Pro-Life Group Takes Bill Frist Stem Cell Research Ads to South Carolina

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 30, 2005   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pro-Life Group Takes Bill Frist Stem Cell Research Ads to South Carolina Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 30, 2005

Greenville, SC (LifeNews.com) — A pro-life organization that is running a television commercial against Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for his flip-flop on stem cell research is taking its campaign to South Carolina. The Center for Reclaiming America previously ran ads in the first primary state of Iowa asking people there to call Frist and urge him to oppose using taxpayer funds for the unproven research.

The center, an outreach organization founded by Florida- based Coral Ridge Ministries, will air television ads in South Carolina, another leading 2008 presidential primary state, encouraging Frist to reverse his recent decision to support embryonic stem cell research.

"South Carolina is a key state with many pro-life activists who can register their dismay with the senator’s decision, Dr. Gary Cass, director of the group, said.

"Frist’s current position-one that contradicts his past pro-life convictions-abandons the principle that every innocent life is sacred," Cass added.

The advertisements will run for approximately one week in the Greenville market on FOX News Channel. The ad shows a picture of a smiling baby and says, "Sen. Frist: We cannot save innocent lives by destroying them."

The Iowa ads aired in late August on television stations in Des Moines and radio stations throughout the state and the pro-life group spend $50,000 on running them.

Frist is considered one of the top prospects to capture the GOP nomination and the Senate GOP leader is retiring from his Tennessee senate seat after next year and is expected to focus on a presidential campaign.

Nick Smith, a spokesman for Frist, told AP when the Iowa ads aired that he "understands that there are many opinions on this issue, and he respects those opinions. However, after long thought, he has made his decision based on principle and believes it holds great promise in helping many people."

After supporting President Bush’s August 2001 limits on using federal funds for embryonic stem cell research, Frist recently changed his mind and may support a bill to overturn them.