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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: February 12, 2006 |
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Maryland's deputy governor apologized Friday for comparing embryonic stem cell research to Nazi medical experiments in a speech to a Baltimore Jewish group.
Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, visited the Baltimore Jewish Council on Thursday to recount his recent trip to Israel. After the speech, one of the 40 people in the audience asked Steele what he thought about embryonic stem cell research.
"You, of all folks, know what happens when people decide to experiment on human beings, when they want to take your life and use it as a tool," Steele said in remarks reported by The (Baltimore) Sun. "I know that as well in my community, out of our experience with slavery, and so I'm very cautious when people say this is the best new thing, this is going to save lives."
The council's executive director, Art Abramson, said the audience was quiet after Steele's remark. The lieutenant governor, who is black, left soon after, he said.
"The Holocaust was a unique event in the history of mankind, and the kinds of experiments that were conducted on human beings by Nazis and their henchmen ... are beyond comparison, and I think the lieutenant governor would agree with that," Abramson said.
Abramson said Steele called him Friday to apologize and later sent a written apology.
"He was deeply apologetic," Abramson said. "He said it was irresponsible and he humbly apologized." Abramson added that he believed Steele was sincere and simply misspoke. "I know what is in his heart," he said.
Steele did not return phone calls seeking comment, but he told WBAL-AM in Baltimore on Friday that he was sorry. Steele talks publicly about his Catholic faith and opposes abortion.
"I would never denigrate nor offend the memory of the six million Jews that were lost, particularly after having just experienced that up close and personal in Jerusalem," he told the station.
Steele later said, "My moral caution to that group was one that I felt they could identify with and unfortunately the inference was made, but I just think we should all be careful" about stem cell research.
Maryland lawmakers are debating funding for stem cell research. Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich has proposed $20 million for stem cell research, while suggesting that a technology development corporation determine whether to fund embryonic stem cell research or less controversial work on adult cells.
Ehrlich said Friday that Steele should be forgiven for his error.
"I think after an adult, straight-up person makes a comment and then apologizes for the comment, unless you want to make a political deal out of it, or you want to cause some sort of political damage because you dislike his candidacy, what else can the guy do?" Ehrlich said.
Steele's Democratic opponents denounced the remarks, even after Steele issued an apology.
One of the audience members at the speech was the wife of Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin, who is running for Senate. Myrna Cardin said some in the audience were aghast at Steele's comparison.
"It was really quite horrifying," she said Friday at a news conference Cardin called to discuss Steele's gaffe.
Ben Cardin also blasted the remark as "unacceptable" and said Steele's concerns about stem cell research put him out of step with most Maryland voters.
"He doesn't have the right to compare the importance of stem cell research to the barbarity of the Holocaust," said the congressman, who is Jewish.
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On the Net:
Michael Steele: http://www.michaelsteeleformaryland.com
Baltimore Jewish Council: http://www.baltjc.org |
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