Missouri Pro-Life Group Blasts Gov. Blunt on Stem Cell Research

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 21, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Missouri Pro-Life Group Blasts Gov. Blunt on Stem Cell Research Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 21, 2005

Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) — Missouri’s statewide pro-life group says Governor Matt Blunt can no longer be considered pro-life because of his steadfast support for embryonic stem cell research, which involves the destruction of unborn children in their earliest days.

Missouri Right to Life issued a declaration this week after learning that the governor is supporting a petition drive to get a measure on the ballot backing the unproven research.

Blunt may be strongly against abortion — and even called a special session of the state legislature to pass a bill to significantly reduce abortions — but his support for the research and opposition to pro-life legislation seeking to ban human cloning puts him at odds with the total pro-life position, the group says.

"Blunt can no longer be considered pro-life," a declaration from the MRTL board reads.

Pam Fichter, president of Missouri Right to Life, said Blunt’s position against abortion but backing the embryonic research is a contradiction.

"The governor’s statements are contradictory," Fichter told the St. Louis Post Dispatch. "On one hand, he talks about how pro-life he is. Then he supports one of the biggest anti-life measures ever proposed in this state."

Blunt spokesman Spence Jackson dismissed the criticism in comments to the newspaper.

"Missourians know of the governor’s deep commitment to defending the rights of the unborn," Jackson said. "They won’t believe these ridiculous charges leveled against him by so-called leaders and lobbyists of MRL."