As noted in another diary, Joe Biden had the temerity to criticize the Republican position on stem cell research.
Predictably (and because it worked on Wes Clark) the Republicans whined.
"Barack Obama’s running mate sunk to a new low today launching an offensive debate over who cares more about special needs children. Playing politics with this issue is disturbing and indicative of a desperate campaign."
Waaaah! How dare you politicize an issue of public policy? Waaah!
Did the Obama campaign cave and apologize?
Nope.
Below their oh-so-below-the belt response to the McCain campaign.
"Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that embryonic stem cell research represents real hope to millions of families dealing with debilitating conditions. John McCain has adopted and promises to implement a Republican platform that takes an even more extreme position in opposing stem cell research than that of George Bush four years ago. While the McCain campaign may not believe the American people deserve a debate on the issues, it's simply insulting for them to suggest that raising a substantive difference on this critical issue is playing politics," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.
GASP. How dare he take a mainstream position and observe that the Republicans are extremists?!?!?
'We call for a ban on human cloning and a ban on the creation of or experimentation on human embryos for research purposes.'
GOP Platform, p. 40, col 2
Yep, the Republicans call for a total ban an embryonic stem cell research.
But they care about special needs kids. Just not as much as they care about special needs blastocysts.
Full Obama campaign statement.
"Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that embryonic stem cell research represents real hope to millions of families dealing with debilitating conditions. John McCain has adopted and promises to implement a Republican platform that takes an even more extreme position in opposing stem cell research than that of George Bush four years ago. While the McCain campaign may not believe the American people deserve a debate on the issues, it's simply insulting for them to suggest that raising a substantive difference on this critical issue is playing politics," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.
The 2008 GOP Platform Called For "A Ban On All Embryonic Stem-Cell Research, Public Or Private" Which Went Farther Than Bush’s Policy Of Limiting Federal Funding For A Restricted Number Of Stem Cell Lines. "The 2008 Republican platform calls for ‘a ban on all embryonic stem-cell research, public or private.’ The 2004 platform followed Bush’s policy of limiting federal funding for a restricted number of stem cell lines. The National Review’s Stephen Spruiell writes that the new platform language will read: ‘We call for a ban on human cloning and a ban on the creation of or experimentation on human embryos for research purposes.’" [Think Progress, 8/28/08; National Review, 8/27/08]