I am really puzzled as to what Bill Frist is trying to pull here.
I vividly remember some comments made by Senator Frist during last year's election race, and they could not contrast more with what he claimed to be the case on the Senate floor last week.
When Christopher Reeve passed away last year, we all remember how Edwards and Kerry tried to capitalize on his death by making the campaign pitch for more funding of embryonic stem cell research. During a Fox & Friends show early one morning, Steve Doocy and Kiran Chetry were discussing this matter, and it was Chetry who read some comments by Frist. Chetry read comments by Frist on this issue, and it was very clear at that point that Frist was very upset at what Kerry and Edwards were doing, that it was "crass and opportunistic" for them to be giving "false hope" to those who are ill. Kiran then read some comments where Frist pointed out that most or all of the treatments currently being used (with success) were derived from adult stem cells, not embryonic.
So, this was just last October I believe. He seems to have done a complete "about face" on this. Of course, many claim that he had a favorable view of embryonic stem cell research way back in 2001, and that most of us just weren't aware of it. It's just mystifying that he was outraged at how the Dems were trying to trump up the promise of embryonic stem cells last year when he turned around and did the very same thing just last Friday on the Senate floor.
What does this man believe?
I wonder, too.
He's a busy guy and maybe a staffer has given him some skewed info.....but I don't think so. I think it's political bartering. Whatever the reason, I can't understand how he can hold his opinion or why he's doing it.
Sounds like his conscience finally got to him. He knew all along that opposing embryonic stem cell research could not be justified on any objective scientific grounds. But he's working in politics now, and did what he thought he had to do, and lied. Now he has stopped lying. I respect him for it.