Decision ‘08

Disagreement = Treachery?

Is that the equation now? On the very day that I speculated on whether Republicans wanted to base the party on the very narrow issue of abortion comes this headline by Augustine at Red State: Bill Frist : Traitor. A sample:

Today, on the floor of the Senate, Dr. Frist betrayed the conservative movement, President Bush, the history of the Republican Party, and thousands of defenseless Americans. In doing so, he effectively ended his brief flirtation with the Presidential nomination of the GOP - and if this is a just world, he may also have effectively ended his leadership role within the party in anything but title.

There is simply no justifiable reason for Dr. Frist to have changed his position on such an important matter, except in some crass attempt to appeal to a biased media. After years of claiming to be a pro-lifer - after accepting money, support, and applause from the pro-life community - Dr. Frist throws them overboard for the sake of The New York Times.

The issue, of course, is the move by Frist to support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.

My concern here is not with the correctness of either viewpoint, but with the tactical error of embracing the Democratic tactic of eating our own. Are we the big-tent party, or do we prefer to dwell in the cocoon of activism like the Kossacks?

Again, here’s Augustine:

There is only one explanation for today’s Senate floor flip-flop: Bill Frist is a man without principles. He does not deserve polite acceptance of his treachery by any Republican. And any party that truly believes in a culture of life does not tolerate such men in positions of leadership. It should not tolerate Dr. Frist.

My, oh my…a man without principles? The only explanation? Frist can’t honestly disagree with your position without being a worthless traitor? …

Contrast this with Bush’s dignified reaction:

Bush, notified by Frist of his decision Thursday, said, “You’ve got to vote your conscience,” according to White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Listen up, gang - are you ready for Madame President? Keep heading this direction, and that’s what you’re gonna get…

UPDATE 9:53 p.m. central - the despicable Armando of the Daily Kos is having a field day with the Red State piece, and proving my point with his own loathsome partisanship:

Here’s what I think - Frist’s position on Schiavo and his unwillingness to stand up for stem cell research were both the acts of a craven politician who wanted to be President, and that the Dobson Party demanded it, along with extremist judges.

Why the change now? Frist now knows he will not be the GOP nominee for President in 2008. Does that mean this is more calculation? An attempt to regain his “moderate” image in the Media? Or is it a change of conscience spurred by the realization that his political career is basically over?

Frankly, I don’t know and I don’t care.

Truly vile, reprehensible (and poorly written and reasoned) garbage…

21 Responses to “Disagreement = Treachery?”

1 Andy Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 3:06 am
On the surface, I’m disappointed with what I’m hearing, but am reserving judgement until I can read the definitive implication of what it is that he is supporting. Right now there’s too much sturm & drang and i haven’t the time to wade thru the swirling eddies.

What I do know is much progress has been made thru umbilical & adult stem cell research while nada on ECS. However, I can never go along with creating life in order to dstroy it.

But I’m aware that there could be middle ground by harvesting the byproducts of other procedure. I certainly won’t support tax dollars being used in ESC, even if we as a nation decide it’s ok. And especially if there is indeed gold in thar cells, why ain’t the investors lining up. This is not some dubious industry that needs the govt to help kick start it as with green energy etc.

This to me is no different than subsidizing abortion. It may be legal, but I sure as hell don’t want to pay for another’s right to “birth control” let them or dedicated non-profits pay for it.
2 guest Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 3:10 am
I’m halfway between your position and the “traitor” position, in that I think it’s unacceptable in our party leader. I do think he’s kissed what fleeting hopes he had of the presidency goodbye between this inexplicable move and his spineless inability to get nominations - on judges or John Bolton - to a vote. John freaking McCain could have managed.
3 Knemon Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 3:26 am
Madame President.

Madame President.

Madame President.

(just practicing).

This is the first time in years that the hard-right-wing has creeped me out as much as Kos & Pals (in tone, if not in substance).

Maybe Rudy *can* fail after all, with mullahs like Augustine. I still think he’d beat Hillary like a used rug, but he may not get the chance.
4 Jeff Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 3:35 am
Mark’s right about Hillary: It took a nearly flawless campaign by Rove, Mehlman and Bush to overcome the MSM bias machine and beat a tomato can like Kerry. If we let a narrow-focus/hot-button issue like abortion or stem cell research split our party, Hillary will jump on the opportunity like a batting practice fastball (to mix sports metaphors).

Augustine writes that Frist “betrayed…the history of the Republican party.” Sorry, when I think of the history of the Rebublican party, I think of A. Lincoln, not stem cell research.
5 Mark Coffey Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 3:35 am
Andy, guest, just to reiterate, I’m not arguing the merits of the positions. I’m not even arguing that guest is wrong to say that Frist’s stance is unacceptable as the party leader. To imply that Frist is a traitor and has no moral principles, though, is clearly a bridge too far. I’m increasingly troubled by extreme rhetoric from our side of the aisle…
6 Mark Coffey Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 3:39 am
Jeff, well said…we’re the party of Lincoln, and Reagan…and yes, George W. Bush…a party thats proudest legacy is the support of freedom, freedom from slavery, freedom from tyranny, freedom from the Iron Curtain…these are the values that will and do appeal to the American electorate…
7 Sean P Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 4:50 am
One thing to remember about Frist is that he has, for the better part of this year, attempted to position himself as the favorite candidate of religious conservatives in the party’s 2008 Presidential sweepstakes. Not a bad move tactically, since the current frontrunners are clearly on the moderate side of the camp. But I never saw Frist as a hard right candidate and I’ve always suspected that his shift was not motivated by genuine political conviction.

