Republican centrists dominate — for 48 hours at least

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Political ally since the 1990's
“I was there at Odiorne Point in New Castle, N.H. when he set foot in the state for the first time as governor of Texas, contemplating a run for president, and I urged him to run,” Bass recalled in an interview in the House lobby right after the roll was called late Tuesday afternoon.

“We subsequently spent many months campaigning together, and we both suffered terribly when he lost the (2000) primary in New Hampshire” to McCain, Bass said.

“He understands where I stand and that has given me the ability to disagree with him heartily and robustly and there’s no hard feelings about it.”

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Bush says he opposes embryonic stem cell research because it entails the destruction of human life, but Bass argues that the stem cells used in research would come from embryos (or blastocysts) left over from in vitro fertilization programs, embryos that would be discarded anyway.

“There are those who feel that the use of superfluous in vitro blastocysts is a life-and-death issue; I understand that position,” Bass said. “But I also think that people understand that providing hope for millions of Americans, tens of thousands of New Hampshire people, who suffer from chronic illnesses, offering this element of research, is very important.”

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As for Bush’s veto threat, Bass said, “Republicans who support the bill will make a concerted effort to get our message to the president.”

He admitted, “It doesn’t look very likely” that the president will sign it into law, but “I never say ‘never’ with this president.”

Where Bass stands
While on economic issues Bass is right at home with conservatives, on social issues such as abortion and embryonic stem cell funding, he sides with liberal and moderate Democrats.

Bass was one of only 11 House Republicans to vote against the most recent high-profile anti-abortion bill in the House, a measure that makes it illegal for a person to transport an underage girl across state lines to get an abortion without her parents’ knowledge or consent.

Bass has a lifetime 73 ACU rating, but is critical of Bush’s environmental policies and opposes the constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman, which Bush supports.

While Bass won re-election last November with 58 percent of the vote in his district, Kerry carried his district with 52 percent.

Bass’s district is exactly the kind of place where Tom DeLay could never win — but which DeLay must have in order for GOP to hold on to its House majority.

The Republican map, if it to be a majority map, must stretch from Bush’s Midland and Frist’s Belle Meade all the way to Bass’s hometown of Peterborough, N.H.

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