Gunning for Stem-Cell Naysayers

by Kristen Philipkoski

A pioneer of grass-roots internet movements is mobilizing a campaign to oust any legislator who opposes embryonic stem-cell research.

John Hlinko, the brains behind DraftWesleyClark.com, one of the most successful online grass-roots political movements so far, is creating a political action committee to raise funds and galvanize support for embryonic stem-cell research. Hlinko's new crusade is in response to President Bush's threat to veto legislation supporting embryonic stem-cell research
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted 238-194 to fund embryonic stem-cell research using government money, and a similar bill looks likely to pass in the senate. But Bush promised that if the bill lands on his desk, he will kill it.

That got Hlinko's goat. Hlinko, vice president of marketing at PR firm Grassroots Enterprise in Washington, D.C., was already laying the groundwork for a pro-embryonic-stem-cell research PAC, but news of Bush's veto threat accelerated his efforts.

"If anyone really cares about this issue ... now is the time to put the 'ass' in 'grass roots' and get off their asses and do something," Hlinko said. "We want to very strategically do whatever is necessary to remove from office those extremists who are frankly blocking stem-cell research. Anyone putting theoretical possible life ahead of actual life is someone who should not be in office."

Hlinko plans to use many of the same tactics that helped him raise nearly $2 million in pledges for Gen. Wesley Clark's 2004 presidential campaign.

Hlinko said he recruited 50,000 volunteers and attracted more web traffic than any presidential campaign other than the one for Howard Dean. He was interviewed by major media outlets, including CNN's Crossfire and The New York Times, and increased Clark's poll rating from 1 percent when the campaign began to 22 percent when Clark announced his candidacy.
"This effort will make very heavy use of the internet to go after these candidates," Hlinko said. "We will be extremely aggressive, extremely efficient and extremely creative."

Source: "Wired," 06/25/2005

If stem cell research is important to you, you can see what all the grassroots hullaballoo is about at http://www.stempac.com/