Senator Frist's change of heart, and Stem Pac's role in mobilizing support for embryonic stem cell research legislation, were posted this morning at http://usliberals.about.com.

Congratulations, StemPac, on a job well done in changing the mind and vote one very important Senate leader!

(FYI...StemPac also now has a permanent link on the Stem Cell page at US Liberals at About.com. )

Thanks so much Deborah. You've been great in keeping us and the stem cell issue in the public eye.

Everyone -- please visit http://usliberals.about.com

And tell your 10,000 closest friends to do the same!

Kudos to StemPAC on their work on this issue. For all of us who are concerned about advancing this enlightened and promising field of science and medicine, we welcome Frist's flip flop onto the correct side of the issue. However it must be noted that the Senator remains a pandering, uprincipled wingnut hack.

The work that you are doing is wonderful. As for Senator Frist, however, I'll thank him for his support when he actually calls the vote and votes yes. Until then, it's just a photo-op.

Bill Frist is a lying political opportunist fool and he will pay, either in this life or the next. EMBRYONIC STEM-CELL RESEARCH IS JUST SNAKE OIL, A PROVEN TOTAL LIE, HOAX AND FRAUD only believed by the corrupt minority and their majority fools. ALL SUPPORTERS OF EMBRYONIC STEM-CELL RESEARCH are either of the corrupt immoral degenerate greedy fascist liar minority who are the ringleaders who've sold their corrupted souls for money and power, or of the majority of fools who believe the endless lies of those corrupt ringleaders (like tragic Christopher Reeve, God rest his soul) being too stupid and quite unwilling to think enough to figure out the truth, but no less guilty thereby, any more than those who were "only following orders" under Hitler. They should be imprisoned as lying mass murderers. The irrefutable scientific fact is that life begins at conception, making these BABIES and any who don't believe this are either corrupt fascist butchers and liars or their deluded fools. The cold hard facts these vile and obscene lying perverted mass murderers hide is that there have been MANY, many documented and proven cures with ADULT stem cells, BUT NOT ONE with EMBRYONIC stem cells. Have them show one. They can't. There aren't any. The ones they do show are from ADULT stem cells, not EMBRYONIC stem cells. That's their dirty little secret, their clever little shell game sleeping with the pro-abort crowd and their addiction to baby killing. Like other addicts, they'll lie or kill or steal or anything it takes for their habit being quite without morals.

Their whole game is a tissue of lies and smoke and mirrors and I pray Americans will stand against this deception and Bill Frist's vile political ploy as yet another monstrous attack on America's children who are ultimately God's, and for whom we will be judged. All one has to do is look at the precipitous decline in the morality and even general safety of American life since the Roe v. Wade atrocity (far worse than anything Hitler ever dreamed) to see God's judgment on America for abortion. How much worse it will be if Congress votes to open up another front in America's war on the unborn I can't imagine. He who laughs last, laughs best, so "don't fear those who kill the body, but aren't able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body [forever] in hell" Matt 10:28. You can put Christians in prison all you like, which has of course historically been the case with those nice "tolerant" anti-Christian crusades (murdering more in the 20th century alone than in all previous centuries combined, to answer the liars who deceitfully and hypocritically complain about the blood of religious wars), stealing our property, torturing and killing our kids, and then we go to heaven to be with Jesus and you are left to face His Almighty Wrath. Not a good idea.

Nothing personal, Russ, but given that the overwhelming majority of scientists with any knowledge of the subject think that embryonic stem cell research has HUGE hope for curing a range of diseases, well... let's just say that your "snake oil" comment is a load of you-know-what. Adult stem cell research is important, yes, but it is an addition to embryonic stem cell research, not a substitute.

If you have a moral objection to ESC, that's your choice. But if you want to pretend that it has no scientific value -- you're 100% wrong.

Yeah Russ, if you're gonna oppose ESC, at least sew on a pair and admit that you ARE slowing the race for cures. Don't be a weasel and pretend otherwise.

And as far as calling Reeve a "fool" or your gratuitous "Hitler" references, let's just say -- you are a complete frigging jackass.

As a lifelong Roman Catholic, it is my understanding that God ordained man is to have a free will. Therefore, even God does not dictate the choice of man. Therefore, I would hope that ultimately a patient may choose whether to take an adult stem cell treatment OR an embryonic stem cell treatment OR neither. No human being -- neither kings, presidents or religious leaders -- should interfere with individual free will.

Two comments.

StemPAC, Frisk's change of heart is good but don't go tripping over yourself complimenting him insasmuch as he's the one who was pushing the "nuclear option" to eliminate filibusters. He's still a radical right wing "christian" at heart.

Second, his break with Bush on this matter starts his unofficial campagin for President.

To Russ Davis: I'm not surprised at your response inasmuch as "religion" has ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS stood in the way of real progress. Your comments have little to do with the reality of stem cell research and simply reflect the dark, narrow minded obsession of a fanatic.

If you as so concerned about the sanctity of life, how aiming some of your fury at our "christian" president whose self-righteous "christian" insanity in Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of innocent women, children and babies.

While Russ Davis may be a frustrated bible-thumper, the first part of his first sentence was completely correct. Don't be fooled by Frist's so-called change of heart. He hasn't had any sudden vision. He's just setting himself up for 2008 Presidency and using this issue to make himself look "mainstream" or "moderate." He's read the polls that most Americans support ESC research so he's jumping on the bandwagon. So when Bush's clone becomes Supreme Court Justice Roberts and votes with Scalia and Thomas to give embroys protected status thus eliminating any further ESC reseach, Frist can just say "Oh well, the Supreme Court has ruled and we can't go against their rulings." Easy out for Frist. Begin pressuring him NOT to confirm Roberts or anyother theocrat Bush wants to install on the Supreme Court and watch him collapse like a house built in Georgia. Not joking here folks. Let Roberts get appointed and you can kiss your research goodbye. Since I doubt you will take this threat seriously, here's my "I told you so." in advance.

Thanks, John! I'm a Christian who believes that supporting embryonic stem cell research IS very much a life-affirming stance!

Thanks White! Being a christian today means you don't believe we can win this war as is, and you aren't supportive of science or anything else that comes between you and the enemy. Bush's evolutionary demotion is a vote for a draft, and a push into Tehran. My outfit got shot up in Tehran in 1976 while on an F-4 paint detail after Iran crashed a 747 in Madrid. We promptly went on red alert, kicked out Iran's pilots from Langely AFB who were there on a training exchange mission that included the paint detail in Tehran. Christians will have one excuse after the next to keep this war going, it's never going to end, and all the world is suffering. Where's my box of straws, where are the termites, I've got asthma. Monkey do, monkey see!

hmm, Just a bit to illuminate the "Christian" perspective for those who view it as "crazy" or in someway in lockstep with Bush. The Christian perspective on stemcell research basically starts with the belief that Life begins at conception. Now you may not agree with this, but, each person believes life begins at some point and there is no scientific proof that demonstrates where this point is, so in the face of a lack of proof, conception seems as logical as anywhere else. Because of this "Christians" believe that the destruction of embryo's is the destruction of life. Since we are talking millions of embryo's that would be potentially eliglible under HR810 "Christians" believe this would be like killing millions to save millions, hardly a logical proposition. I say this because many involved in this issue seem to think "Christians" or "right wingers" are raving lunatics of some kind :P, and while some certainly are, the left also has its fair share of crazies. As for the vitrolic comments made by Mr. Davis - they are hardly representative of Christian attitudes or behaviors, nor do all Christians support the Iraq war for that matter. (both unrelated issues however to this discussion :P)