Nancy Reagan, McCain and stem cells

Posted: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:08 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Chris Donovan
In light of today’s news of Nancy Reagan’s endorsement of McCain -- the two will appear together this afternoon, the campaign said -- McCain has credited Nancy Reagan, in part, for his change in position on federal funding for stem cell research. He explained her impact on Meet the Press in 2005, and reiterated his support at the MSNBC presidential debate (with Nancy Reagan present) in May 2007.

Here's what was said:

FROM MEET THE PRESS (June 19, 2005):
TIM RUSSERT: Let me turn to another ethical, moral, political issue, stem cell research. In 2000, John McCain and 19 other senators wrote a letter which said "Since 1996 Congress has banned federal funding for `research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed.' ...we support [this law]."

You've changed your mind.

McCAIN: Yes, I have.

RUSSERT: Why?

McCAIN: For a large number of reasons, ranging from getting briefed by very smart people on this issue and including discussing this with Nancy Reagan who, as you know, is a very strong advocate for stem cell research. I want to make it clear that those of us who support this do not believe that it has anything to do with human cloning and all of us are against human cloning. I look forward to the debate. It's a very complex scientific issue. But for us to throw away opportunities to cure diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's and many others I think would be a mistake. I look forward to the debate. It's interesting that more than two-thirds of the American people support stem cell research.

RUSSERT: There is a discussion now in legislation which would say that embryos created in fertilization clinics that are not used by the couple to have another baby could be used for stem cell research. Others say, no, no, they should be given to other couples, so-called snowflake babies. Where do you come down on that?

McCAIN: I think that--first of all, I don't claim to be an expert. But, second of all, I think that should be up to the couples that--whose embryos they are. I think that's a decision that they should probably make.

FROM MSNBC DEBATE (May 3, 2007):
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Senator, embryonic stem cell, federal funding.

MCCAIN; I want to thank Mrs. Reagan for the many kindnesses extended to me many -- and my fellow prisoners of war many years ago when we came home to this wonderful state. 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.

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Comments

Good for McCain!

But shame on the media for not making him come out on the controversial distinction. Lots of people are in favor of stem cell research. It's much more divisive when you start talking about embryonic stem cell research. I wonder if McCain supports that?

Ron, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:12 PM)

I never expected the religious right, oops, I mean republicans to "see the light" when it comes to stem cell research.

I have to applaud them for their change of position. It's time to begin our quest to end all of these debilitating diseases.

Doug, MN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:19 PM)

That is cool for McCain, but what I need to know from him is once the research is done how are millions of Americans who are unemployed, underemployed, uninsured or underinsured going to afford the high priced medical treatments that this research will provide. Food for thought!!

Kris STL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:21 PM)

Food for thought...
And how will our government pay the price for ALL of us to have "the high priced medical treatments that this research will provide"?

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:31 PM)

Good point for McCain ! He is able to admit when he was wrong - unlike Hillary Clinton who weasels and denies until you get tired and walk away.

Lynn (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:34 PM)

Kris STL
could always put a sin tax on trial lawyers and the blood lottery winners.

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:43 PM)

Ron, McCain is for embrionic stem cell research.

Jeff (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:50 PM)

And food for thought,

How will the the WAR keep us in the HOLE for the next 100 years!
Give me HEALTH CARE NOT WAR!

HP Boston (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:52 PM)

McCain supports stem cell research to save lives and to relieve human suffering yet is willing to continue to send young Americans to their suffering and deaths in Iraq. Am I missing something here?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:54 PM)

"McCAIN: For a large number of reasons, ranging from getting briefed by very smart people on this issue and including discussing this with Nancy Reagan"

Did he ever think to get this information BEFORE he voted against it?

"It's interesting that more than two-thirds of the American people support stem cell research."

Most of those supported it all along. Voting aginst something because it's unpopular with your Party & not getting information on the issue, before you vote, is NOT what this country needs

Bill Reno, NV (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:54 PM)

I'm with him on this. Now 3 candidates for stem cell!

Let the science run. It will either work or it won't.
Science is funny about that.

Deborah Greenlawn, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:54 PM)

Since McCain is likely to be our next president, let us hope he learns the truth about stem cell research (from Mrs. Reagan), the Iraq mess, and other important issues. He has the capability of being a fine president if he can finally end the Republican connection with Fascist Christianity.

norman ravitch, savannah, georgia (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:59 PM)

Deborah, that science has been running for the past 15 years thru private donations and research. They've already produced the successful result that they were hoping research would bring.

Politicians are calling it "research" so that people wont' be freaked out by it.

Same goes for cloning... it was done in the private sector long ago and continues to this day. Heck, you can have you Dog cloned tomorrow if you have enough cash.

Doug, MN (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:09 PM)

Missus Reagan's endorsement is a shocker along the lines of, oh, I don't know, the sun rising in the east?

Bill Dunn, Middleton, Wis. (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:10 PM)

A life is a life, although I commend Mccain for not being your typical corporate republican shill- supporting the saving of 1 life through stell cell research doesnt change condemning poor americans to dying in an unnecessary war, and it doesnt change supporting a party who year after year is more than happy for thousands of americans to die at work, and support a free market which allows the death of millions at work around the world.

Brett, Pittsburgh (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:15 PM)

No one cares about McLame. He's really not a contender for the White House even if he's the Republican nominee. He only wants to win the White House because he helped build it. He probably has his name craved in a tree or something.

Bill, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:18 PM)

Guess they both consulted the "stars" for the right timing to make this announcement?
Wonder what boy george will think of this one, will he retract his endorsement?

Union Baby, Tennessee (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:20 PM)

I think McCain will be an excellent builder of consensus on a lot of issues.

