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Stephen Laffey on Abortion
Republican Senate Challenger
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Very few scientists believe in embryonic stem cell research
Q: What about embryonic stem cell research?CHAFEE: Every scientist is saying that the real potential is in the embryonic stem cells. That's where the real potential is for the cures for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. If
the US does not fund that research, it's going to go elsewhere. Some other country is going to take advantage and be in the forefront of solving some of these diseases and curing some of these diseases. Many conservatives did vote for the stem cell bill.
Laffey said he would vote against it, that's hypocritical.
LAFFEY: It's not hypocritical. I felt it was the wrong business lines. Senator Chafee mentioned one scientist. It's not every scientist. It's very few, quite frankly. In the end, the real
progress will be made because the problem with embryonic stem cell research is the rejection rate that they're finding tumors and all kinds of problems in animals and rats and they haven't made it to humans yet and I don't think they will.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate (x-ref Chafee)
Aug 24, 2006
Don't have any litmus tests for judges
I don't have any litmus tests for judges. Both Whitehouse and Chafee do. Get the right judges down there, over a long period of time, they end up being the kind of people that extend the balance to the US.
It's very, very important that we put independent judges on the court down in Washington. I will help to do that.
Source: 2006 R.I. Republican Senate Primary debate on WPRI
Aug 24, 2006
Roe v Wade is settled law; but restrictions ok
In some ways, Laffey is a social conservative. Unlike Chafee, he opposes abortion. But he says Roe v. Wade is settled law and abortion is a question for the courts. He supports placing restrictions, like parental notification, on abortion.
Source: M.L. Johnson, Associated Press, in Boston Globe
Apr 29, 2006
Undecided on stem cell research
Laffey said he wants to see more data before making up his mind on whether to support embryonic stem cell research, something critics see as destroying human life but supporters believe holds the promise of dramatic medical advances.
Source: M.L. Johnson, Associated Press, in Boston Globe
Apr 29, 2006
Pro-life
Steven Laffey, the mayor of Cranston, is running against Chafee in the September primary. His underdog campaign has shown both pluck and promise. Laffey has a track record of winning Democratic votes: That's the only way he could have been elected two
times as mayor of Cranston, a city of about 80,000 residents, most of them Democrats. But on key issues, Laffey is a conservative: He supports tax cuts and the war in Iraq, opposes corporate welfare and other forms of wasteful spending, and is pro-life.
Source: The National Review, "Dump Chafee"
Feb 6, 2006