Conservative leader Phyllis Schlafly responded to a conciliatory gesture by Sen. Bill Frist by gently suggesting that he should be as tough in his day job as Senate majority leader as he was in chairing the platform committee at the Republican National Convention.
Schlafly had grumbled that Frist acted like an old-fashioned Soviet Communist in blocking her efforts to modify the immigration and stem-cell research planks. After the platform was wrapped up, Frist approached her to make some friendly remarks. Schlafly responded, with a smile: “I have only one question. Why can’t you run the Senate this way?” Frist has been criticized for not being more effective as majority leader.
A footnote: Frist’s management of the platform was regarded in Republican circles as the launch of his campaign for the 2008 presidential nomination. While he faithfully executed the White House’s wishes, he did not get high marks from many Platform Committee members.
