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The hard-to-execute flip-flop-flip
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Candidate
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| Contributor | ArmyDem |
| Last Edited | ArmyDem Jul 29, 2005 10:59am |
| Category | Blog Entry |
| News Date | Jul 29, 2005 10:00am |
| Description | Posted 10:58 am | Printer Friendly
I'm delighted to see Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) end up in the right place on funding for stem-cell research, and his support may help finally get this bill out of the Senate, but it's worth taking a moment to note how Frist has been all over the map on this issue.
* On July 18, 2001, Sen. Bill Frist stood on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to buck conservative orthodoxy and support federally funded research on embryonic stem cells. As the Senate's only physician, Frist made headlines — and gave momentum to the controversial science — with his endorsement.
* A month later, the White House announced a far different policy. Frist, despite his previous pronouncement, endorsed the Bush approach.
* At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Frist defended Bush's stem-cell policy, condemned John Kerry's approach, and told an appreciative right-wing audience, "An embryo is biologically human. It deserves moral respect."
* In June 2005, Frist said, "I agree with the president's policy."
* Earlier this month, Frist helped undermine the House-backed stem-cell bill that was on track for Senate passage by clearing the way for five alternative stem-cell bills that would do everything but expand funding where it's needed. Frist appeared to be giving GOP lawmakers cover to vote against a bill with broad bi-partisan and national support.
* Today, Frist is back where he started.
"In a break with President Bush, the Senate Republican leader, Bill Frist, has decided to support a bill to expand federal financing for embryonic stem cell research, a move that could push it closer to passage and force a confrontation with the White House, which is threatening to veto the measure."
We don't often see the flip-flop-flip, but Frist has pulled it off. |
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