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Posted on 12/22/2002 8:32:58 PM PST by Salvation
Frist Seen As Lott's Likely Heir, Pro-Life Record Challenged
Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - The resignation of Senate Majority Leader-elect Trent Lott Friday was preceded by much speculation that, if Lott resigned the post, Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) would replace him. As that prediction moved one step closer to becoming a reality, Frist's pro-life credentials came under fire.
Frist waited to voice his opinion about Trent Lott's perceived racist comments at Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday celebration, which took place on Dec. 5, until after President Bush had spoken Dec. 12.
"President Bush's comments [Dec. 12] were necessary and proper. Senator Lott's choice of words was insensitive," Frist said. "Those words do not represent the values of our country. They are not the values of the Republican Party."
The Tennessee Republican's willingness to accept the majority leader position was initially doubted by some who thought he might have presidential aspirations. The senator dismissed those doubts in a statement Thursday.
"During the course of the day [Thursday], I have been approached by several of my colleagues in the Republican caucus. They said they would like to support me for majority leader of the United States Senate and asked if I would agree for them to call other colleagues to determine the viability of such an effort," Frist said.
"I indicated to them that if it is clear that a majority of the Republican Caucus believes a change in leadership would benefit the institution of the United States Senate, I will likely step forward for that role," he added.
The only challenger to defeat a full-term incumbent when he was first elected to the Senate in 1994, Frist has received a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee every year since 1997, the earliest year for which ratings are published on the group's website.
'Bill Frist Is Not Pro-Life'
But another, more aggressive pro-life group gives Frist a very different grade.
"Bill Frist is not pro-life," said Judie Brown, president and co-founder of American Life League, whose members believe in the sanctity of "innocent human life from fertilization to natural death; without compromise, without exception, without apology."
"He's made all kinds of strange statements," Brown said of Frist, "and is a shareholder in a huge for-profit hospital company that does abortions."
She is referring to Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). The senator's late father, Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr., and brother, Dr. Thomas Frist, Jr., founded HCA in 1968. The company merged with Columbia Hospital Corporation in 1994 to become Columbia/HCA.
Stephen Ally of the Timothy Plan, a pro-life, pro-family, biblically based mutual fund group, confirmed to CNSNews.com that the plan does not invest in Columbia/HCA stock, primarily because of the hospital chain's policy allowing abortions to be performed at its facilities.
Columbia/HCA representatives have not responded to multiple press inquiries about the company's abortion policy.
Conservatives Question Possible Double Standard
According to Senate records, Frist held a minimum of $5,000,001 in Columbia/HCA stock in a blind trust originated in December 2000 and just over $560,000 in 15 other companies.
The amount of Columbia/HCA stock could be as high as $74,930,085, but is not specified because of the value range ($1,001 to $15,001) within which senators are allowed to classify their holdings.
Terence Jeffrey, editor of Human Events, noted that, regardless of the dollar amount in question, the report indicates that 89 percent of Sen. Frist's stock holdings are in Columbia/HCA. He believes that fact forces other Republican senators to face what could be a politically uncomfortable question.
"If it is disqualifying for their Senate leader to make offensive remarks interpreted as endorsing an immoral policy that denied African-Americans equal rights," Jeffrey asked in Friday's edition of the national conservative weekly newsmagazine, "is it also disqualifying for their Senate leader to make money from a hospital chain that denies unborn babies the right to life?"
The answer to that question, according to Brown, is an unwavering, "Yes!"
"I'm horrified," she said at the thought of Frist becoming Senate majority leader.
His support of Clinton nominee, Dr. David Satcher, to the post of surgeon general also irritated many pro-life activists. Satcher was routinely criticized for his endorsement of the "safe-sex" philosophy promoted by the Clinton administration.
Brown: Pro-Life Conservatives Have A Better Choice
Brown suggested that for those who truly believe in the sanctity of human life, there is a better choice.
"I'd pick Don Nickles (R-Okla.)," she said. "I wouldn't even have to think about it."
As an example of the difference between the two on life issues, Brown noted that Frist voted for the Schumer Amendment to the 2002 bankruptcy bill.
The amendment blocked peaceful pro-life protesters from filing bankruptcy to void large cash judgments awarded to abortion clinic owners who sue the protesters, knowing they often have little money to mount a legal defense.
