John McCain Campaign Calls Barack Obama Stem Cell Research Ad Misleading
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 23, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The campaign of John McCain is calling a new radio ad the Barack Obama camp is airing "incredibly misleading." News of the radio ad, which is airing in a handful of battleground states, first surfaced on Monday and now more details about the ad are coming to light.
McCain strongly supports stem cell research and has repeatedly voted for it while serving in the Senate, but listeners of the new Obama ad wouldn’t know it.
"Stem cell research could unlock cures for diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s too. But John McCain has stood in the way…he’s opposed stem cell research," the ad appears to falsely claim.
The Obama ad goes on to say that McCain "picked a running mate who’s against it" — referring to pro-life Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who opposes embryonic stem cell research but strongly supports the use of adult stem cells and other alternatives that are ethical and more effective.
The ad also contends McCain is "running on a platform even more extreme than George Bush’s on this vital research" — referring to the GOP platform that calls for a ban on embryonic stem cell research, not just its funding.
"John McCain doesn’t understand that medical research benefiting millions shouldn’t be held hostage by the political views of a few," the Obama radio ad concludes.
A report from the web site Politico notes that "McCain has historically supported the research" and indicates the Obama campaign’s only proof that McCain opposes it is a Los Angeles Times article from June indicating he discussed the research with pro-life leaders.
ABC News also noted the problems with the Obama ad and said, "Thus, when Obama’s radio ad says, ‘John McCain has stood in the way … he’s opposed stem cell research,’ it is misleading voters by not pointing out that McCain … supports stem cell research."
It called the ads points "debatable," saying "McCain says he supports the research and has voted in favor of it, as recently as 2007."
The web site indicates the ad is narrated by Jody Montgomery, the mother of a diabetic child who has Type I Juvenile Diabetes.
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