Talent Pondering Switch On Stem Cell

Missouri Right To Life and other "pro-life" advocates feeling stung over Governor Matt Blunt's switch on stem cell had better brace themselves for another betrayal.

Sources tell Fired Up! that after extensive polling and political analysis, Senator Jim Talent has concluded that his current position in opposition to stem cell research is not politically sustainable, and that he is actively searching for a way to make the switch.

Talent has been closely observing the fallout from the Frist switch, and Talent and his staff have reportedly had several conversations with Frist and his staff on the political perils of making the position change.  Sources tell Fired Up! that Talent and Frist have met personally, at least twice, on this matter.

Talent was overheard at a recent political event saying, "the pro-lifers are really going to do us in on this issue, if we're not careful."

For Talent, any switch would be cravenly political move, as he is among the most radical of the anti-choice crowd in Washington.  During his tenure in the House, Talent was one of only a handful of members to sign onto a proposed constitutional amendment that was so extreme in its restriction, it would have banned the pill, since the pill sometimes prevents the implantation of a fertilized egg.

Talent's announcement has been delayed as he is extremely nervous how his decision will be received by his base, given the severe backlash that Governor Matt Blunt has experienced because of his switch on stem cell.

Stay tuned for developments.

Submitted by Roy Temple on August 17, 2005 - 8:36am

Note Talent's Careful Hedging

Submitted by Roy Temple on August 19, 2005 - 5:09pm.

Jo Mannies has Talent's folks trying to respond to this post over on Political Fix.  Talk about hedging. 

Talent's spokesguy, Rich Chrismer says:

Chrismer said he was unaware of any discussion on the subject between Talent and U.S. Senate leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who recently has loosened his own stance on stem-cell research. 

Well, that's not quite the same thing as saying that the meetings didn't take place is it?  In the biz, when a spokesman gives a quote that carefully consructed, that's called plausible deniability.

And while he was on a roll, Chrismer went on to straddle the hedgerow a little bit more with this:

Chrismer did leave the door open for possible change, much as he did in comments last spring: "Sen. Talent is continuing to evaluate his position, based on the changing science, to see if he needs to re-examine the president's compromise.''

I'd say that's your basic, attempt to deny it, without really denying it, because Talent may very well switch if he can figure out how to do it and survive the wrath of the right-to-lifers.

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Any switch by Talent would be cravenly political move

Submitted by SoaperGirl on August 17, 2005 - 11:43am.

I agree that any switch by Talent would be entirely self-serving (do repugs ever operate in any other way?).  Nevertheless, it would be a smart and politically savvy move on his part. 

Contemptible as I find manipulative politicans like Blunt and Talent, I have to grudgingly admit, I like seeing any politican support stem cell research, as I'm sure most people would agree.

I just hope we can keep any Democrat politicans from being overly tempted to move to the right.  A progressive agenda is definitely the right way to go -

Never forget that Jesus Christ was the original bleeding heart Liberal.  I've seen religious portraits to this effect, nor he didn't mind in the least helping the poor, infirm (even the dead!), crippled, and other folks in need.  He also displayed a certain distain for wealth and all its trappings.

SoaperGirl

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