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GOP stalwarts buck party on cell research By Jo Mannies ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 06/02/2008 Nineteen of the St. Louis area's most prominent and generous Republicans have formed a new campaign committee aimed at protecting embryonic stem-cell research. Former Sen. John C. Danforth, former U.S. Ambassador Stephen Brauer and well-known economist Murray Weidenbaum are among the 19 co-founders of Republicans To Protect Medical Advances. The group filed organizational papers last week with the Missouri Ethics Commission, just days before the Missouri Republican Party adopted an issues platform that calls for "continuing opposition to fetal tissue research" and advocates a state ban on some forms of the research. Danforth said in an interview today that the timing of the new group's formation had nothing to do with last weekend's GOP convention. Rather, the aim was "to make clear... that there are Republicans who are credible and with impeccable credentials who are very strongly on the other side." Still, it's unclear how financially involved the new campaign committee will be in this fall's elections. Brauer said the group had expected to play a major role if there was a ballot initiative aimed at outlawing certain types of embryonic stem-cell research. But since no such measure will be on the ballot, Brauer said there are no plans to raise money to help like-minded candidates. Still, Danforth indicated that some of the new group's members may back their message with campaign money -- or lack of it. A spokesman for the Missouri Republican Party declined comment late Monday. Rayilyn Brown Board Member AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn