Stem Cellout
Stem cell research has been an increasingly prominent issue in American politics. Because the stem cells that are recovered are often from aborted fetuses, stem cell research has gained strong opposition from traditionally pro-life groups. Interestingly, though, a number of conservative voices have come out in favor of research, considering the hopes that such research could ultimately lead to treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Flip
A group of twenty Senators, including John McCain, signed a 2000 letter about stem cell research, which stated:
"Since 1996 Congress has banned federal funding for 'research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed.' ...we support [this law]."
Flop
In this flip-flop, McCain actually moved away from the "traditional" pro-life position to one more tolerant of the research under certain circumstances. McCain acknowledged explicitly that his opinion had changed in an 2005 interview on "Meet the Press."
He explained his position a little more thoroughly:
"I believe that we need to fund this. This is a tough issue for those of us in the pro-life community. I would remind you that these stem cells are either going to be discarded or perpetually frozen. We need to do what we can to relieve human suffering. It's a tough issue. I support federal funding."
We would be happy about this shift in position if only McCain was not still trying to hold this position while simultaneously appealing to the pro-life wing of the GOP, as noted below.
Pander
While officially maintaining his most recent position, there are nonetheless signals that McCain is still trying to appeal to the hard-liners who do not support stem cell research at all.
During a Town Hall meeting in Michigan on July 20, 2008, a member of the audience asked an admittedly loaded question on the subject:
"As a Catholic male, I'm adamantly pro-life...Between Roe v. Wade...the unproven science of embryonic stem cell research, the moral implications of human cloning - I'm hoping to pull the lever for someone who will fight for the rights of the unborn. And can I count on you to fight for the rights of the unborn?" (emphasis added)
John McCain's response does not reveal any nuances in his position on stem cell research:
"Yes you can. I believe the noblest words ever written are that all of us are created equal and endowed by certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I think that that applies to the unborn as well as the born."
McCain's official position has probably not changed, but deliberately misrepresenting it to pander to pro-life opponents of stem cell research is nonetheless pretty slimy.
