“… The most recent data reports that more than one in five pregnancies end in an abortion. America is better than this.”
With those words, President George W. Bush began to choke up. His chin quivered a bit, and then he pressed onward with his speech, delivered to a group of about 200 pro-life leaders at a White House breakfast Tuesday morning:
So we will continue to work for a culture of life where a woman with an unplanned pregnancy knows there are caring people who will support her; where a pregnant teen can carry her child and complete her education; where the dignity of both the mother and child is honored and cherished. We aspire to build a society where each one of us is welcomed in life and protected in law. We haven’t arrived, but we are making progress.
President Bush graciously welcomed Nellie Gray, founder of the March for Life, and other pro-life leaders from across the nation to the White House. My daughter Rebekah and I had the honor to attend the breakfast reception and remarks from President Bush.
In speaking with some of the others in attendance, I was told that President Bush wanted to show his appreciation to the pro-life movement and commitment to the cause by holding this event on what would be his last January 22nd in the White House.
My colleague Curt Smith from the Indiana Family Institute noted with some apprehension the fact that it could be some time before another pro-life event will be held in the White House – of course depending on the results of the November Presidential election. Certainly, who the next occupant of the White House will be should concern everyone who believes in the sanctity of human life.
Well, whatever some might say about President George W. Bush, it was very clear to me as I sat about ten feet away as he said the words above, that he is genuinely disturbed at the taking of innocent human life through abortion, and he truly believes America is better than that. Do you?
Read the entire text of President Bush’s comments at the pro-life breakfast at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080122.html