Tommy Thompson's Embryonic Stem-Cell Conundrum

Former Wisconsin governor and presidential hopeful Tommy Thompson celebrated the 1998 isolation of human embryonic stem-cells by throwing a party at his house. Last night, he tacitly defended President Bush's decision to limit federal funding to 21 lines.

A question remains, though: where does he really stand? Thompson has never, to my knowledge, said destroying embryos for stem-cell derivation is a bad thing. In 2000, according to Salon, Thompson "quietly helped quash legislation to ban fetal and stem cell research in Wisconsin." Is he being coy?

From last night's debate:

MR. GOLER: Gentlemen, the right-to-life has been a part of the Republican party platform for more than 20 years, so I want to ask several of you questions about abortion and stem cell research, starting with you, Governor Thompson.

Some researchers say the lines of embryonic stem cells that President
Bush has approved federal funding for are inadequate. Tell me why they're wrong. And more importantly, tell me how you would convince them that they have -- these researchers have all the tools they need.

MR. THOMPSON: Well first, embryonic stem cells, as well as adult stem cells, show great promise for all Americans. Embryonic stem cells was started at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In embryonic stem cells, the policy that was announced by the president on August 9th set forth about 72 lines that could be federally funded and could be used for research and still receive the federal funds.

MR. GOLER: Researchers say there are not that many, sir.

MR. THOMPSON: Well, there's not that many. There's 22 being used.
There's at least three more that have not been used. Some of them were not able to be viable, some of them were not able to have what we call pluripotency, and so they were not able to continue.

But there is some tremendous new research, Wendell, going on on amniotic fluids by a Dr. Campbell. There's also some new research going on at the University of Wisconsin that says adult stem cells, if you do it the right way, will have the same characteristics as embryonic stem cells.

So until this research is done, we do not have to destroy any more embryos. There's enough lines right now and capable, with this other research going on, that embryonic stem cells, along with adult stem cells, cord blood and amniotic fluid, can continue.

If the research, when completed, shows that more embryos from in-vitro fertility clinics are needed, would Thompson object?

Of the 2008 Republican Presidential candidates, only John McCain is a supporter of expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. Could Thompson be another?

Republican Presidential Debate in South Carolina [New York Times]