Now, after months of being outmaneuvered by Democrats and McCain, it looks like Frist has thrown in the towel and decided against running for President. And now that he’s out of the race, he’s back to endorsing the kind of positions he would have otherwise endorsed had ne not considered himself a candidate.

By the way, I’d say this pretty much cinches Sam Brownback as a candidate for President in 2008, and pretty much cinches his support among religious conservatives. Let’s just hope he doesn’t actually win the nomination.
8 Mark Coffey Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 4:58 am
Sean, interesting…and shamefully, I’ve yet to profile Frist or Brownback…but your insight there is intriguing…
9 fatman Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 5:20 am
Mark, at some point, on some issues, you have to take a stand. To draw a line in the sand (to use a truly idiotic metaphor) and say “This far, and no farther.” For me, this is one of those issues. For Frist to claim on the one hand that he’s pro-life, then on the other to support taxpayer funding of ESC research (and I don’t give a rat’s behind if it IS legal) is pure sophistry. He’s telling pro-lifers that he’s with us, then turning around and telling those who call an unborn baby a glob of underdeveloped fetal tissue “Don’t worry, I’m more reasonable than those clod-hoppers over there; we’ll work something out.” Frankly, I think Augustine nailed it.
10 Jojo Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 5:25 am
Madam President is perfectly fine, so long as that person is named Condoleeza Rice.
11 Dennis Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 5:57 am
I can understand the desire to draw the line in the sand, but you can accomplish that by saying you disagree with Frist and you’re going to fight him on this issue. Heck, I don’t even mind calling him a weasel; I’ve done it before. But when you start throwing around words like “traitor” and essentially claiming monopoly power on deciding what it is to be a Republican, all you do is convince a bunch of people who agree with you on a hundred issues and disagree with you on one that maybe they should start looking elsewhere come November.

The only reason stuff like this isn’t necessarily fatal to the GOP is there’s still somewhat of a battle among Republicans, whereas the Deanocrats seem determined to purge the unworthy. But there’s no guarantee that sort of thing will last forever.
12 Andy Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 6:33 am
Well in this day and age, “traitor” would be over the top, even tho Frist did betray the support he was getting from the pro-life brigade.

I still want to know exactly what it is that Frist is supporting, as there is a whole spectrum of possible ramifications. Regardless, not one dime for ESC from my taxes, which would be the free-market position anyway.

What I fear is that the pro ESC don’t like the results they’re seeing and want us to take the risk out of R&D while they reap the profits. Fine, if Frist is going there, he better demand that any Fed money going into it gets put on the commons and unpatenable or he will get Daschled.

Anyhoo, why can’t these numbskulls get it in their heads that only the exceptions get to beome POTUS out of the legislative branch?

Do we have to codify that once you’ve served in either house, you have to sit out a season before you can run? That way, these numbskulls can focus on representing their home States and not spend their time and our dime manuevering for the oval office.

sKerry comes to mind on one end, 20 years of legislative do nothing while primping for the run and McCain at the other end legislating away to improve his odds, consequences be damned, ie McCain-Feingold.
13 Mark Coffey Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 8:25 am
Jojo, you said it…
14 Dmac Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 4:13 pm
Mark -

I admit I’m not too terribly versed in all of this, but correct me if I’m wrong to assume that the stem cell debate concerned fetuses that were about to be disposed of anyway - and not fetuses that were being aborted because of the desire of the mother.

If this is the case, then is it not a moot point?

At any event, science is going to go wherever the end result leads, like it or not. Alvin Toffler continues to look like a genius based on his book, “Future Shock.”
15 Mark Coffey Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 4:20 pm
Dmac, you’re correct - see my newer post on the subject…
16 Dmac Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 4:48 pm
Whoops, sorry, forgot to refresh - my bad.
17 Ryan Bonneville Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 6:11 pm
For once, Frist forgot he was a politician and acted like a doctor. Bravo to him.
18 Brigid Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 9:01 pm
I find Frist’s position on this reprehensible (though I agree that it does not appear to have changed). And if the embryonic human beings in question would “otherwise be destroyed,” then it’s time to reconsider those practices that leave all those disposable embryos lying about.

But: When a well-liked candidate takes a morally objectionable position, I think calm discussion or quiet outrage, as appropriate, suit a conservative commentator better than a lefty-style full-frontal assault.

That doesn’t mean, of course, that we conservatives can’t eat one of our own when the need arises. But they should be cooked slowly over reasoned argument, not torn apart by slander and eaten raw.
19 Mark Coffey Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 9:26 pm
Yeah, but Brigid, that brings up the question - what kind of wine should be served?…
20 fatman Says:
July 31st, 2005 at 10:05 pm
In Frist’s case, a cheap muscatel.
21 Knemon Says:
August 1st, 2005 at 2:30 am
But can we have his liver with Fava beans and a nice Chianti?

slurp ….