... And Then Frist Flip-Flops On Stem Cell Research Funding

[JABBS]

That was quick.

A day after blocking several bills that would increase federal funding for stem cell research, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) abruptly flip-flopped, and now says he advocates such funding.

"It's not just a matter of faith, it's a matter of science," Frist said on the floor of the Senate this morning.

Frist, a heart-lung transplant surgeon who opposes abortion, said modifying Bush's strict limitations on stem cell research would lead to scientific advances and "bridge the moral and ethical differences" that have made the issue politically charged.

"While human embryonic stem cell research is still at a very early stage, the limitation put into place in 2001 will, over time, slow our ability to bring potential new treatments for certain diseases," the Tennessee lawmaker said in his speech.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), who is fighting cancer, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Frist's talk "perhaps the most important speech made on the floor this year, and perhaps the most important speech made in many years. ... It has an enormous impact."

The chief House sponsor of the bill, Representative Michael N. Castle, Republican of Delaware, told the New York Times: "His support is of huge significance."

Bush has threatened to veto legislation for expanded financial support for stem cell research. A bill to finance more stem cell research has passed the House, but has been stalled in the Senate. Frist's support could push it closer to passage and set up a confrontation with Bush.

***

Most mainsteam media, in reporting on Frist's speech this morning, failed to point out yesterday's events.

Of the handful of articles I checked reporting on Frist's speech, only the Boston Globe seemed aware of yesterday's events.

"As recently as yesterday morning, Frist rebuffed Democrats' attempts to force an immediate vote on the House-approved bill, saying he would allow such a vote only after reaching an agreement to bring up a range of other measures that are related to stem cell research. That drew a harsh rebuke from Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, who has been consistently lobbying Frist to change his mind and support the bill," the Globe reported.

The Times noted: "Last week Mr. Castle accused the White House and Mr. Frist of "doing everything in their power to deflect votes away from" the bill. On Thursday night, Mr. Castle said he had written a letter to Mr. Frist just that morning urging him to support the measure."

***

What made Frist change his mind so abruptly?

Various newspapers suggest that Frist may have thought twice about the ramifications of a medical doctor coming down, once again, on the side of conservative spin instead of science.

"The move could also have implications for Mr. Frist's political future. The senator is widely considered a potential candidate for the presidency in 2008, and supporting an expansion of the policy will put him at odds not only with the White House but also with Christian conservatives, whose support he will need in the race for the Republican nomination. But the decision could also help him win support among centrists," the Times reported.

Frist also received pressure from several leading Republicans, including Specter and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), to bring a stem cell research bill to the Senate floor, in spite of Bush's stated intent to veto any such legislation.

***

This article first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.

[JABBS]

1. This story is a follow-up to the one posted last night

[LeftNYC]

2. Look at Frist trying to move to the middle...

I wonder if the media will point this out like they do everytime Hilary opens her mouth...

[Ian David]

8. Clinton/Frist 2008? Hey, who knows? n/t

[GracieM]

14. Frist has a long way to go

to get anywhere close to the middle. Will be interesting to see him try.

[DrGonzoLives]

3. I heard this on NPR this morning as well

He's trying to "distance" himself from Bush for his 2008 run, pure and simple. Show he's "not anyone's tool" and a "maverick" not a "Beltway insider," et cetera.

[JABBS]

4. you know people will "forget" the flip-flop

Especially if the MSM fails to point it out in the first place.

[GracieM]

16. What flip flop?

:banghead:

[Ian David]

5. Bill Frist wants to use Stem Cells to clone Terry Schiavo

[JABBS]

7. "man of science"

One of the reports said other senators look to Frist as a leader on medical and science issues. Scary, especially after he tried to diagnose Schiavo via three-year-old video tape.

Ultimately, if this allows the 400,000 frozen embryos captured since 2001 to be eligible for federally funded research, and Frist can get the votes to over-ride the inevitable Bush veto, then Bully to him.

It still doesn't change his broad body of work since joining the Senate, and certainly not since beomcing majority leader.

