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The Wall Street Journal tried to reach state Sen. Peter Roskam for two days to talk to him about stem cell research, but no can do.
While Ms. Duckworth jumps on the issue, Mr. Roskam dodges it. “There are bigger issues going on in this campaign.” says spokesman Ryan McLaughlin, declining to make the candidate available despite several requests over two days.
That’s strange. Just last month, Roskam had this to say to the Daily Herald:
“We cannot leave our moral obligations at the laboratory door and take one human life and cast it aside for the benefit of another.”
He even talked to the now defunct Illinois Leader when asked about Comptroller Dan Hynes’ attempt to pass a $1 billion stem cell research proposal.
“His proposal’s not going anywhere,” State Senator Peter Roskam, who led the opposition to stem cell research on the Senate floor last week, said Wednesday.
He also had this to say in a June 13 press release, which responded to a Tammy Duckworth press conference on stem cell research:
In matters such as these, we cannot leave our moral obligations at the laboratory door.
According to the Wall Street Journal article, Roskam had this to say in 2004:
“We are asked to pit one life against another.”
He even talked to the WSJ earlier this year.
In an interview with the Journal earlier this year, Mr. Roskam called his views “well within the mainstream” of the district. Those voters who do disagree with him, he added, support him because they share his views on keeping taxes low and other issues.
So, why not now? Is the issue polling that badly?
Meanwhile, the dodging and weaving from the Roskam camp displeased conservative activist Fran Eaton, who wrote today:
Senator Roskam, I implore you to pick up the standard you’ve been proudly waving for so long and energize weakening troops back to the front. Don’t retreat, or allow your campaign manager to evade the issue as he is quoted as doing in the WSJ today.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 2:20 pm
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I guess he’s forgotten what he started fighting for. Better throw his ship into the shore and throw away the oars forever.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:07 pm
Stem cell research can be a very powerful issue for Dems if only they embrace it boldly. Dems should present the stark contrast of the claim that frozen embryos, which in almost all cases would otherwise be disposed of (125+ adopted “snowflake babies”, 500,000 frozen embryos), are more important than the millions of men, women and children who might be helped through this vital research. Polls consistently show that contrast wins the support of 70% of the American people. Dems need to stop being wimps about this kind of issue and instead play offense for a change.
Comment by ChicagoCynic Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:15 pm
BTW - the best example of this is how effectively Claire McCaskill is using it in the Missouri Senate race against Jim Talent.
Comment by ChicagoCynic Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:16 pm
Stop the false hope. My sister has been a dibetic since 1988. They have been talking about stem cells and medical breakthroughs for 16 years. We need to realize that their are other alternatives that do not incluse throwing away embroys.
Comment by HUH? Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:24 pm
Game, Set, Match Buy the billboards
Kirk “Road to NoWhere” Dillard sinks Roskam with the following quote in the WSJ.
“Now 82, Mr. Hyde is retiring. Mr. Roskam, his would-be successor, is a trial lawyer who was an aide to Mr. Hyde and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay before going to the Illinois House and then the state Senate. He’s “a younger version of Henry Hyde,” the DuPage Republican Party chairman, state Sen. Kirk Dillard, has said.”
The younger Hyde was of course noted for banging everything in Springfield that stood still for more than 30 seconds (Then calling it youthful discredtions. Nice job Senator. Any other campaigns need sinking? Dillard’s # is 630-969-0990
Comment by Reddbyrd Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:25 pm
You know Roskam. He’s making up his white lies. Putting on his bedroom eyes. Says he’s comin’ home but he won’t say when.
Now I know the neighborhood. And talk is cheap when the story is good. And the tales grow taller on down the line.
Comment by BuckTurgidson Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:32 pm
I wish he would do the stinking interview. Stem cell is right up there with gay marriage on my list o top 159 concerns. Dillard, Blowhard’s quote will do nothing to harm Roskam except for people who hate Roskam anyway and live outside the 6th. Apparently, Duckworth would better represnet Beverly Hills or NYC, since so few of her contributors live in the district that Rahm is running her to represent.
Peter, do the WSJ interview.
Comment by Wumpus Extremus Maximus Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:32 pm
And I can’t fight this feeling anymore
The rights of the unborn are not worth fighting for
Not when my boat to congress is leaving the shore
I’ll throw away the oars, forever
Cause I can’t fight this feeling anymore
The middle class is not worth fighting for
And if I have to crawl on Hastert’s floor
Or sellout my base to get through the door
It’s no problem, because baby, I can’t fight this feeling anymore
Comment by Cook Dem Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:33 pm
McCaskill has the benefit of the issue being on the November ballot in Missouri–so she can talk about it in those terms. Nevertheless, Duckworth should beat the hell out of Roskam with this issue every chance she gets….
Comment by Coloradem Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:47 pm
You just listed 7 examples of where he stands!! Now how many for Duckworth? Is fetel all she wants how about adult? You see I know where the GOP stands not the Libs. If you think fetel stem cells are going to give the race to her your nuts
Comment by RAI Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 3:55 pm
Next time Petey dukes the media he should put Dillard in the car seat next to him
Bye Bye Hydesters!
Comment by Reddbyrd Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 4:07 pm
Roskam tries to cover up his opposition to research that might save lives.
