Moral Decline

A new McCain radio ad that openly discusses his support of embryonic stem cell research is outraging many conservatives. After winning many conservatives over with his selection of Sarah Palin as a running mate (even though McCain had given strong consideration to pro-choice possibilities such as Joe Lieberman and Tom Ridge), now McCain risks alienating many of those same conservatives once again.

In the controversial McCain radio ad, a narrator states, "Stem cell research, to unlock the mystery of cancer, diabetes, heart disease. Stem cell research to help free families from the fear and devastation of illness. Stem cell research to help doctors repair spinal cord damage, knee injuries, serious burns. Stem cell research to help stroke victims."

Alta Charo, a professor of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin, says that the ad was “designed to confuse voters,” according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The controversial ad is airing in that states of Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Both liberals and conservatives are upset that McCain seems to want to eat his cake and have it too. On the one hand, McCain insists he is "pro-life" and courts the support of that community, but on the other hand, McCain insists he is in favor of embryonic stem cell research and he openly hints that he would never push for Roe v. Wade to be overturned.

All of this comes at a time when the election seems to be slipping away from McCain, and when many people are starting to see him as a person who would say just about anything to get elected.

Electoral-vote.com has McCain down by 34 electoral votes, and each day the polls look a little worse for him. Perhaps McCain's best chance to get elected is to desperately pander to the middle.

But when this election is over, will McCain have any dignity left?