Democratic Presidential Nominee Kerry Says He Would Lift Restrictions on Stem Cell Research

Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) on Saturday during the weekly Democratic radio address said he would lift the restrictions President Bush has placed on human embryonic stem cell research and "stand up for science," the Boston Globe reports (Savage, Boston Globe, 8/8). Kerry's remarks kicked off "a series of high-profile events this week" that are meant to mark the third anniversary of Bush's decision to limit federally funded stem cell research and will "call into question the administration's commitment to science and breakthrough medicine," according to the Washington Post (Connolly, Washington Post, 8/8).

On Aug. 9, 2001, Bush announced his policy limiting federally funded embryonic stem cell research to cell lines created on or before that date. Proponents of the research say it could lead to treatments or cures for diseases such as cancer, juvenile diabetes and Alzheimer's, but some opponents say it is immoral because it requires the destruction of human embryos. Despite calls from bipartisan groups of members of Congress and the wife and son of former President Ronald Reagan -- who died on June 5 from Alzheimer's disease -- for Bush to ease his restrictions, the Bush administration is maintaining its position (California Healthline, 7/14).

Kerry on Saturday said, "To those who pray each day for cures that are now beyond our reach, I want you to know that help is on the way," adding, "Come next January, we're going to create a new anniversary -- one that will be cause for celebration. We're going to lift the ban" (Ferraro, Reuters/Boston Globe, 8/7).

Kerry said that Bush's restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research represent a "triumph of ideology over science" that "only adds to the loss and pain" of millions of people with "potentially curable diseases," the AP/Albany Times Union reports (Espo, AP/Albany Times Union, 8/8). Kerry also said he would increase federal funding for stem cell research if elected (Washington Times, 8/8).

HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Sunday released a statement to mark the three-year anniversary of the Bush administration's stem cell policy, saying that the policy "opened the nation's laboratory doors for the first time to federal taxpayer funding for human embryonic stem cell research," according to an HHS release.

Thompson said that Bush's policy is "working" and that the president "remains committed to this groundbreaking policy that is advancing research into some of our most debilitating diseases." Thompson added, "Before anyone can successfully argue that the existing federal stem cell policy needs to be broadened, we must first exhaust the potential of the stem cell lines made available within the policy, as well as the ability of the private sector to go beyond the policy" (HHS release, 8/8).

While a technical scientific matter has seldom played an important role in a presidential campaign, pollsters on both sides say that in this race -- one that is close and in which the electorate is polarized -- stem cell research "may be one of the few topics with the power to lure independents and moderates to the Democratic ticket," the Post reports. Democratic pollster Peter Hart predicted that Kerry will be able to gain the votes of people who have diseases that could be cured by embryonic stem cell research and their families who otherwise agree on public policy issues with Bush but feel "alienated" by his stance on stem cell research, according to the Post (Washington Post, 8/8). Michael Manganiello, senior vice president of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and board member of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, said that stem cell research "is not a good issue for the president," adding, "My sense is that this is one of the issues you vote on" (Getter, Los Angeles Times, 8/8).

Wendy Wright, senior policy director of Concerned Women for America, which opposes abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research, said that her supporters would "fight any effort to change the policy and would be disappointed in Bush if he backed down," the Globe reports (Boston Globe, 8/8).

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), doctors, patients, scientists and one of Kerry's daughters on Sunday were scheduled to hold a series of briefings, news conferences and rallies to highlight stem cell research, "an issue on which they say Bush is far from the mainstream," the Post reports (Washington Post, 8/8). In addition, Edwards is scheduled to host a conference call at 1:30 p.m. on Monday to discuss lifting the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research (Kerry-Edwards release, 8/9). Although Edwards is "not known" for raising the embryonic stem cell issue, he will be discussing lifting restrictions on the research to appeal to independent voters and some "moderate" Republicans who support the research, according to the Winston-Salem Journal (Shaffrey, Winton-Salem Journal, 8/8).

Members of the group Doctors for Kerry on Tuesday plan to travel to New Hampshire with former state Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) to discuss the medical promise of embryonic stem cells, according to the Post. Although they are not working directly with the Kerry team, several not-for-profit organizations also plan to "reinforce the Democrats' message" on embryonic stem cell research, the Post reports. The Genetics Policy Institute in Miami has scheduled a rally -- which former Attorney General Janet Reno, who has Parkinson's disease, plans to attend -- in support of embryonic stem cell research. In addition, the New York-based Committee for the Advancement of Stem Cell Research has begun running radio ads saying that a vote for presidential candidate Ralph Nader, who is running as an Independent, is a vote for "four more years of delays" on stem cell research, according to CASCR co-founder Frank Cocozzelli (Washington Post, 8/8).