Politics of Stem Cell Debate in Flux

June 20, 2007 — -- For a stark example of the shifting politics of stem cell research, look no further than President Bush.

When Bush used the first veto of his presidency to send back a stem cell bill less than a year ago, he did so proudly, surrounding himself with "snowflake babies" born from the same kind of frozen embryos that supporters of the bill wanted to make available to researchers.

But when the President vetoed a nearly identical bill Wednesday, he simultaneously issued a new executive order directing his administration to explore new options in stem cell research -- a clear signal that even the staunch opponents of embryonic stem cell research realize the potent politics of an issue that cuts across party lines.

"The American people see stem cell research as a cure to illnesses that plague their family and family members," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., citing polls that show nearly three-quarters of the public support embryonic stem cell research. "The American people will not be fooled."

The political shift is visible in the potential candidacy of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a supporter of expanded research who announced his break from the Republican party Tuesday. His possible run is being supported by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, another champion of additional stem cell research who has led a major initiative to promote such research in his home state.

The Democratic presidential candidates clearly see the issue as a defining distinction between themselves and the GOP field. Speaking Wednesday morning at a gathering of liberal activists in Washington, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., got her loudest applause of the day when she blasted Bush for putting "ideology before science."

"Let me be clear: When I am president, I will lift the ban on stem cell research," Clinton said.

The issue was nowhere near as potent politically back in August 2001, when the president raised eyebrows with his nationally televised announcement that he was instituting a ban on federal funds being used to support embryonic stem cell research.