Republican Jim Noland has run three times in Missouri's 4th Congressional District . . . and he's lost three times against Rep. Ike Skelton.
But this time Noland is boasting the support of Missouri Right to Life because of his stance against embryonic stem cell research. A Right to Life organizer in the 4th District told me Noland won the group's endorsement for the first time this year because of some of Skelton's "embryonic stem cell votes" on the federal level. Yet a Right to Life survey shows the group endorsed one of Noland's opponents in the Republican primary, Alan Conner.
While Skelton supports the state ballot initiative to protect various forms of stem cell research, Noland opposes it. He said he believes the initiative is a backdoor attempt to restrict future legislation against abortion.
"I think the underlying motive is that when they change the constitution, those persons who are proponents to Right to Life, they will be forever barred for any kind of legislation that has to do with abortion," Noland told me Monday at a Lebanon restaurant.
"I don't think they are concerned about funding cures for illnesses. I'm not against stem cells. I'm against embryonic stem cells," Noland added. "But there's a world of difference. You're destroying a life there. My definition of life is at conception."
Noland also said he is disgusted with former Sen. Jack Danforth for appearing in pro-embryonic stem cell television ads. "Jack Danforth comes on and he looks right into the TV camera and he says it is going to be a cure for all ills. Jack Danforth knows better than that. I'm ashamed he comes on TV with those persons of us who have supported him through the years and make such statements."
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