It turns out Bill Frist might remember what it's like to be a doctor.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday threw his support behind House-passed legislation to expand federal financing for human embryonic stem cell research, breaking with President Bush and religious conservatives in a move that could impact his prospects for seeking the White House in 2008.
Of course, the religious right is pretty upset:
"Sen. Frist should not expect support and endorsement from the pro-life community if he votes for embryonic research funding," the Christian Defense Coalition said in a statement as Frist finished his speech.
"Senator Frist cannot have it both ways. He cannot be pro-life and pro-embryonic stem cell funding," said Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the group. "Nor can he turn around and expect widespread endorsement from the pro-life community if he should decide to run for president in 2008."
But who else are they going to vote for? Are there serious Republican hopefuls that are more to their liking? If not, then... Hillary Clinton? I don't think the religious right are going to vote for a pro-choice CLINTON (a FEMALE one at that!) because they don't like Frist.
Additionally, I think most of the religious right are going to forget about this issue. I can't imagine the Democrats are going to remind them either -- the argument to vote for a Dem just because a Republican got a little too liberal is pretty bizarre.
So, good for Frist. I still don't like the guy, but maybe he's grown a conscience and some morals recently. Or, maybe more realistically, this is just a political move because supporting this research may be politically better than stopping it (despite what the "right" says).
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