GOP hopefuls oppose Frist on key issue
Candidates' opposition to stem-cell research may cost some support
By BILL POOVEY, Associated Press
July 9, 2006
CHATTANOOGA - Catering to religious conservatives, the three Republicans
seeking U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's seat strongly disagree with
his support for government funding of embryonic stem-cell research - a
position that could cost the GOP nominee support in the fall election.
The AARP has 685,000 members in Tennessee, and spokesman Brian McGuire said
opponents of stem-cell research aimed at finding treatments for Alzheimer's
and other incurable diseases are out of step with the advocacy group for
senior citizens.

"Health care is important, and this is part of health care," McGuire said.
"We believe stem-cell research is a critical ... in terms of treating and
preventing diseases and conditions affecting people of all ages."
The GOP candidates - former Chattanooga mayor Bob Corker and former U.S.
Reps. Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary - are speaking against the stem-cell
research Frist favors as they battle for the votes of religious
conservatives opposed to abortion.
Anti-abortion groups have fought the research because extracting stem cells
from a days-old embryo results in its death. Supporters of the federal
legislation say it would allow research only on donated embryos left over
from fertility treatments.
The likely Democratic nominee, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford, co-sponsored the
enhanced stem-cell funding bill that passed the House this year.
Frist, a heart transplant surgeon and potential presidential candidate in
2008, stunned some conservatives when he switched positions last year. He
has promised to bring the measure to a Senate vote before this session of
Congress adjourns, and President Bush has threatened to veto it.
Former first lady Nancy Reagan began promoting the research while caring for
her husband, who had Alzheimer's disease for more than a decade before his
death. She has lobbied the Republican-controlled Congress to pass the
legislation that national polls suggest is supported by a large majority of
Americans.
"We can cure diseases without destroying life," Hilleary spokeswoman
Jennifer Coxe said. "Either you believe life is sacred and should be
protected or you don't."
Doug Daugherty, a volunteer for the Corker Pro-Life Leadership Council, said
abortion is an important issue in the Republican primary.
"To get out the base vote, you've got to be pro-life," Daugherty said.
Bryant and Hilleary say they oppose abortion except to save the life of the
mother.
Corker says he opposes abortion except to save the life of the mother or in
cases of rape and incest. But that is different from a position he took
several years ago, which was to personally oppose abortion but to argue that
the government shouldn't be involved in the issue.
"Bob Corker's history of actions are not pro-life," said Ed Albin,
administrator of Tennessee Right to Life, an anti-abortion group supporting
Bryant.
Albin said abortion is getting a lot of attention in the race "because
Tennessee is a pro-life state."
"As an organization, we oppose stem-cell research that involves the killing
of a human embryo," Albin said. "We do disagree with Senator Frist on that,
as do the Republican candidates."
Robert Swansbrough, a University of Chattanooga political science professor,
said Frist is very conservative but that "with his medical background, sees
another side of it."
Swansbrough said catering to religious conservative voters in the GOP
primary could cause irreparable damage because the Republican Senate nominee
will need to attract support from some Democrats in the Nov. 7 general
election.
"It's going to be kind of hard to move back to center," Swansbrough said.
 Copyright 2006, Associated Press.




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