Blocking such filings allows the clinic owners to force the sale of protesters' homes, vehicles and other personal assets that could otherwise be protected through bankruptcy. Lott also voted for the amendment, which passed 80 to 17. Nickles voted against it.
Brown also dismissed those who charge that Nickles is too abrasive to carry out the "sensitive negotiations" demanded of a majority leader.
"It's time for senators to stand up and be counted," she urged. "People like Don Nickles will stand up ... and say that abortion kills a person.
"You can be so soft spoken, and so desirous of not offending anybody that you don't do anything substantive to stop abortion," Brown continued. "We've got 30 years of history to show us that that's not working."
Frist's Official Position on Abortion
In a statement emailed in response to an inquiry from CNSNews.com, Nick Smith, spokesman for Frist, wrote that Frist's ownership of Columbia/HCA stock and his position on abortion are "separate and distinct" issues.
"On his own accord, by placing his assets in a federally qualified blind trust, Senator Frist took a step above and beyond to ensure there is no conflict of interest," Smith wrote. "He believes this was the proper and responsible thing to do. He has never been employed by, or served on the board of, HCA or any of its hospitals."
Smith also stated that Frist's "record on abortion is clear."
"He is opposed to abortion except in the instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is threatened," Smith wrote. "He is opposed to federal funding of abortions. And in the Senate, he led the fight against partial-birth abortions."
Frist's website does not list abortion among the 14 top issues detailed on its homepage. A keyword search for "abortion" yielded only seven results, one of which is an email link, one a reference to former President Clinton's pro-abortion policies, and six to the partial-birth abortion debate.
No statement of Frist's position on abortion in general could be located.
There is a statement, however, regarding the issue of cloning.
"No one can deny the potential human cloning holds for increased scientific understanding," Frist wrote.
"But given the serious ethical concerns this research raises, the fact that promising embryonic stem cell research will continue even under a cloning ban, the lack of significant research in animal models, and the existence of promising alternatives, I am unable to find a compelling justification for allowing human cloning today," he wrote.
That last part of Frist's statement troubles Human Events' Jeffrey.
"As Bill Clinton might say, that doesn't rule out tomorrow," Jeffrey observed, "when he may be Senate majority leader."
Republican senators had tentatively scheduled a Jan. 6 meeting to discuss Lott's fate. No announcement has been made as to whether or not they will wait until that date to hold an election for a new majority leader.
E-mail a news tip to Jeff Johnson.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
Senator Bill Frist (R)
Tennessee
Republican, Years of Service: 7
| ACU Ratings for Senator Frist: | |
| Year 2001 | 100 |
| Year 2000 | 92 |
| Lifetime | 88 |
Senator Trent Lott (R)
Mississippi
Republican, Years of Service: 29
| ACU Ratings for Senator Lott: | |
| Year 2001 | 96 |
| Year 2000 | 100 |
| Lifetime | 93 |
Senator Mitch Mcconnell (R)
Kentucky
Republican, Years of Service: 17
| ACU Ratings for Senator Mcconnell: | |
| Year 2001 | 96 |
| Year 2000 | 100 |
| Lifetime | 89 |
Senator Don Nickles (R)
Oklahoma
Republican, Years of Service: 21
| ACU Ratings for Senator Nickles: | |
| Year 2001 | 92 |
| Year 2000 | 100 |
| Lifetime | 96 |
Senator Rick Santorum (R)
Pennsylvania
Republican, Years of Service: 11
| ACU Ratings for Senator Santorum: | |
| Year 2001 | 100 |
| Year 2000 | 100 |
| Lifetime | 86 |
Please notify me via Freepmail if you would like to be added to or removed from the Pro-life Ping list.
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Date: 12/07/1995
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0596
Bill Number: HR 1833
HR 1833: The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act
Vote to pass a bill to ban the partial-birth abortion procedure, except when the life of the woman is in danger. Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 08/05/1995
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0370
Bill Number: HR 2020
Sponsor: Nickles, R-OK
Outcome for this vote: Amendment adopted
Amendment to stop federal health insurance policies from covering abortions except in certain cases.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 09/26/1996
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0301
Bill Number: HR 1833
Vote to override the veto of a bill to ban certain late-term abortions.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 09/11/1996
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0284
Bill Number: HR 3756
Sponsor: DeWine, R-OH motion to table Senate Appropropriations Committee amendment.
