Nancy Reagan hails top Republican's change of heart on stem cells

[RamboLiberal]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050729/ts_alt_afp/ushealthstemcells_050729180245

Former US first lady Nancy Reagan, the widow of conservative Republican president Ronald Reagan, hailed Republican Senate leader Bill Frist's change of heart over stem cell research.

<snip>

"I was heartened by Senator Frist's support for (the bill)," said the 84-year-old Reagan, who has crossed swords with Bush's conservative Republican administration over its opposition to stem cell research.

"Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to alleviate so much suffering. Surely by working together we can harness its life-giving potential," she said in a statement issued by her Los Angeles office.

"Every day that goes by without cures is another day that families watch their loved ones suffer," Reagan said. "Thank you, Dr Frist, for standing up for America's patients."

[dhinojosa]

1. Way to support the dems who were with you all the way......

She never hailed Democrats for support stem-cell research.

[DanCa]

2. It's wierd having a reagan on my side (nt)

[Catch22Dem]

4. Two. Don't forget Ron.

Junior that is. He's a great guy!

[DanCa]

5. Yes I would vote for him in a heart beat (nt)

[Benhurst]

6. I would imagine Patti is with her mother and brother on this, as well. NT

[Piperay]

7. Yes, Patti too has

always been on the correct side not just with that but with the environment, women's rights and a host of other issues.

[SpiralHawk]

3. Oh, Oh, the Chimp is getting backed into a corner

Him no like.

Must retreat to Imperial Pig Farm Upon Crawford for a leisurely month or two, and mull this over with Karl and the Kabal.

[barb162]

8. Monkey need big lost rest. Leave alone, quick picking on monkey n/t

[54anickel]

9. Scotty says it wasn't a change of heart

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050729-5.html

Q Scott, in his speech today, Senator Frist said that the policy that President Bush announced on embryonic stem cell research in 2001, in Senator Frist's words, "will slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases." Does the President dispute that position of Senator Frist? And is the President open to the idea of expanding federal financing?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, first of all, I think Senator Frist indicated that this is a position that he had stated more than four years, and that he held as a physician, prior to him coming into the United States Senate. So this is something --

Q Well, it's one that he's talking about now.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- so this is something that he has said before. The President was speaking with Senator Frist just last night, talking about the legislative agenda and the end of the session here and moving forward on the remaining priorities. And Senator Frist told him he was going to be making these remarks; the President said, you need to vote your conscience when it comes to this legislation.


DU thread on today's press briefing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1663573

[Erika]

10. Frist wants to appeal to moderates, not the Bushbot base

I heard one of the channels saying this action by Frist is the official start of W's lame duck administration.

[Arkana]

11. The problem, of course, is that El Fristo can't have his cake

and eat it too. By doing this, it will piss the religious right off quite badly. He's gotta pick one or the other--can't have both.

[Skittles]

12. Frist's interest in stem cell research is as self-serving as Nancy's is

these people do not fool me one bit