Jim Talent - Stem Cell Hypocrite

Jim Talent, the freshman Senator from my neighboring state of Missouri (who bears a remarkable resemblance to Howdy Doody, hair color aside), has shown his true "I'll say anything to get elected" colors with his publicly conflicting positions on stem cell research. What Talent says, in his moderate, city vote getting position, is this:

"I'm opposed to cloning, but I support stem cell research," Talent told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "The technology is changing all the time and so I'm always considering whether there is a better way to strike the balance."

That sounds moderate and compassionate and just the right balance to attract those ever elusive St. Louis and Kansas City voters. But his statements seem to contradict his legislative agenda, and in the contest between political statements and, well, law, we all know who wins. Here's his real position, which strips away all the compassion and moderation:

But he has co-sponsored a Senate bill to ban embryonic stem cell research and impose a million-dollar fine and 10-year jail sentence on violators.

Ahhh, the young talent of the GOP. They teach them well over there.