Vote to table an amendment to allow federal employee health plans to cover abortions.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 06/19/1996
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0163
Bill Number: S 1745
Sponsor: Coats, R-IN, motion to table Murray, D-IN, amendment
Vote to kill an amendment to repeal the ban on abortions at overseas military hospitals.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 03/19/1996
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0038
Bill Number: HR 3019
Sponsor: Boxer, D-CA
Outcome for this vote: Amendment rejected
Amendment to permit the District of Columbia to use non-federal funds to help pay for abortions for poor women.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted NO
Date: 03/19/1996
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0039
Bill Number: HR 3019
Sponsor: Coats, R-IN
Outcome for this vote: Passed
Amendment to ban the federal government from discriminating against medical professionals and facilities that won't train, provide, or refer induced abortions.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 09/04/1997
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0215
Bill Number: S 1061
Sponsor: Coats, R-IN
Outcome for this vote: Amendment rejected
Vote on an amendment to prohibit the use of funds for research on Parkinson's Disease that utilizes human fetal tissue, cells, or organs that are obtained from a living or dead embryo or fetus during or after an induced abortion.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 07/22/1997
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0190
Bill Number: S 1023
Sponsor: DeWine, R-OH
Outcome for this vote: Amendment adopted
Vote on an amendment to continue the ban preventing federal health insurance policies from covering abortions except in certain cases.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 07/10/1997
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0167
Bill Number: S 936
Sponsor: Murray, D-WA
Outcome for this vote: Amendment rejected
Vote on an amendment to end the ban on privately funded abortions in overseas military hospitals.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted NO.
Date: 06/25/1997
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0129
Bill Number: S 947
Sponsor: Kerrey, D-NE
Vote on an amendment to allow federal funds for a new children and teen health insurance program provided in the bill to cover abortions.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted NO
Date: 05/20/1997
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0071
Bill Number: HR 1122
Sponsor: Bill introduced by Solomon, R-NY.
Vote to pass a bill that would ban certain late-term abortions, except when necessary to save the life of the mother.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 05/15/1997
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0070
Bill Number: HR 1122
Sponsor: Motion introduced by Daschle, D-SD; Bill introduced by Solomon, R-NY.
Outcome for this vote: Substitute rejected
Adopt substitute motion to make it illegal for a doctor to abort a viable fetus, unless the doctor certifies it would threaten the life of the mother or risk grievous injury to her physical health (the Daschle Substitute).
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted NO.
Date: 02/25/1997
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0013
Bill Number: H Joint Res 36
Sponsor:
Outcome for this vote: Joint resolution adopted
Vote to allow early release of funds for International family planning programs.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted NO.
Date: 09/22/1998
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0282
Bill Number: S 1645
Sponsor: Bill introduced by Abraham, R-MI.
Outcome for this vote: Cloture motion rejected
Vote to close further debate on a bill to prohibit the transportation of a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion in order to circumvent parental consent laws.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 09/18/1998
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0277
Bill Number: HR 1122
Sponsor: Bill introduced by Solomon, R-NY.
Outcome for this vote: Veto override failed; 2/3rds vote required
Vote to override the president's veto of a bill that would ban certain late-term abortions, except when necessary to save the life of the mother.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 06/25/1998
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0176
Bill Number: S 2057
Sponsor: Amendment introduced by Murray, D-WA; bill introduced by Thurmond, R-SC.
Outcome for this vote: Amendment rejected
Vote on an amendment to eliminate the existing ban on privately funded abortions for military personnel and
dependents in overseas military hospitals. Amendment introduced by Murray, D-WA; bill introduced by Thurmond, R-SC. (Amendment rejected 44-49 on 6/25/98)
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted NO.
Date: 10/21/1999
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0340
Bill Number: S 192
Sponsor: Bill sponsored by Santorum, R-PA
Outcome for this vote: Bill passed
Vote to pass a bill that would make it a federal crime for a doctor to perform the procedure called "dilation and extraction" by physicians unless the life of the woman was at risk. The bill would set a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine for anyone convicted of performing such a procedure. The bill faces a possible veto from President Clinton.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 10/21/1999
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0337
Bill Number: S 1692
Sponsor: Amendment sponsored by Harkin, D-IA, bill sponsored by Santorum, R-PA
Outcome for this vote: Amendment passed
Vote on a non-binding amendment regarding the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. A 'yes' vote is in agreement with the statement that the decision was "appropriate," secures "an important constitutional right" and should not be overturned. Amendment sponsored by Harkin, D-IA, bill sponsored by Santorum, R-PA
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted NO.