William Sabin, Cedar Rapids Iowa (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:25 PM)

Kris STL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:21 PM)

Kris -- Excellent point!

John, Delaware OH (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:25 PM)

John McCain should have Nancy Reagan as his running mate. She has eight years of the same experience as Hillary Clinton.

McCain/Reagan '08

Murgatroyd, Umpqua, Oregon (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:26 PM)

I'm going to now flip flop and congratulate the media on pinning him down to the specifics of embryonic research!

Ron, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:32 PM)

Not all conservatives believe that there should be embryonic stem cells used in scientific research. I think that they are wrong to oppose it. Everytime they oppose it, there is mention of adult stem cells. I believe that the research should use those as well, but the most flexible cells right now are the embryonic stem cells. McCain will lose if he doesn't promote this enough; but he could also lose if he talks too much about too.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:33 PM)

Prolife people are not against stem cell research. What we oppose is embryonic stem cell research. The greatest promise/results have come from stem cell research that does not use embryoes. McCain has not done his research because he would still be opposed to embryonic stem cell research if he had. It seems the person who has the greatest influence can swing his beliefs. Not a man to be trusted in my opinion.

Judy Mallory, Traverse City, MI (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:33 PM)

A pro-science Republican? What's the world coming to?

Asad (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:44 PM)

Nanny-state! Yes We Can!

Thursday (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:52 PM)

Now if he'd only smarten up on Iraq and tax cuts I could ALMOST vote for him....

Irwin,Thousand Oaks, CA (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:57 PM)

K in B:

I don't know maybe the same way they are paying for the no bid contracts givin to Haliburton in Iraq. Why are we the only industrialized nation that does not have anything close to Universal Healthcare. Or for that matter even affordable healthcare. I would be willing to cut back on certain social service programs to provide for that provided that we are also out of Iraq!!!

Kris STL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:02 PM)

With any of the three remaining candidates, we can be hopeful that the government will be less hostile to science than it has been over the last ten years. The fact that America now lags behind other industrialized countries in scientific innovation and leadership is tragic.

I hope that in her advanced years Nancy Reagan has become more compassionate and interested in facts/science overall, and not that this change was just prompted by her personal experience of something difficult (RR Alzheimer's)-- the classic Republican self-interest. But good for McCain for daring to speak of science and the suffering of others.

Amy, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:02 PM)

Ron- I think it's pretty obvious from this article that McCain now supports embryonic stem cell research, since he talks about the use of embryos. If he were staunchly opposed he would have specified when asked about "snowflake babies" and the like, that while he supports stemcell research from other sources (umbilical cords, adults, man-made cells, etc.) that he couldn't support the scientific destruction of embryos.

This is just my interpretation of the article, not my opinion. I personally don't support creating embryos for the purpose of destroying it (even for science) them anymore than I would support creating a baby for the same purpose. However, often times the unused embryos from IVF are destroyed anyway after a period of time. Better to use for good than just to waste! Also, I'm fully in support of research on other stem cells (like the ones mentioned above). This could help lead to cures or treatments of numerous currently un-curable diseases!

Kira, Utah (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:38 PM)

We are eight years behind the power curve because Pres Bush vetoed a bill that would have provided funding for stem cell research. Perhaps cures would have been identified for Alzheimers and Parkiknsons by now if funding had been approved.

Rob, SLC UT (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:47 PM)

Food for thought...

We are already paying more in medical costs per capita than any other nation. That money is not going to go away no matter what plan we adopt. Perhaps another means of providing health care would make a more efficient use of money. Left to the corporations totally leaves the system vulnerable to the same types of theft we are experiencing in Iraq by corporations.

john san antonio (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:54 PM)

"Good point for McCain ! He is able to admit when he was wrong -"

He's able to shift on any position if it means picking up the endorsement of Mrs. "St. Ron of Reagan." You've never noticed his principled stand on torture? All against it until Jorge told him different.

Mystery poster (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:26 PM)

Oh wow, Asad, how long did it take your "evolved" brain, with all it's wit and historically "accurate" insight of political parties to come with that one-liner? The real amazing fact is that so many highly intelligent Democrats like to propogate fairy tales like abiogenisis (that basically means life coming from non-life) and the "overwhelming" evidence that a single cell organism could eventually develop into all the various forms of complex life we observe today. Your same mentally bankrupt thought process propmts you to, like an intellectual lemming (an animal that mindlessly follows its leader, often to right off of clifts to its death,) put your support behind the money hungry medical "researchers" and their attempts to create a "market" of producing embryos purely for research purposes. Of course they wan't the federal funding, and of course the other stem cell specimens don't offer the "promise" of embryonic specimens according to them. They want to prey on our desire to prolong the lives of oursevles and loved ones, even through immoral means, so that they can produce a new product to make money off of our health.

Please stop bashing one entire political group as being "anti-science." Just admit that your mind hasn't "evolved" to the point to allow you to do your own study of modern science, and that you have to simply promote what one group of scientists define as science in order to feel good about yourself and your political affiliations.

Josh, Orlando, FL (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:17 PM)

No matter what type of research you support, either embryonic stem cell or non-embryonic stem cell based, if the funds are not available to conduct the research, then nothing is accomplished. With the war costing the country trillions of dollars and research funding being drastically cut year after year causing promising scientists to flee the field, there will be no progress to treat or cure diseases. As a stem cell researcher, I see the effect the Bush administration has done to the field. Yes, we are still making great discoveries, but not nearly at the rate we could if funding wasn't such an issue for everyone, especially brilliant, young scientists.

Harvard scientist, Boston (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:51 PM)

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