Many political ads are misleading, and some are downright lies, but few so blatant as this one, which I heard on the way in to work this morning:

Jody Montgomery – My name is Jody Montgomery and my daughter Maddy was diagnosed with Type I Juvenile Diabetes at age 3. Six times a day, I take her blood. Six times a day, I pray for a cure. Researchers are working hard to do just that. Our best hope is stem cell research, and that’s why we support Barack Obama.

Announcer – Stem cell research could unlock cures for diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s too. But John McCain has stood in the way…he’s opposed stem cell research. Picked a running mate who’s against it…And he’s running on a platform even more extreme than George Bush‘s on this vital research. John McCain doesn’t understand that medical research benefiting millions shouldn’t be held hostage by the political views of a few.

Jody Montgomery – For Maddy and millions of others, stem cell research can unlock cures. Barack Obama understands that. But John McCain just doesn’t.

First, most Conservatives do not oppose stem cell researce per se, but embrionic stem cell research, and especially the creation of new embreos for the research. But the fact is that this is not the only type of stem cell research, and is actually the least effective so far in finding cures. Moreover, the fact is that John McCain has supported stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell research that used embreos created for fertility treatment. Furthermore, while Sarah Palin opposes embryonic stem cell research, she supports adult stem cell research.

This ad is a blatant lie by the Obama campaign (this is an official campaign ad, not a third party,) and he had to know it when he approved the ad. This ad is another example of the victory at any cost tactics employed by the Obama campaign.

Some of the information in this post from the Chicago Tribune