Politicians who flip-flop on big moral issues do so at big political risk. So give credit to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., for newly finding the courage to back the House-passed bill to expand federal funding embryonic stem-cell research, in the process bucking President Bush and leading social conservatives such as Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan. Pro-life groups who might have considered supporting Frist for president in 2008 went ballistic. But his change of heart makes it more likely that this commonsense, compassionate step to foster scientific research may clear Congress this fall.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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14 Comments
If we don’t pass expanded stem cell research funding, another country will. And if we are not on the cutting edge of medicine, it’s highly possible that some other country will take our place as the world’s superpower.It’s time to step up!
For somebody who’s in such a crucial leadership position, does Frist have a tin ear for conservative issues or what? If Frist wants to appeal to the bats*** crazy Right to Lifers in order to get their support for 2008, this isn’t the best way to do it.
I might have disliked Trent Lott, but he at least possessed political savvy. Not something you could say of Frist.
I think this is a good move for him. Like Tara C posted, if we don’t do it, somebody else will. And I enjoy watching the Republicans fight amongst themselves. Divide and conquer still works.
When you consider all of the medical benefits that could accrue from stem cell research I don’t believe this is the time or the issue to play on partisan politics. This is a serious issue of research and I applaud his courage to stand up to the President.
I don’t trust Frist for a minute. With his history of buckling to the far-right, I expect him and his cohorts to figure out some way to pervert this bill. When Republicans start making sense, something is dreadfully wrong. Watch him!
This is just Bill Frist trying to move to the center for the upcoming 2008 election cycle. If he is sincere it will show when he is running for prez in 08.
Did you know that stem cells are considered a delicacy in most primitive cultures? Human stem cells might become a real growth nitch in the food industry. That is why the departments of commerce and agriculture are both backing Frist’s position. Growing millions of stem cells in huge, 15 billion gallon incubators could produce rich, tangy flavors unknown up to now, with hints of raspberry and a pleasant finish.
Already, publishers are planning a blitz of human stem cell cookbooks for release next fall, when the incubators come on line. The possibilities for protein rich food sources will end hunger throughout the world.
Loathsome, isn’t it, to think that Bush and his religionazis tried to keep us all in endless famine by refusing to permit stem cell research.
It always makes me laugh how the “lifers” are so willing to kill. And why they can’t see that. Strange bunch.
The cat is out of the bag on stem cells. If they throw away the embryos from fertilization clinics anyway then the Republicans should go after that. Anything else seems like posturing. Though if they are going to go after fertility clinics, just warn me in advance so I can make sure I’m not nearby when the seventh layer of hell opens up. I’ll avoid a response to Ed’s non sequitur.
Senator Frist is right and good for him…I’m a Democrat and I won’t sit down and I won’t shut up!!! Until all of us come together, this country will not move forward. Ofcourse it’s just a theory.
Once again, The Eagle misses the real story–”how will this play out for the religious right?”
Wrong question.
The real issue is why does Frist feel he can split with Bush on such a key issue?
Answer–because Bush increasingly doesn’t matter anymore. His approval ratings are in the low 40’s and falling. The Rove and DeLay scandals and the quagmire in Iraq are taking their toll.
Wake up and smell the seawater breaking over the bow, people . . . the second most important Republican in Washington just told Bush that he’s not going down with the ship.
Antares, God, I hope you’re right. I was reading about this last night and the comment was made that Frist supports some other stem-cell initiatives, too. I’m suspicious of the guy. I’m having a hard time figuring out why the guy is supposedly thumbing his nose at the religious right, since it’s a well-known fact that nobody gets the Republican nomination without their support. Picking a Republican nominee for the next presidential election is going to be a real Donnybrook, and I can’t imagine Frist writing off the wingnuts.Still, you make a good point about not going down with the ship. This charade can’t go on forever; at some point it’ll hit critical mass. I think we’re going to see a lot of investigations and indictments when this circus cracks up.
I certainly hope so, Hammer. This bunch makes Tricky Dicky look like an amateur! What just escapes me is how so many people just look the other way. I’m the first to criticize my candidates when they screw up. Its as if Shrub’s backers can’t find a way off the ship. If I remember correctly, Tricky Dicky’s backers reacted the same way. Two years later if you took a poll, maybe one in ten people said they voted for him. How the heck did he get elected if that was true? Instead of demanding that their candidate do the job he was elected (perhaps) to do, people just accept the mediocre (yes, I’m being tactful there) job without complaint. That’ll come back to haunt them…personally if not publicly.I wouldn’t want this bunch of lunatics on my conscience.
Nola, Nixon got elected twice because (GULP!) people like me voted for him (twice). Hey, I was young and stupid.The Repugs have pretty much absolute control of the gov’ment now, and unless there’s a bunch of defections, there won’t be any investigations. When it comes to today’s GOP, they don’t care what’s right or wrong. All they care about is winning the argument. Power corrupts; conservatives corrupt quickly.