ELECTION 2008 | McCain Says His Support of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Unchanged

ELECTION 2008 | McCain Says His Support of Embryonic Stem Cell Research Is Unchanged
[Jan. 25, 2008]

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, on Thursday while campaigning in Florida said he continues to support human embryonic stem cell research, the Washington Post reports. When asked whether recent advances in nonembryonic stem cell research would change his stance, McCain replied, "I have not changed my position yet" (Milbank, Washington Post, 1/25).

Referring to recent reports that researchers have reprogrammed mature adult human skin cells to produce embryonic-like stem cells, McCain said he believes "skin stem cell research has every potential very soon of making" the issue of embryonic stem cell research "academic." He said that his decision to support embryonic stem cell research was "one of the toughest" he has had to make, adding that one reason he favors the research is "those embryos will be either discarded or kept in permanent frozen status."

McCain also said that Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who opposes abortion rights, would play an advisory role in the selection of U.S. Supreme Court nominees if McCain were elected president. He also indicated that Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia are the models of justices he would like to appoint (Catholic News Agency, 1/23).