McCain Contradicts Previous Position on Stem Cell Research
Source: National Right to Life; June 25, 2001

McCain Contradicts Previous Position on Stem Cell Research

[Pro-Life Infonet Note: The following are comments of Sen. John McCain
(R-AZ) on embryonic stem cell research, from "CNN Late Edition With Wolf
Blitzer," aired June 24, 2001. Compare these remarks with a February 4,
2000 letter to the National Institutes of Health that Sen. McCain signed
with 19 other senators, OPPOSING draft guidelines by the Clinton
Administration to fund embryo-destructive stem cell research.

That letter said that the Clinton Administration plan to fund such
research is contrary to a pro-life law (the Dickey Amendment) "which we
support and which remains in effect." The Clinton guidelines, the letter
said, "regulate the means by which researchers may obtain and destroy live
human embryos in order to receive federal funds. . . in violation of the
law." The letter concluded, "Because Congress never intended for the
Executive Branch to facilitate destructive embryo research, we urge the
National Institutes of Health to withdraw these guidelines as contrary to
the law and Congressional intent."]

WOLF BLITZER: There's another issue that the White House has to deal with
in the next few weeks. The president is, obviously, torn on this issue of
stem cell research, research that would, many medical experts say, help in
dealing with such diseases as Parkinson's and diabetes. The president's
torn by those who say that using these stem cells from fetuses could
undermine his entire anti-abortion policy. On the other hand, he wants to
see if he can deal with some of these new medical advances. Where do you
stand on the whole issue of stem cell research_

MCCAIN: I'm leaning towards supporting it very strongly because of the
information that I have received. There is one individual that a lot of us
respect, Orrin Hatch, who has been one of the leaders in the pro-life
effort, and he has come out in favor of stem cell research, as many others
have.

I think that if you allow it, though, there has to be incredibly strong
restrictions and government supervision as to what happens to the stem
cells, how are they harvested and all that. But, overall, I think it is
probably something that is good for America, good for medical research,
and could save lives, as you mentioned, because of diabetes, Parkinson's,
Alzheimer's and other terrible diseases that afflict our society.

BLITZER: So you're hoping the president says go ahead do the research with
those stem cells_

MCCAIN: And I believe that it's important that he -- I agree with him that
he take his time on this, particularly when there has to be a lot of
supervision and restrictions placed on this research.