Welcome to the second installment of Candidate Scorecard in which I will examine the eight major candidates’ positions on stem cell research, an issue that has become very important to me as of late.

Clinton: Hillary Clinton has pledged to lift the ban on stem cell research when she takes office and has criticized President Bush for putting ideology before science. Last year, she voted for a bill that would expand embryonic stem cell research. She cosigned a letter to the president from 58 senators in 2004 asking him to expand the federal policy on stem cells.

Edwards: John Edwards cosigned the same letter.

Giuliani: When asked in a debate last year whether he would expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, Rudy Giuliani said “As long as we’re not creating life in order to destroy it, as long as we’re not having human cloning, and we limit it to that, and there is plenty of opportunity to then use federal funds in those situations where you have limitations. So I would support it with those limitations.”

Huckabee: Asked the same question as Giuliani in the same debate, Mike Huckabee said “I would concur. I don’t think it’s right to create a life to end a life. That’s not a good health decision.”

McCain: Again, in the same debate, John McCain responded “I believe that we need to fund this. This is a tough issue for those of us in the pro-life community. I would remind you that these stem cells are either going to be discarded or perpetually frozen. We need to do what we can to relieve human suffering. It’s a tough issue. I support federal funding.” In 2007, he put his vote where his mouth is, voting to expand stem cell research. He was also a cosigner of the same 2004 letter to the president as Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

Obama: As president, Barack Obama would promote stem cell research, expand the number of cell lines available for research and ensure ethical standards. He introduced legislation in Illinois that would ensure that only embryos that would otherwise be discarded could be used and that donors would have to provide written consent.

Paul: Ron Paul would not provide federal funding for stem cell research because he believes that the constitution doesn’t provide the federal government with the authority to fund any such project. As a result, he voted against stem cell research twice during his tenure in the House.

Romney: Mitt Romney would outlaw cloning to create new stem cells and would outlaw embryo farming. He would allow surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization to be used. He also believes that adult cells “reprogrammed” to become stem cells are just as useful. He wants to use government funds for this and only allow private funding for work with embryonic cells. When the Harvard Stem Cell Institute sought protection for a cell line, Romney refused to support them, stating that “Lofty goals do not justify the creation of life for experimentation or destruction.”

That’s it for stem cells. Stay tuned for additional issues.

~I AM~