Sen. Jim Talent’s two-step on stem cell research is proof that he and Republicans are very concerned with the challenge mounted by Democratic Auditor Claire McCaskill for his seat.
Last week, Talent abruptly removed his name as a co-sponsor of a bill that would ban all human cloning and make it a crime for anyone to take part in the process.
He is opting instead for the unproven and mostly unheard of process called “altered nuclear transfer.”
While he made his grandstand play on the Senate floor in Washington, D.C., Talent is dodging the question as to whether he will support a Missouri initiative that would protect people from criminal charges who pursue stem cell research.
A petition campaign to get the proposed amendment on the November ballot is advancing and should soon have the required number of signatures to force the vote.
Obviously, Talent is in a tough spot. Powerful Republicans including John Danforth and Gov. Matt Blunt’s handlers are backing the initiative. However, Catholic organizations and right-wing conservatives are against it – and quite upset with the state’s junior senator.
McCaskill blasted Talent’s attempt to sit the fence, saying, “Desperately ill Missourians deserve hope, not political cover. Scientists deserve support, not handcuffs.”
“Jim Talent firmly stated his opposition to the most promising stem cell research and restated his support for the criminalization of doctors and patients involved in this lifesaving research. Unfortunately, like too many politicians, he’s trying to hide his opposition by dancing around science for politics.”
Larry Weber, executive director of the Missouri Catholic Conference also chided Talent, saying he “is trying to have it both ways. He wants to appear to be softening his position and giving a wink to the proposed constitutional amendment while still claiming to be pro-life and against human cloning.”
What is driving Talent’s turnabout is not science or law. What forced his hand are polls that show McCaskill either leading him or in a deadlock for the Senate seat.
With President Bush’s popularity still sagging and national GOP fears that Democrats could pick up several Senate seats in November, Talent had to do something. Unfortunately for his campaign, he made no one happy and has insulted a major part of his political base.