Mel Gibson Records Radio Ad Urging Opposition To California Proposition 71 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 30, 2004
Sacramento, CA (LifeNews.com) — After weighing in on the stem cell research battle in California, noted actor and producer Mel Gibson has recorded a radio commercial that will be played in the state urging opposition to Proposition 71. That’s the measure that would require taxpayers to spend $6 billion to fund research involving human cloning and the destruction of human life.
"Why are we being misled into thinking Prop 71 isn’t about cloning, when it is?" Gibson asks in the ad. "I’m voting ‘no’ on Prop 71 — creating life simply to destroy it is wrong, particularly when there are effective alternatives readily available."
Gibson says adult stem cell research, which has already produced 140 cures and treatments, has been proven far superior to the use of embryonic stem cells, which has yet to treat a single human patient.
"In 23 years, [animal] embryonic stem-cell research has not produced a single human cure. All it’s yielded is tumors, rejection and mutations," Gibson explains.
Gibson is slated to appear in an interview on Monday with Focus on the Family president James Dobson on his nationally syndicated radio show.
"The true promise for treatment and cures lies with adult stem-cells, which do not require the cloning of human embryos nor the destruction of those embryos," Dobson said.
"The National Institutes of Health reports at least 74 diseases treatable by adult stem-cells," Dr. Dobson adds. "Sacrificing the tiniest members of the human family on the altar of science – and questionable science at best – is nothing short of state-funded cannibalism."
On Thursday, Gibson took issue with an endorsement actor and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave to the controversial billion-dollar measure.
Gibson told ABC’s "Good Morning America” that he has an "ethical problem” with the research and called the "Terminator" actor to discuss it.
The "Passion of the Christ" producer said he initially was supportive of the proposal until he found out that it would fund cloning and killing of human embryos.
"I’m very concerned with the stem cell question. I’m for stem cell research. I think it can do a lot of good. When I heard about a Proposition 71 to promote stem cell research I was overjoyed because it can do so much good," Gibson said.
"I found that the cloning of human embryos will be used in the process and that, for me, I have an ethical problem with that,” Gibson told ABC. "Why do I, as a taxpayer, have to fund something I believe is unethical?”
Related web sites:
Listen to the interview and ad with Mel Gibson –
https://boss.streamos.com/real/focusonthefamily/broadcast_support/prop71.smi
