As to the citizens' initiative, its backers still have a daunting task before such a proposal is qualified for the November ballot: collect hundreds of thousands of signatures in the next couple of months - something that will not be easy for the so-called "Stem Cell Research Ballot Question Committee."  While the committee has some institutional support from greedy "scientists" (truly mad scientists, if you ask me) and from Governor Granholm (yawn), the committee nonetheless lacks the grassroots fire-power of, say, RTL of MI.  Moreover, RTL of MI is out in front on this issue through its state-wide educational media campaign, which it hopes will give people pause before they sign a petition that would expand the killing of embryos and even force state taxpayers to fund this murderous "research."  See: http://www.stemcellresearchcures.com

But let's assume right now that both McCain and the citizens' initiative regarding embryonic stem cell research are on the same Michigan ballot this November.  

The question in my mind is how does RTL of MI PAC endorse someone in the general presidential election who in theory supports a state ballot proposal that RTL of MI seeks to defeat?  In other words, how can RTL of MI ask its supporters to vote for pro-embryonic-stem-cell-research McCain for president while at the same time ask those same supporters to work to defeat the pro-embryonic-stem-cell-research ballot question?

This is an impending challenge for RTL of MI.

But there are options.  

To begin with, McCain could pick a VP candidate who is strongly anti-embryonic stem cell research.  Well, of course, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee comes to mind (hint, hint!).  Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney does not (Romney is actually in favor of embryonic stem cell research. . .but shhh. . .the self-anointed conservative vanguard in this country does not want pro-lifers to know too much about this; nevertheless see:  http://www.rtl.org/html/pdf/allcandidatescomparison01.31.08.pdf).

A McCain-Huckabee "ticket" endorsement from RTL of MI could be a good sell.  Of course, it is the President of the United States - not the Vice-President - who signs bills into law, and it is likely that if Congress gave McCain (or Romney for that matter) a bill that would expand and further finance embryonic stem cell research at the federal level, then McCain (or Romney) would sign that bill.  This is an unfortunate reality.          

With or without a strong opponent of embryonic stem cell research in the VP slot, RTL of MI could also endorse McCain for president, and not lose credibility, by making the case that McCain's judicial picks, while probably not perfect, will be infinitely better than the liberal loony-tune activist nut-jobs that the Democratic nominee would most certainly appoint to the federal bench.  With Roe v. Wade hanging by a thread, this could be a persuasive argument.  

Then, again, RTL of MI could always choose not to make an endorsement for president if it calculates that such an endorsement would be used successfully by the pro-embryonic stem cell crowd to advance their ballot proposal.  This would perhaps hurt McCain's chances of capturing Michigan in the general election, but may just, in fact, help thwart the expansion of embryonic stem cell research here in Michigan.

In the final analysis, a combination of McCain and a pro-embryonic-stem-cell-research proposal on the same Michigan ballot this November provides a formidable challenge for RTL of MI.  

Let's see how things actually materialize in the next few months.

But I am praying that the pro-embryonic-stem-cell-research citizens' initiative gets stopped in its tracks sooner rather than later!

About the author: Andrew Shirvell, Esq., is a pro-life citizen activist who writes a weekly column that is published every Thursday for RightMichigan.com in which he focuses upon Michigan pro-life issues. Shirvell attended Ave Maria School of Law - Ann Arbor, where he served as president of the school's Bioethics Society, from 2004-2005.  He also served as president of Students for Life at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, from 2000-2002.