Via Allah, we get a real potential roadblock for Huckabee - something that would even cause his most ardent supporters to look twice at.
Apparently, the Huckster isn’t very concerned about from where some of his money comes, including taking speaking fees from a company - Norvo Ordisk - that conducted embryonic stem cell research.
Here’s Norvo’s stem cell policy:
Novo Nordisk, along with the majority of the scientists working within the field of stem cell research, finds that it is essential at this time to proceed with research in both adult and embryonic stem cells in parallel, partly to gain basic knowledge about the normal cell maturation processes and partly to clarify the potentials of the two cell types. Cell nucleus transfer and therapeutic cloning do not presently offer any advantages that in any way outweigh both the inherent scientific risks and the ethical dilemmas.
Research in human embryonic stem cells has evoked an important ethical debate and Novo Nordisk wishes to contribute to an open dialogue and an ethical and political clarification regarding the use of human embryonic stem cells. In Europe large differences exist between the different countries with regard to the legislation and control of research on human embryonic stem cells. This is a cause for concern and Novo Nordisk therefore urges all countries to establish legislation that will ensure that this important research is adequately regulated and controlled.
(Hat Tip: Dan Reihl)
The problem with Huckabee running a not so subtle “I’m the best Christian in the race” campaign is that any hint of hypocrisy is magnified a hundredfold.
And this certainly qualifies as hypocritical. To profit by taking money from a company engaged in research that he considers akin to murder reveals a dishonesty in the man that seems to be emerging the more opponents attack him.
Is there anyone who believes that the cross in his “Christmas message” commercial (that excluded non-Christians in its sentiments) was an optical illusion or an “accident” as Huckabee claims? To believe so means that he’s got the most incompetent political admen in Christendom. Nothing goes on television in the form of an ad that isn’t scrutinized minutely for what is in the foreground and background.
For Huckabee to lie through his teeth about that ad was disturbing. Now he is caught taking money from murderers (by his lights) and one begins to wonder what else might be in his past that gives the lie to his pious pronouncements.
At the very least, controversies like this blunt the Preacher Man’s momentum in Iowa and elsewhere. And with the GOP electorate already antsy about their choices, many could now give other candidates a second look.
6:11 pm
[...] Novo Nordisk, along with the majority of the scientists working within the field of stem cell research, finds that it is essential at this time to proceed with research in both adult and embryonic stem cells in parallel, partly to gain … Read More [...]
6:52 pm
“Nothing goes on television in the form of an ad that isn’t scrutinized minutely for what is in the foreground and background.”
You have that right, I used to work in that business, and the way the camera panned proves it. When I saw the interview when Huckfinnished sat there and told his bold faced lie denying it my BS meter broke.
Go Fred! Listening to Rep. King speak on FOX News today was great, to bad the cut him off. I’m hoping they give him some more airtime, his endorsement for Thompson is huge but today was the first coverage I’ve heard and we need him to have more face time, Rep King is a very valuable asset for Fred. After Christmas it’s going to be all Thompson!!
1:35 am
Actually - I do not see the problem. If Novo is working with embryonic stem cells - and rejecting cloning as a source - then they have limited themselves to the current stem cell lines.
This has been accepted by George Bush.
9:49 am
@jchfleetguy:
“This has been accepted by George Bush.”
W isn’t the definitive voice for morality. The fact that he allowed the testing on these stem cells doesn’t mean the moral issues are resolved — just that he worked something out for the Federal government. If someone views stem-cell research as immoral, then wouldn’t they still have a problem?
11:27 pm
The Religious Right doesn’t care about hypocrisy from their own. The are the Kings of Hypocrisyâ„¢.
11:07 am
I am weary of the Republicans’ God-likes-me-better-than-him campaigns. I think we’re going to have a choice between a Republican nut and a Democrat nut. Stupid party or silly party, take your pick!