On Keith Olbermann's program Friday, March 6 Margaret Carlson made a comment during a discussion on stem cell research.
Carlson's statement related to the announcement by the Obama administration that same day that an executive order would be initiated lifting the previous ban by the Bush administration.
Citing John McCain's position in the 2008 presidential campaign that he also favored lifting the ban imposed by the Bush administration, Carlson concluded that in this one policy area there would have been comparable action in a McCain administration.
Irrespective of McCain's then stated position, which was more inclined to be palatable to moderate and independent voters that he needed to win over to be competitive or ultimately defeat Obama, my mind immediately began to focus on the strong power wielded by the religious right in Republican politics.
Would McCain have issued an executive order as Obama's administration has indicated will be done? Would such prompt action have occurred six weeks into a McCain administration?
Immediately thoughts surfaced not only in the sphere of embryonic stem cell research, but in the case of Terri Shiavo, in which medical factors were ignored and reality was swallowed up in emotion and pseudo-medical science as a loving husband, aware of the realities concerning his wife, sought to carry out her wish of a timely and humane death.
Another thought surfaced: How long would it be before we would hear cries of "baby killing" injected into the embryonic stem cell research and use picture? The religious right is generally very swift and predictable on such lightning rod issues.
A few minutes later Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, one of the religious right's poster politicians, came on the screen. He voiced an immediate concern that the lifting of such a ban, which would enable lives to be saved, need be measured in the face of potential "baby killing."
Considering the type of pressure Fox News, the talk radio circuit, and various religious right political action groups can mount in a heartbeat, can we say with any confidence that a McCain administration would pursue the same path as Obama?
The decision by the Bush administration to freeze the embryos and in the process hopefully chill debate on the topic was a crafted policy to dodge the broader issue of in vitro fertilization.
Bush strategists sought not to act on a broader picture, but take a political stand sought to placate the religious right once more.
Bush strategists sought not to act on a broader picture, but take a political stand sought to placate the religious right once more.