As President George W. Bush announced his veto Tuesday of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, he singled out Maryland Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-District-6, for praise.
On Wednesday, Bartlett was the lone elected official from Maryland to vote against a failed override of Bush?s veto.
The Maryland Democratic Party said that Bartlett?s association with Bush, whose popularity ratings are low, on this controversial issue could hurt him politically as he runs for an eighth consecutive term in Congress.
“The issue crosses the ideological divide,” said David Paulson, communications director for the Democrats. “Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals all support real science. Bartlett?s blinders that parallel Bush?s will do nothing but harm him in November.”
But Bartlett, who represents portions of Carroll, Baltimore and Harford counties, along with western Maryland, said he was pleased Bush singled him out.
“That was great,” he said. “The president recognized that I?ve been working for five years on this issue.”
Bartlett was a sponsor of a bill that would have funded stem cell research in specific situations that didn?t harm embryos.
“This is an important piece of legislation,” Bush said. “… I?m disappointed that the House failed to authorize funding for this vital and ethical research.”
A former scientist and medical school professor, Bartlett said he and Bush first discussed the issue of stem cells five years ago.
“I told him … during the summer of 2001 that it was possible to get pluripotent stem cells without destroying embryos,” he said.
Democratic challenger Andrew Duck, who like Bartlett is anti-abortion, said he didn?t think Bartlett?s vote with Bush would hurt or help him.
“I think it?s pretty much a wash,” Duck said. “It will shore up his base. I think the people it will alienate are already alienated, which is 70 percent of the population.”
Audra Miller, spokeswoman for the Maryland Republican Party, said she believes Bartlett?s district will continue to back him.
“Roscoe Bartlett is very well respected and very well-liked,” she said. “He?s honest; he works hard, and his district is very supportive of him.”
