes in the Senate, the answer to that is yes." However, Castle added that the "question becomes: Will the pro-life movement be able to persuade him otherwise between now and the election" (Young, The Hill, 8/12).

Federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is allowed only for research using embryonic stem cell lines created on or before Aug. 9, 2001, under a policy announced by President Bush on that date. Bush twice has vetoed bills that would have allowed federal funding for research using stem cells derived from human embryos originally created for fertility treatments and willingly donated by patients (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/8). According to The Hill, McCain has previously changed his mind on stem cell legislation. He acknowledged in 2005 that after briefings with experts in the field and discussions with Nancy Reagan he would vote with supporters of stem cell research on legislation pending before the Senate. He was one of 58 senators who signed a letter in June 2004 asking Bush to lift the restrictions, and he has twice voted for legislation to increase federal funds for stem cell research.

David O'Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Committee, said abortion-rights opponents believe they can persuade McCain to change his view on stem cell research. O'Steen added that the group is "hopeful" McCain would "leave (Bush's) policy in place" if elected, although what he actually would do is "an open question." O'Steen added that he does not believe McCain is "ideologically committed" to his support of the research, adding that McCain has "indicated that stem cell research is, in his words, 'academic'" (The Hill, 8/12). Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a senior domestic policy adviser for McCain's campaign, said that McCain still favors legislation that would loosen the restrictions but hopes new research will eliminate the "need to use embryonic stem cells as the foundation of this particular line of research, where we can move to the more recent advances and take away the tough decisions about life versus science."

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) plans to overturn Bush's restrictions on embryonic stem cell research if elected, Obama senior domestic policy adviser Melody Barnes said (Palca, "All Things Considered," NPR, 8/12). Obama's campaign has said that if elected, Obama would issue an executive order to expand federal funding of stem cell research to be in line with the bills Bush vetoed. McCain's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on whether McCain would issue such an order. Castle said McCain likely would "wait for Congress" to act on the issue (The Hill, 8/12).

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