CWA Praises President Bush for Honoring Reagan's Legacy

6/9/2004

From: Rebecca L. Riggs of the Concerned Women for America, 202-488 7000 ext. 126

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- Concerned Women for America (CWA) praised President Bush today for the courage of his moral conviction to protect the smallest of humans from exploitation. His bold stand exemplifies former President Reagan's own commitment to protect all human beings.

"President Reagan was an unwavering advocate for the unborn from the moment of conception," said Wendy Wright, CWA's senior policy director. "President Reagan's strength shone when others opposed him for doing what he believed was moral in order to protect life. President Bush reflects that character in steadfastly and compassionately defending human life by not allowing tax dollars to be spent to exploit and destroy human embryos."

First Lady Laura Bush today reiterated her husband's commitment and noted positive alternatives to "abusing embryos." "There are stem cells to do research on and...we have to be really careful between what we want to do for science and what we should do ethically," the first lady said.

"We stand with the President in full support of the majority of stem cell research-cells that come from adult tissue, placenta and umbilical cord blood," said Wright. "Cures for diseases from cancer to cataracts have come from adult stem cells, and federal funds continue to promote these successful advances.

"Senators and activists have exploited the loss of an American hero this week to push their political agenda -- one that is contrary to President Reagan's personal beliefs. The loss of President Reagan leads all of us to long for a cure to the devastating disease that made his last years so difficult. But our sadness should not be manipulated to promote the killing of those at the beginning of life -- a concept contrary to President Reagan's core beliefs."

The following statement was made by Ronald Reagan:

I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare the unalienable personhood of every American, from the moment of conception until natural death, and I do proclaim, ordain, and declare that I will take care that the Constitution and laws of the United States are faithfully executed for the protection of America's unborn children. -- Jan. 18, 1988 Presidential Proclamation