Sen. Bill Frist
Posted on 12/20/2002 10:18:19 PM PST by JohnHuang2
WASHINGTON – Everyone knows Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., is the upper house's only physician. But who is this man who appears likely to become the next Senate majority leader?
Sen. Bill Frist |
Opponents of abortion on demand are likely to be deeply disappointed. While Trent Lott, R-Miss., had promised to bring to the floor for a quick, early vote a bill restricting partial-birth abortion, Frist championed the nomination by President Clinton of former Surgeon General David Satcher, a fervent supporter of unrestricted abortion and someone who actually performed abortions.
Satcher continued to serve in the Bush administration until earlier this year.
While Satcher's nomination was widely presumed to have originated with Vice President Al Gore, like Satcher, a Tennessean, his confirmation was actually championed by Frist.
Frist once told National Public Radio that there are no absolute right, absolute wrong answers in medicine. During last year's stem-cell debate, Frist proposed using leftover embryos from in vitro fertilization clinics for scientific research. The Weekly Standard also noted that Frist believes there is a moral imperative to use one unsalvageable life to save another.
Frist's other pet causes while serving in the Senate have been fighting AIDS in Africa and fighting obesity among Americans. He believes the federal government needs to increase funding of physical education programs in school. He thinks spending $125 million on a Centers for Disease Control program encouraging children to engage in athletics is another top priority.
He sponsored a bill earlier this year that would have authorized a nationwide ad campaign to promote better nutrition and exercise and would have authorized money for bicycle paths, parks and recreation centers.
According to sources close to the White House, Frist has been favored by Bush political adviser Karl Rove to take the helm of the Senate Republicans ever since Lott got himself embroiled in controversy with his remarks at Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party.
Now, Frist reportedly is the front-runner in the bid to succeed Lott, who announced his resignation today.
According to the Associated Press, GOP aides say Frist, now in his second term, is gauging support from his colleagues, having spent time sounding them out by telephone.
One aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Frist would consider running for the job if colleagues asked him to do so "for the sake of the Senate as an institution or the long-term agenda of the Republican Party.''
In a sign that Frist might be building momentum, a Republican aide close to No. 2 Senate Republican Don Nickles of Oklahoma said Nickles would likely support a race by Frist.
Nickles, a longtime rival of Lott, believes he would have less support from colleagues than Frist for majority leader, the aide said.
First winning entry to the Senate in 1994, Frist was re-elected in 2000 by the largest margin ever received by a candidate for statewide election in Tennessee history. He's the first practicing physician elected to the chamber since 1928.
A native of Nashville, Frist founded and subsequently directed the Vanderbilt Transplant Center, which became an internationally renowned center of multi-organ transplantation. He's performed some 200 heart and lung transplants and has written more than 100 articles, chapters and abstracts on medical research, as well as three books.
Thrilled to hear this, friend. God bless.
Indeed, it seems Farah is calling for the heads of right-wing wacko Conservatives on a silver platter before we are given the chance to give Frist a chance.
This is politics. Politics is a brutal and sometimes thankless business. Frist knows it, Farah knows it, and we right-wing wacko Conservatives know it.
I know not how other Conservatives will treat Frist but, as for me, I will hold Frist's feet to the fire and criticize him when I think the situation calls for it and, conversely, I will heap praises on him when I think he has earned it. I expect he will get a little (or a lot) of both from me. If that bothers Farah, Frist and certain FReepers, so be it.
Let the games begin.
this is the definition of representative democracy
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When I first saw Frist's background and qualifications, I was awed. I was hoping he would be a Gene Hersholt or Marcus Welby type with depth. Now I am coming to realize I am looking at another Bill Clinton successfuly scrambling to accumulate prizes without seriously thinking. I guess I know why he left medicine for politics. Like many in his generation he is a well-trained technician without depth of consideration. We're in trouble here.
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Once he's in, your criticism will be a small voice in the wilderness that will be meaningless. The media and the dummies in the electorate will do the talking.
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anything...
Well pal, you are just likely to get anything and when it comes don't complain about it.
I don't think Frist is a Bill Clinton type at all. If he is, he sure is hiding it really well, at least to me. If you mean he's like Clinton in his articulateness, passion, charisma and telegenic quality, you're right, but he's so in an unsleazy way. And unlike Clinton, he exudes integrity. If we're looking at trouble here, then that's the kind of 'trouble' I want and we can look forward to a successful 2-term future president.
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What you have is a combination of Bill Clinton and Jocylyn Elders in a prettier package. Take it to the bank.
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