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John McCain's recent statement on embryonic stem cell research was ambiguous in some ways, but clearly misleading in another: He equated human embryos with fetuses, and used language implying that farming fetuses for their tissues is a realistic possibility.
"I voted to ban the practice of 'fetal farming,' making it a federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from an embryo created for research purposes," McCain said in a statement Monday in response to questions posed by ScienceDebate2008, a nonpartisan science advocacy group.
That McCain would oppose experimentation on embryos fits with his political record. Outside of tolerating Roe v. Wade as a means to avoid unsafe abortions during his 2000 run for president, he's been staunchly opposed to abortion, though conservatives worried during earlier stages of McCain's campaign that he would adopt a pro-choice platform.
The vote mentioned in his statement came on the Fetal Farming Act of 2006, signed into law by President Bush. But though the bill was unanimously approved in the House and Senate, its sponsors were criticized for failing to make clear...
"I voted to ban the practice of 'fetal farming,' making it a federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from an embryo created for research purposes," McCain said in a statement Monday in response to questions posed by ScienceDebate2008, a nonpartisan science advocacy group.
That McCain would oppose experimentation on embryos fits with his political record. Outside of tolerating Roe v. Wade as a means to avoid unsafe abortions during his 2000 run for president, he's been staunchly opposed to abortion, though conservatives worried during earlier stages of McCain's campaign that he would adopt a pro-choice platform.
The vote mentioned in his statement came on the Fetal Farming Act of 2006, signed into law by President Bush. But though the bill was unanimously approved in the House and Senate, its sponsors were criticized for failing to make clear...