The Washington Post profiles Tennessee Senator Bill Frist today, and he seems like a really nice man with really bad politics.

The Post portrays him as a jetsetter surgeon who pilots himself around in his own plane, occasionally to pick up organs for his needy patients. He was born rich and got richer. His family owned a company called HCA that morphed into the "largest chain of for-profit hospitals in the country." After a hostile takeover in which his family ceded control, HCA became Columbia/HCA.

"In 1997, FBI raids on company hospitals turned up widespread Medicare fraud. According to attorneys for the whistleblowers who revealed the massive overbilling, HCA engaged in illegal practices even before the takeover. But Thomas Frist Jr. returned to the helm of the company as unpaid chairman and chief executive, and worked to restore trust in the company. This week, HCA (the old name is back) announced that it would pay the federal government $631 million to settle fraud claims-bringing the total payments by the company to $1.7 billion...." "With the health system in crisis, Republicans are considering a Senate majority leader who made his millions from a family-run company that defrauded Medicare, overstated expense statements, billed for services ineligible for reimbursements and paid kickbacks to physicians to encourage referrals to HCA facilities," said Physicians for a National Health Program, which has clashed with Frist over health care issues."

Frist spent $3.4 million of his own money to win his first senate race in 1994. His voting record has been the same as Lott's 90% of the time. Friends say he may have presidential aspirations for 2008.

Eli Lilly is a big financial contributor to his campaign.

Frist wrote a provision, enacted into law, that restricted the ability of plaintiffs to sue the company for injuries resulting from Thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in vaccines against childhood diseases. The Lilly provision was quietly woven into the legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security.

"He really shows the true compassionate conservatism," says Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.). Sorry, but we go right for the mute button whenever we hear that overused, meaningless jingle.

Let's take a closer look at his voting record. How does the wealthy, conservative, southern senator come out on non-health care issues?

Nathan Newman provides Frist's record on abortion, civil liberties, the environment and labor rights.

We checked his record on crime issues and civil rights and here's what we found:

On Civil Rights:

Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. (Sep 1996)
Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
Voted YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)

On Crime:

He is pro-death penalty and wants to limit death penalty appeals. He favors three-strikes sentencing laws. He believes in an absolute right to gun ownership.

Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals. (Apr 1996)
Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control. (Jul 1996)
Voted YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations. (May 1999)
Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)
Voted YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks. (Jul 1998)

Here is Trent Lott's voting record for comparison.