Michigan Measure Proposition 2 for Embryo Destruction Holds Lead in Poll
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 3, 2008
Lansing, MI (LifeNews.com) — A ballot measure in Michigan that would allow the destruction of days-old human beings for research enjoys a small lead according to a new poll. A telephone poll for the Detroit Free Press and WDIV-TV show 51 percent backing the embryonic research measure while 40 percent stand opposed.
Another nine percent told pollsters they are unsure about the proposal, which would permit the unregulated and unrestricted destruction of human embryos for experimental purposes.
Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, Iowa conducted the poll of 616 people last Tuesday through Friday and it has a four percent margin of error.
The poll shows a reduction in support for Proposition 2 as the vote tomorrow nears. A previous survey in late September found 58 percent of Michigan residents who said they would support the ballot proposal.
The race has tightened because women between the ages of 35 to 54 now oppose the measure 51 percent to 39 percent.
"We expect it to be a close election," said Dave Doyle, a MiCAUSE spokesman who is helping lead the effort against the measure.
Suzy O’Connor of Livingston County is against Proposal 2 and told McLatchey newspapers she thinks the science should be privately funded rather than making state taxpayers pay for it.
"My understanding is that embryonic stem cell research is still available with cells already available, and embryonic cell research has not been as successful. It should be privately funded rather than federally funded," she said.
Another survey of 600 likely voters by EPIC-MRA for the Detroit News and television stations found a smaller 46-44 percentage point lead for Proposition 2. That survey was conducted from October 26-28.
Last week, opponents of Proposal 2 launched a new radio ad saying the measure does nothing to advance ethical and proven research like using adult stem cells.
"Proponents of Proposal 2 claim they’re not trying to dig up tax dollars to support their human embryo research," the ad says. "But in a recent interview, the chairman of Proposal 2 told a different story admitting that [embryonic] stem cell research should be funded publicly."
"And we all know that public funding means digging into your pocket for more of your tax dollars," the narrator says.
"In other states that have approved human embryo research, taxpayers were also asked to dig into their pockets," the ad continues. "New Jersey and New York taxpayers were asked to shell out $450 million and $600 million in tax dollars. And California taxpayers were on the hook for $3 billion dollars."
"So, at a time when we can least afford it, proponents of Proposal 2 want Michigan taxpayers to pay for the unregulated and unrestricted destruction of human embryos," the ad concludes.
Related web sites:
MiCause – https://www.micause.com/home.html
Right to Life of Michigan – https://www.rtl.org
RLM’s Stem Cell Campaign – https://www.stemcellresearchcures.com
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