Frist Plays the Politics of Division to Rally His Base

Washington, DC — Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, called Sen. Bill Frist's decision today to bring up a dangerous and divisive anti-choice bill a desperate political ploy that puts Frist out of step with Americans' priorities.

Today, Frist announced the Senate will take up the Child Custody Protection Act (CCPA) tomorrow. The CCPA, along with issues like the gay-marriage ban, is a longstanding item on the right-wing's to-do list. Keenan said Frist's motivations are transparent as he tries to pacify a right-wing base that just lost a major vote on stem-cell research and distract the public from Congress' inaction on other priorities such as the Voting Rights Act.

"Americans are worried about rising gas prices, falling wages, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the on-going Israeli-Lebanon conflict," Keenan said. "Rather than do something constructive about these pressing issues, Frist and his anti-choice allies are trying to distract the public with one hot-button vote after another. Meanwhile, Frist continues to block votes on commonsense measures to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion."

Keenan continued, "It's clear that Sen. Frist is using divisive issues to buck up sagging White House poll numbers, repair his relations with a base angered by his inability to pass their extreme legislative agenda, and prepare for a 2008 presidential run. But poll after poll shows the American people aren't buying it. Voters will hold Senator Frist accountable in 2008 and those senators up for re-election in November who cave to the pressure from far-right groups that want their political agenda to come before America's real priorities."

Contact:
Ted Miller, 202.973.3032