Frist U-turn: will back Stem Cell Research

[Crapshoot]

Frist backs increased federal stem cell funding
Senate majority leader breaks with Bush on issue

Friday, July 29, 2005; Posted: 9:19 a.m. EDT (13:19 GMT)




WASHINGTON (AP) -- Breaking with President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Friday he now supports legislation to remove some of the administration's limitations on embryonic stem cell research.

Frist, who just last month said he did not support expanding federal financing of research on embryos, said his decision was consistent with both his experience as a physician and his anti-abortion stance.

"Now is the time to expand the president's policy because it's promising research, but it must be done in a way that is ethically considerate, that respects the dignity of human life," said Frist, who also is a heart- and lung-transplant surgeon.

The Tennessee Republican, a potential presidential candidate for 2008, said only stem cells from embryos that "would otherwise be discarded," not implanted in a woman or frozen indefinitely, should be considered for research.

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.

Interviewed on ABC's "Good Morning America," Frist said his decision was based on policy, not politics.

Almost two-thirds of Americans say they support embryonic stem cell research and a majority of people say they would like to see fewer restrictions on taxpayer funding for those studies, recent polls suggest.

"From those cells we have the potential for looking at those diseases that everybody knows about, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and others," Frist said.

The senator further outlined his policy in a speech on the Senate floor Friday morning, explaining why he believes embryonic stem cell research should be encouraged, even though he is "strong pro-life" and considers the embryo to be "life in its earliest stage of development."

To many abortion opponents, the two views seem to conflict. Frist says they do not.

"I give huge moral significance to the human embryo, it is nascent human life, what that means is as we advance science, we treat that embryo with dignity, with respect," Frist said.

He credited Bush with opening the doors for federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, and said when this policy was announced in 2001, policy-makers thought 78 stem cell lines would be available. Since then, the number has dropped to 22.

"Those 22 cell lines are not of the quality for human application or human therapy, and that's why today I believe we need to modify that policy," Frist said.

When Bush announced his position on stem cell research, he said the government should pay only for research of stem cell colonies, or lines, that had already been created at that time, so that the "life or death" decision had already been made.

Frist said additional stem cells should be used, so long as there was a careful process of informed consent in which the parents had decided that the embryos should be discarded, not adopted or frozen.

A statement issued by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, praised Frist.

"As a physician, Sen. Frist has a moral calling to save lives and alleviate suffering," Kennedy said. "He honors his Hippocratic Oath today by recognizing the unique healing power of embryonic stem cells. The Bush administration may threaten to veto this bill, but they can't veto hope."

Interesting- you think the guy is starting his 2008 campaign early ? "

[Wolfpack]

I'm surprised he didn't do a sound check by saying, "How do I sound? Can everyone hear me? Iowa? New Hampshire? Good. Let's get started."

[Flasch186]

im sure the title threw ya


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[chinaski]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

I'm surprised he didn't do a sound check by saying, "How do I sound? Can everyone hear me? Iowa? New Hampshire? Good. Let's get started."

very nice!

[Swaggs]

but... but... but... that's flip-flopping!

[Flasch186]

DeLay says he's disappointed in Frist LOLOLOLOLOL now that IS funny

[MrBug708]

"As a physician, Sen. Frist has a moral calling to save lives and alleviate suffering," Kennedy said. "He honors his Hippocratic Oath today by recognizing the unique healing power of embryonic stem cells. The Bush administration may threaten to veto this bill, but they can't veto hope."

And Sen Kennedy has a moral calling to stop talking but yet he still does.

[MrBigglesworth]

Frist was for stem cell restrictions before he was against them.

Is this a sign that Frist no longer has Presidential ambitions and instead is doing what is right for the country? Or does he just now not think that pushing the Bush line is the smart thing to do, in the wake of approval numbers approaching the thirties?

[Glengoyne]

I'd say that the only thing he is flip flopping on is supporting the President's position on the matter. I'd think that is something most people could get behind.

I'm guessing that the percentage of the electorate against Stem Cell research is roughly equivalent to those who were on the losing end of the Schaivo case. If this goes through it is definately, in my mind, a good thing for the Republican party, and it may eventually be a good thing for science.

[NoMyths]

But there's no reason for the approval numbers to be approaching the thirties...people are getting exactly what they voted for.

Far as Frist goes, I'm glad to see him leading the good fight on this issue.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Glengoyne

I'd say that the only thing he is flip flopping on is supporting the President's position on the matter. I'd think that is something most people could get behind.

I'm guessing that the percentage of the electorate against Stem Cell research is roughly equivalent to those who were on the losing end of the Schaivo case. If this goes through it is definately, in my mind, a good thing for the Republican party, and it may eventually be a good thing for science.

I agree - its the "right" wing of the party winning, as opposed to the right-wing.