[Supersedeas]

19. bigger questions: man of integrity?

[bunny planet]

11. Wow, that's some sig pic you got there. Did you make that.

Brilliant.

[JaneQPublic]

6. But, what about "erring on the side of life?"

Doesn't Frist care about the little snowflake babies?

:sarcasm:

[TwilightZone]

9. In all fairness...

I'll take it. The end result is that the bill will have more support and be more likely to pass.

While it certainly proves that he's willing to sway with the wind in order to look presidential, and not discounting the fact that he's a lying, immoral weasel, at least he ended up on the correct side of the issue.

Now, if we could just get some flip-flopping on abortion rights, voting safeguards, economic and environmental issues, education spending, military spending, the war on Iraq, etc.....

[etherealtruth]

21. I've got to agree ...

I despise Frist with every fiber of my being; however, I'm glad we're not being propelled further and further back into the dark ages ----at least on this.

I am so discouraged right now that I am considering a victory if they (repukes) do no harm (or less harm than they wanted).

[bunny planet]

10. I'm suspicious of anything Frist does that goes against the Blivet. I

think he has his blessing to do this. Bush doesn't really believe in the pro-life agenda, or in the stem-cell debate connected to it. He just says he does to pacify his fundaholic base. Frist's influence to secure the Senate's vote for stem-cell research expansion gives Jr. an out. He has already gone on record threatening to veto it, but now he can say that he has to respect the will of the Senate on this one, since Fristula is a noble 'pro-life' doctor and all:sarcasm: who he has the highest regard for, blah, blah, blah. This accomplishes two things, it gets * out of hot water looking like a fool vetoeing a very popular bill, it also gives Spector what he wants, and that will be rewarded with an easy confirmation for Roberts, since Spector is the head of the judiciary committee, has Cancer and has publicly stated he will fight tooth and nail for the stem cell bill. It's I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine politics at his finest. The fundaholics may still be angry but there are a lot more people on the fence who do support the stem cell bill so the religious wrong is expendable on this issue. It also looks as if His Fraudulency has fought it the best he could but he didn't want to trample on our beloved checks and balances by having this be his first vetoed bill. It's a crock and it's just my opinion but I think that's about right. Also, it is true, they are grooming Frist to be the nominee. Too bad, he'll need a soul and a charisma transplant first.

[SolaceoftheLotus]

12. Er...uh....um......

The man's on "our" side.

Why are we still bitching about him?

[bunny planet]

15. not bitching, just saying it gives Bush an out too.

[bunny planet]

17. BTW, Fristula will never be on 'our' side. He's pond scum, regardless

of this little 'change of heart'.

[SolaceoftheLotus]

18. And why.....

......Is he pond scum?

[bunny planet]

20. For starters he and his family (who own one of the largest health and

hospital corporations in the US, perhaps a conflict of interest in being Senate Majority leader) have indulged in fraudulent activities involving bilking Medicare and Medicaid. They bought their way out of serious punitive action by paying over 800 million dollars in fines for their criminal activities in the healthcare industry. Just one of the many stories I could tell. His recent diagnosis by video of a brain dead and blind woman was a new low in medical ethics and then just in case you are an animal lover, like I am, there's the little story about Frist adopting animals from shelters, saying they were going to be pets, and then taking them home and killing them to disect them for his medical studies. Nice.

[SolaceoftheLotus]

22. Okay....

But what one must consider is that Frist's flip-flopping on this issue is particularly advantageous for the democratic party.

To begin with, it means we can get what we want with regards to stem cell research.

And secondly, it indicates a fracturing of the republican party, which should be thoroughly exploited as the democratic party unifies.

[MoonRiver]

13. * had to play like he was a centrist and uniter in order to (almost) win.

Frist is playing the same cynical game. Of course, he's taking a lot bigger chance by not supporting one of the fundies pet projects. Hope he's successful in Congress and gets creamed in the GE, assuming he makes it past the primaries.