Date: 10/20/1999
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0335
Bill Number: S 1692
Sponsor: Tabling motion sponsored by Santorum, R-PA, Substitute amendment sponsored by Durbin, D-IL, Bill introduced by Santorum, R-PA
Outcome for this vote: Tabling motion passed
Vote on a motion to table [kill] a substitute amendment to a bill that would ban late-term abortions unless the life of the woman was at risk. The substitute would have allowed the procedure if two independent physicians agreed that the woman faced at least "grievous injury."
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 10/06/1999
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0312
Bill Number: HR 2606
Sponsor: Bill sponsored by Callahan, R-AL
Outcome for this vote: Conference Report adopted
Vote to adopt the conference report that appropriates $12.6 billion for foreign operations, $2 billion less than the administration had requested. Specifically, the measure would provide about $180 million less for the International Development Association, roughly $90 million less for debt relief programs to poor countries and no funding for the Wye River peace accord between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The bill faces a possible veto by the President. Bill sponsored by Callahan, R-AL
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 05/26/1999
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0148
Bill Number: S 1059
Sponsor: Tabling motion introduced by Smith, R-NH, Amendment introduced by Murray D-WA, Bill introduced by Warner, R-VA
Outcome for this vote: Motion passed
Vote to table or kill an amendment to eliminate the existing ban on privately funded abortions for military personnel and dependents in overseas military hospitals. Tabling motion introduced by Smith, R-NH, Amendment introduced by Murray D-WA, Bill introduced by Warner, R-VA
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 06/20/2000
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0134
Bill Number: S 2549
Sponsor: Tabling motion sponsored by Hutchinson, R-AR; Amendment sponsored by Murray, D-WA; Bill Sponsored by Warner, R-VA
Outcome for this vote: Tabling motion agreed to
Vote on a motion to table [kill] an amendment that would repeal the ban on privately funded abortions at overseas military facilities.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 02/02/2000
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0002
Bill Number: S 625
Sponsor: Amendment sponsored by Schumer, D-NY; Bill sponsored by Grassley, R-IA
Outcome for this vote: Amendment adopted
Vote on an amendment to bar people convicted of violence, or potential violence, at abortion clinics or their workers, from being released from their debts that were directly brought about by those actions. Those debts could stem from lawsuit damages, court fines and attorney fees.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
Date: 02/02/2000
Issue: Abortion & Family Planning
Roll Call Number: 0005
Bill Number: HR 833
Sponsor: Bill sponsored by Grassley, R-IA
Outcome for this vote: Bill passed
Vote on passage of a bill that would revise current bankruptcy law to make it easier for courts to change debtors from a system that allows most debts to be dismissed, to a system that requires a repayment plan. Other provisions in the bill specifically cite the debts of those convicted of violence against abortion clinics as well as increasing the minimum wage, giving $18.5 billion in tax cuts for small businesses over 5 years, and increasing penalties for certain drug offenses.
Senator William H. 'Bill' Frist voted YES.
It says a lot about the condition of his soul and that of this nations.
Since you brought it up, Gun Owners of America gives him a "D" in my opinion that adds up to anti-gun.
As an elected officer in my local Right-to-Life chapter I must point out some sad truth about my national organization's candidate evaluations. Their ratings are based on the "votes considered to be the most important", not the total votes on a given issue. These "critical votes" are cherry picked and there are seldom more than one of two of them in a given term. Advocacy group ratings are generally little more than propaganda intended to lend support to their chosen candidates, not accurate reflections of actual voting records. They tend to pick the stronger candidate in a given race and portray their record as positively as possible. No one likes to pick a looser, but they generally value being on the winning side more than ideological honesty (sort of like NRA vs. GOA candidate ratings).
I know this because I have regretfully participated in this deception. As much as I dislike the A.L.L. for their often ineffective political absolutism, I value their candidate evaluations more highly than those of my own organization. being pro-life isn't all or nothing, it's more or a continuum and Senator Frist is on the lower end of the Republican scale.
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