Here are some excerpts from Sam Brownback’s interview with Life News:

I have long supported alternatives to embryonic stem cell research. This is the area that is making progress and the area that I think we need to focus on. I am fully committed to supporting and funding adult stem cell, cord blood and amniotic fluid research. I think deriving stem cells from amniotic fluid could really be the next new source of a tremendous number of treatments and provide the hope we all seek. These are ethical cures, that don’t involve crossing that moral line of taking the life of the young human. They also appear to be less likely of developing tumors that we see again and again with embryonic stem cells…

It is absolutely wrong to create life simply to destroy it. Our society will be judged on how we treated the weak and vulnerable among us. We must not be involved in human cloning or research that destroys human life…

LN: Why are these disease groups [who lobby for ESC research funding] so out of touch right now?

Brownback: I honestly don’t know. It would seem to me that if you wanted cures and you wanted treatments you would push for funding where we are seeing treatments and seeing patients healed. More than that, we are seeing these treatments take place using ethical research. We do not have to treat persons as property. We shouldn’t do it and we don’t have to do it. Every person, including these young humans, are beautiful, precious, unique children of a loving God. That is true for all of them. We ought to fight for that and fight for them and not back down. I think it is essential that we get this right. It is so important for our culture and for our country’s future…

[on those opposed to abortion but in favor of ESC research] I think we ought to ask people, what do you think we are dealing with here? For me, that is what it has always come down to: Are we dealing with a person or a piece of property? I’m a person, you’re a person, that desk is a piece of property.

The question is, what is the young human? If it is a person, then it is entitled the dignity and the respect and the protections of any human. If it is a piece of property then it can be used as the master sees fit.

We must stand for everybody, particularly the weak and the innocent. We want a culture where the strong protect the weak. That is a culture we can be proud of…

LN: How important is it for pro-life Americans to get involved in the 2008 elections and ensure a pro-life president is elected again next year so we’re protected further?

Brownback: It is critical. It is an absolutely critical time for the pro-life movement. We need a president who is willing to lead on these issues, who will stand for life even when it may be difficult.

These are the basics. If you get these things right, you will have success as a nation. If you get them wrong, you will only have more problems.

I think people ought to get involved and get involved early on in helping to ensure that the real progress we have made in the cause for life is not lost. It is a crucial time and I really hope people get involved and stand firmly and consistently on the side of life.