USAT: Friendly Pa. senators at odds in stem cell debate

[deadparrot]

For more than a decade, Pennsylvania's two Republican senators, Arlen Specter of Philadelphia and Rick Santorum of Pittsburgh, have avoided open spats. "I don't think we've ever come close to airing our differences publicly," the moderate Specter said of his conservative colleague.

Until now.

As the Senate prepares to debate next month whether to allow federal funding for stem cell research using human embryos, the Pennsylvanians have taken leading roles on opposite sides. Santorum believes such research entails destroying human life. Specter says the stem cells used would come from embryos that would otherwise be discarded.

Their conflicting positions, despite shared constituents and political affiliation, illustrate the rift within the Republican Party over the matter.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050630/ts_usatoday/friendlypasenatorsatoddsinstemcelldebate

[Chan790]

1. Interesting

I live in PA; I've written to both of them on several issues, including this one, usually supporting Specter's moderate stances and chastizing Rick's extremist ones. Santorum always responds even if just to say that we'll have to agree to disagree, Specter never does. Just an observation.

Santorum is a creepy moron but at least he reads his mail.