Roskam tries to cover up his close ties to the Illinois NRA.
Roskam tries to cover up the fact that he makes his living as a personal injury lawyer.
Roskam tries to cover up the fact that his pals in the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association want to repeal a 1992 law that said if you are hit by a ball at the ball park you can’t sue the team.
Roskam wants to cover up his close ties to DeLay.
He sounds like a character in a Springsteen song:
“End up like a dog that’s been beat too much,
You spend half your life just a covering up.”
Of course, the real beating will be in November when Duckworth walks all over him.
Comment by Skeeter Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 4:28 pm
And Duckworth hides her ties to Emily’s list. That is one issue that may matter that he is running from. Guns in the 6th are not an issue in respect they don’t need to be taken from the law abiding citizens, Rahmmy is not running in the city.
Comment by Wumpus Extremus Maximus Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 4:30 pm
What is with the REO tunes? Personally, I think Peter is just:
Ridin’ the storm out, waitn’ for the thaw out
Of the Embryo’s and Rocky Mountain winter
His wine bottle’s low watching for the polls
He’s been thinking of what he’ll be missing in DC.
Comment by Jaded Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 4:34 pm
Well, he’d better come out with a statement pretty soon, because the voters are telling Tammy;
I’ve never met a woman
that makes me feeeel
like you do!
Comment by HoosierDaddy Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 4:40 pm
Those of you who are wondering about the REO Speedwagon references can go here to find out.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 4:46 pm
Roskam has more moves than the great running back Gayle Sayers. No wonder there is’nt an ambulance he can’t catch.
Comment by Charles Martel Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 4:56 pm
Opps I meant to say ducks the media…not dukes. I was laughing too hard at the Dillard dopiness
Comment by Reddbyrd Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 5:19 pm
I gotta disagree Reddbyrd.
Although Kirk Dillard called Peter Roskam “a younger version of Henry Hyde,” I don’t believe that Dillard was actually accusing Roskam of “Hi Infidelity.”
Comment by So-Called "Austin Mayor" Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 5:46 pm
The problem Roskam will have with talking about stem cell research is that he is most likely to be ask about Blagojevich’s recent release of $5 million dollars towards stem cell research. How can Roskam criticize Blagojevich’s disregard of his state legislature when President Bush disregarded the will of Congress?
Comment by Anon Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 6:21 pm
Fran, you can either campaign as a true conservative, or you can win. You can’t do both. So, you can call Roskam tomorrow and decide which one he’ll do, but it appears to be he’s decided to go the winning route.
Comment by Long Time Reader, First Time Poster Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 10:35 pm
Reddbyrd — Your love of nick names is really getting old. I have some nick names for you, why don’t you start using these from now on to:
Governor Rod Corruptivich
Speaker Mike Corruptigan
President Emil Corruptones
’nuff said.
Comment by Anon. Friday, Jul 21, 06 @ 10:39 pm
If I eat an egg with a red speck in it, am I actually eating a chicken? Do you know that under the right conditions every cell in your body has the potential to become another human being — just like that embryo, which under the right conditions can also become a human. I do not think this is the most pressing issue in Illinois and I for one am tired of hearing about it. I’d rather know how does he feel about health care reform for those of us who have already made it here? How about the Medicaid cutbacks? That’s what I call pitting one life against another.
Comment by NoGiftsPlease Saturday, Jul 22, 06 @ 11:11 am
Where is Ryan McLaughlin?
Comment by anonymous Saturday, Jul 22, 06 @ 10:55 pm
Forget the WSJ. He talked to the local media about it and that’s what matters.
Comment by OrangeCrush Sunday, Jul 23, 06 @ 12:58 pm
Do all the people who are against embryonic stem cell research realize the “extra” embryos created during IVF are eventually thrown in the trash if not used (literally)?
No one wants embryos created specifically for research. A bill banning that passed unanimously in Congress so it’s not even a matter for debate.
What both chambers of Congress did pass, and what governors across the country are trying to fund (including Republican Gov. Schwarzenegger and Democratic Gov. Blagojevich), is research on only those embryos which would otherwise be discarded (and even then only with the “parents” permission).
Almost every In-Vitro Fertilization procedure creates unused embryos. Those embryos are at first either used, not used and destroyed asap, or frozen (and if frozen and unused the may still eventually be destroyed to make new room in the “freezer”). That is why Illinois Right to Life may eventually prove to be against IVF.
President Bush is not fighting to have the 500,000 “extra” frozen embryos saved from destruction so his veto against funding the research (in which he said he did not support “the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others”) was the ultimate in hypocricy.
As for the “snowflakes” on stage with him, there are 100+ adopted frozen embryos that were carried to term and now being raised by their adoptive families.
There are about 500,000 frozen embryos stored right now.
Are conservatives going to get busy saving all 500,000 by impregnating conservative women with them all? That’s the only alternative to the trash can or research. They cannot be left frozen indefinitely, which is apparently what Mr. Bush and most of the right-wing wants.
Comment by NW burbs Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 9:36 am
Ann Coulter - front and center. Put your #$%&&$#*@ where your mouth is.
Comment by Bob Taft Monday, Jul 24, 06 @ 6:42 pm