Stem cell advocate disputes Huck claim
Stem cell advocate disputes Huck claim
Jan 11, 2008 06:09 AM EST
By: Kenneth P. Vogel

Mike Huckabee has downplayed his connection to a leading advocate for embryonic stem cell research, saying he gave only one speech to a convention sponsored by drugmaker Novo Nordisk.

But Novo Nordisk says it paid for Huckabee, who opposes stem cell research, to give three speeches, bought 35,000 copies of one of his books and considers him an ally in the fight against diabetes.

Huckabee campaign spokeswoman Kirsten Fedewa said she didn’t have information about his speaking gigs and couldn’t explain the differing accounts of his interactions with the company.

They came after Politico reported that he received $35,000 in speaking fees last year from Novo Nordisk. Politico also revealed that Huckabee reported $17,000 in speaking fees from nonprofit groups working to expand access to the morning-after pill and pushing to study whether tightening gun control laws will reduce violence.

Those positions are anathema to many of the religious conservatives whose support Huckabee has ridden to join the top tier of Republican presidential contenders.

The day after Politico’s report, Huckabee was asked about the matter on C-SPAN. An Iowa woman, calling in to the broadcast, asserted that “embryonic stem cell research … destroys human life” and asked Huckabee to explain why he accepted money from Novo Nordisk.

Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, explained that he worked the lecture circuit “to pay my bills.” And he said “a conference that I spoke to, one of the sponsors was Novo Nordisk,” adding that the company paid a speakers bureau, which then paid him.

“I was not there to speak on stem cell research,” he said, though he added: “There are a lot of times when we’re going to be on conferences or in programs with people with whom we don’t agree.”

Novo Nordisk, which touts itself as a world leader in diabetes care, on its website calls human embryonic stem cell research “essential” to addressing diseases including diabetes and Parkinson's.

Fedewa, the Huckabee spokeswoman, said that because his speeches are contracted through the speakers bureau, “he very likely would not have been aware of the sponsor but only the name of the conference.”

She said the speakers bureau that handles Huckabee’s gigs “works with its clients to make sure it’s a good fit.”

Huckabee’s paid speeches dealt with “limited, focused and nonpolitical” topics, she said.

“Gov. Huckabee has been invited by many groups to speak to them about health care reform and to give motivational speeches, among other topics,” she said. “He openly speaks to people of all views who want to hear his message.”

Huckabee dropped more than 100 pounds after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and pushed to expand health care access and incentivize healthy living in Arkansas.

Novo Nordisk spokesman Sean Clements said all the events at which Huckabee spoke were associated with diabetes. Two included a bipartisan array of attendees, including former President Bill Clinton, who spoke at a March forum in New York on addressing diabetes worldwide.

“As the world leader in diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has had the privilege of inviting Gov. Huckabee to speak on a number of occasions about his compelling and inspirational story of battling Type 2 diabetes,” Clements said.

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