Pro-Life Dems Face Tough Ride on Embryonic Research

From Cybercast News Service:

(CNSNews.com) - With Congress set to vote Thursday on legislation to increase funding for embryonic stem cell research, many observers of the debate are wondering how newly elected pro-life Democrats will vote on the issue.

The bill introduced Friday is identical to H.R. 810. That measure was passed last year but vetoed by President Bush who opposes stem cell research that requires human embryos which are killed in the process.

***
In November, six pro-life Democrats who campaigned against ESC research were elected to Congress. They are Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, and Reps. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Brad Ellsworth of Indiana, Charlie Wilson of Ohio, and Chris Carney of Pennsylvania.

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said these Democrats would face a lot of pressure and "have to be very careful."

"Their Democratic voters would overwhelmingly support [the bill]," he told Cybercast News Service. "But, there were a lot of pro-life conservatives who crossed over in 2006.

"If they alienate the moderate conservatives, they could be in trouble," Sabato said. "Those gains could be gone by 2008.

"If I was in their position, I would fulfill my campaign promises," he advised.

[More]

My Comments:
It's not often that I find myself agreeing with Larry Sabato on something.


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Fidelis Action Alert - Destruction of Human Embryos

Robert Novak on "Pro-Life Democrats?"