Bush nominee runs into crossfire

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Homosexual advocacy groups are objecting strongly to President Bush's nominee for surgeon general, but Dr. James W. Holsinger Jr. also faces questions from conservative groups about his views on human cloning and embryonic-stem-cell research.

Tom McCluskey, vice president for government affairs at the Family Research Council, said that Dr. Holsinger spoke to a Kentucky state legislature committee in 2002 and "testified in support of loosening regulations around cloning and embryonic-stem-cell research."

"We're not supportive of his nomination right now," Mr. McCluskey said, adding that "we've been told he's come around on the issue, but the surgeon general is such a strong bully pulpit position that we want to be sure."

The White House said that Dr. Holsinger agrees with the president's opposition to the use of federal funds for embryonic-stem-cell research and cloning.

White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore said that Dr. Holsinger's 2002 testimony against a ban on cloning was because "he felt that the penalties proposed in the bill were disproportionately severe on patients and researchers."

"Since 2002, there have been significant advances in new techniques for potentially deriving pluripotent stem cells without cloning or destroying embryos. As such, Dr. Holsinger believes the president's cloning policy is appropriate," Miss Lawrimore said.

Miss Lawrimore also said that as the nation's top health educator, Dr. Holsinger would not help formulate stem-cell or cloning policies.

"His main focus will be childhood obesity, so he will not be involved in determining policy related to stem-cell research," Miss Lawrimore said.

Dr. Holsinger will have a confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which is led by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.

Mr. Kennedy has said he is "disappointed" with Mr. Bush's nomination, without fully opposing Dr. Holsinger, whom he called "an individual whose record appears to guarantee a polarizing and divisive nomination process."