Stem cells and politicians

I'm not usually one to get upset about the doings of politicians. It's politics. I get it. It's just how things work. But every once in a while I run across something that just gets under my skin. Some hypocrisy -- not the manufactured hypocrisy that campaigns pretend to be upset about to score some points, but hte real hypocrisy. Something like this:

(http://blog.dispatch.com/dailybriefing/2010/08/twofaced_on_stem_cells.shtml)

Kilroy, a Columbus Democrat, has been unflinching in her support of medical research involving embryonic stem cells. Stivers, a Republican, also has said he favors stem-cell research but, as a state senator, he voted against allowing state bond funds to be spent on that purpose. Stivers explained his vote as a procedural tactic to allow an economic-development package to proceed through the legislative process.

And then you get this exchange:

Kilroy responded by questioning Stivers' position on the issue.

"We are calling upon Steve Stivers to take a stand today, and answer a yes or no question: Are you for, or are you against potentially life-saving stem cell research?” the Kilroy campaign asked in a press release.

The Stivers campaign didn't answer the question directly. Here is its statement, in full:

"Congresswoman Kilroy needs to stop lobbing political attacks and start doing her job.

"Steve Stivers stands by his vote on this issue - but while Congresswoman Kilroy attacks him, Steve Stivers isn't standing by the phone waiting for her latest lie and mistruth, Steve Stivers is away serving on duty in the Ohio Army National Guard."

 Actually, I want to know the answer to the question, too. It's perfectly reasonable, considering this is definitely going to be something that comes up again in Congress and I want to know how this guy would vote on the issue.

What they said

Why has Republican congressional candidate Steve Stivers refused to discuss privatizing Social Security? He has not said he would oppose it. Could he be talked into supporting radical right wing Rep. Paul Ryan's phase out of Social Security?

(http://ohio15th.blogspot.com/2010/08/we-need-answers.html)

My mistake

File under "Never let your neighbor know that you used to work at the Apple Store."

So it goes

My dad met the Governor last week. He voted for him last time around, but has gotten pretty pissy over the last year or so. Not just at the Gov. Everyone. Obama especially.

Amazing what one personal interaction can do, though. I wouldn't have bet money on it a week ago, but I'll totally put down cash that he votes for Strickland on November.


As goes my dad, so goes the state. No joke. He's voted for the winning governor every election for as long as he can remember (except for those 3 elections he didn't vote in -- my sister's birth, the year his absentee ballot got lost on its way to Singapore, and.. well, one other legitimatrely good reason.)

Too bad the Strickland crowd doesn't know it doesn't have to worry now.