You would think that after President Bush just had his former surgeon general turn on him that he would be more careful to put someone in that position that truly reflected his opinions on pro-life issues.You would think.
Yes, it was expected that liberals would rally against the nomination because of Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr.'s 1991 paper pointing out the peculiar health dangers caused by homosexual acts. But this story from the Washington Times shows that at least some conservatives are afraid of what ideas Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr. may hold about such issues as embryonic stem cell research.
Said President Bush in his nominating speech, "Dr. Holsinger is an accomplished physician who has led one of our Nation's largest healthcare systems, the State of Kentucky's healthcare system, and the University of Kentucky's medical center. He also has taught at several American medical schools, and he served more than three decades in the United States Army Reserve, retiring in 1993 as a Major General."
Holsinger also serves as administrative pastor at Hope Springs United Methodist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
The point of contention for conservatives comes from Holsinger's remarks to a Kentucky state legislature committee as late as 2002 that supported loosening regulations around cloning and embryonic-stem-cell research.
"We're not supportive of his nomination right now," Mr. McCluskey [Tom McCluskey of the Family Research Council] said, adding that "we've been told he's come around on the issue, but the surgeon general is such a strong bully pulpit position that we want to be sure."
