Anti-abortion group revokes Jim Esch endorsement Dem candidate Ne.

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2269864

(Jim does not accept pac funds. I'm a strong pro choice and death with dignity person. This is about the only issue Jim and I don't see eye to eye on. I may be a candidate someday.)

Published Saturday
October 28, 2006

Anti-abortion group revokes Esch endorsement

BY CINDY GONZALEZ

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Nebraskans United for Life has revoked its endorsement of Jim Esch, Democratic challenger in the Omaha-based 2nd Congressional District.

John Lillis, chairman of the anti-abortion group's political action committee, said the group appreciates Esch's opposition to abortion and euthanasia.

But Lillis said Esch's support for in vitro fertilization and embryonic stem cell research was contrary to the beliefs of Nebraskans United for Life.

Esch and his opponent, Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., were jointly endorsed by the group. Lillis said the group stands by its endorsement of Terry.

The group's Web site originally posted an Esch endorsement based on his answers to a candidate questionnaire and a 21/2-hour face-to-face meeting.

Esch's statements in a later radio interview contradicted his answers on the questionnaire, Lillis said, and that led to the turnaround.

Esch, however, said his position never changed. He called the wording on the questionnaire "misleading" and said that he was clear during the meeting with Lillis.

Esch said he left that meeting with the understanding that he'd talk again with Lillis after Esch prayed about the issues. Esch said he was surprised to see the endorsement before their next conversation.

Esch said he has relatives who started families through in vitro fertilization and "in good conscience can't say that somehow their kids are invalid."

Lillis said in vitro fertilization produces multiple embryos that he views as unborn children, and some are destroyed, frozen or used for experimentation.

Esch said he does not consider an embryo a child unless it is implanted in a woman's womb.

"I have never believed we can create a soul in a petri dish," he said. "I just don't see that as being the same as an unborn child."

He said excess embryos created for in vitro fertilization should not be discarded if they could be used for stem cell research to find cures for diseases.

Terry said he is opposed to embryonic stem cell research.

Of in vitro fertilization, he said, he doesn't support "the use of multiple eggs that aren't going to be implanted because that begs the question of what do you do with those extra eggs that have been fertilized."

[Ian David]

1. Nebraskans United for Sperm.

They're not "pro-life."

They're not even "pro-fetus."

They're "Pro-Sperm."

Or, you can just call them Sperm-Worshipers.